voltage spike
voltage spike
My 13 RG has been flawless till a few weeks ago, have had low voltage 10-11v on start up, burp the throttle and goes to 14v, last week wouldn't get over 10v, tripped ck engine lt/battery light. I did a battery test, checked ohms on stator and volt reading, which after taking regulator off, cleaning the ground and reisntalling, worked fine till last night, started bike, 14v, rode for a mile fairly hard and when sitting at a red light v gauge dropped to 11v, throttle burp didn't help, then meter went to 16+, all lights went out as if a reset then returned to 14v+. very unstable, HELP
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 8,401
From: Utah
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
For sure do the checks. Use a real DVOM, don't trust the dash gauge.
FWIW, my 2 cents is on a bad regulator. I once had an HD service manager tell me that low voltage can be the regulator or the stator but high voltage is going to be the regulator.
FWIW, my 2 cents is on a bad regulator. I once had an HD service manager tell me that low voltage can be the regulator or the stator but high voltage is going to be the regulator.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,136
Likes: 6,161
From: SE Michigan
My 13 RG has been flawless till a few weeks ago, have had low voltage 10-11v on start up, burp the throttle and goes to 14v, last week wouldn't get over 10v, tripped ck engine lt/battery light. I did a battery test, checked ohms on stator and volt reading, which after taking regulator off, cleaning the ground and reisntalling, worked fine till last night, started bike, 14v, rode for a mile fairly hard and when sitting at a red light v gauge dropped to 11v, throttle burp didn't help, then meter went to 16+, all lights went out as if a reset then returned to 14v+. very unstable, HELP
Sounds EXACTLU like my recent story. Read an enjoy: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...regulator.html
Yeah my gut tells me V regulator, battery recovers fine when loaded w/ everything on and not running. 1st time of v spike but other than the main fuse being loose, regulator will be my first replacement.
Trending Topics
S texas heat i think is taking it's tole on the regulator...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 602
From: The 9th Island
Stators are easy to check, do a search on the internet or here and it will tell you what to do. Unfortunately the voltage regulator is almost impossible to check, if the stator checks out, it's most likely the regulator and needs to be replaced.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
Likes: 5,213
From: Michigan
Yep, I'd also say it's the voltage regulator.
I have a '13 CVO Ultra and last summer at just under 27,000 miles while on a trip noticed that my volt meter was reading just a tad over 10 volts.
(While the bike's volt meter may not be total accurate, it will give you a head's up that something is wrong).
After checking the battery cables to make sure they were tight, I made a run for the nearest H-D dealership and they installed a new (non-CVO) voltage regulator under the ESP. (I didn't want to sit for two days waiting on a part just because of a little bit of chrome).
I suspect (but cannot prove) that my regulator could have been in the spate of bad ones from the '12 model year bikes.
I have a '13 CVO Ultra and last summer at just under 27,000 miles while on a trip noticed that my volt meter was reading just a tad over 10 volts.
(While the bike's volt meter may not be total accurate, it will give you a head's up that something is wrong).
After checking the battery cables to make sure they were tight, I made a run for the nearest H-D dealership and they installed a new (non-CVO) voltage regulator under the ESP. (I didn't want to sit for two days waiting on a part just because of a little bit of chrome).
I suspect (but cannot prove) that my regulator could have been in the spate of bad ones from the '12 model year bikes.