Erratic Volt Gauge
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Houghton, MI
Erratic Volt Gauge
Hey there everybody,
I've looked a number of times and searched every string i could think of, but can't find my issue. Some issues others have had to deal with were close although not quite the same.
My 1998 Ultra has had an issue with the volt gauge moving from near 14v down to 8v. The needle swings rapidly up and down the scale. It'll hold steady sometimes and other times it drops to 8 and doesn't budge until I restart and it stays up near 14v -- for awhile. Engine temp and air temp doesn't seem to be a factor.
I had the stator replaced last August. Everything was cool for the 120 mile ride home but within a week the gauge was swinging wildly again. This spring I installed a new battery and all was good until about a month ago. I've checked the regulator with both a test light and meter and all was good. Stator puts out about 56 volts. Battery is receiving a bit over 14 volts at around 2500 RPM. All grounds seem clean, dry and tight. I religiously use a tender every time the bike gets parked.
Any ideas?
Doug
I've looked a number of times and searched every string i could think of, but can't find my issue. Some issues others have had to deal with were close although not quite the same.
My 1998 Ultra has had an issue with the volt gauge moving from near 14v down to 8v. The needle swings rapidly up and down the scale. It'll hold steady sometimes and other times it drops to 8 and doesn't budge until I restart and it stays up near 14v -- for awhile. Engine temp and air temp doesn't seem to be a factor.
I had the stator replaced last August. Everything was cool for the 120 mile ride home but within a week the gauge was swinging wildly again. This spring I installed a new battery and all was good until about a month ago. I've checked the regulator with both a test light and meter and all was good. Stator puts out about 56 volts. Battery is receiving a bit over 14 volts at around 2500 RPM. All grounds seem clean, dry and tight. I religiously use a tender every time the bike gets parked.
Any ideas?
Doug
Last edited by TheBaron; Aug 14, 2017 at 02:07 PM.
Premium Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 967
Likes: 40
From: Reno, NV
How about the Voltage Regulator, has that be changed ? A simple volt meter on your battery watching it for 5 minutes and seeing if drops or not. If it stays at 13.4 - 13.8 while hitting you bake, signals, hazards while its running, then it may be your gauge. And of coarse make sure your battery terminal are sung...
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,681
Likes: 8,413
From: Utah
Welcome to the Forum.
Sounds like you may have a Voltage Regulator going out.
This section of the Forum has "Stickies" that will guide you to check the charging system:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...ting-alarm-43/
Sounds like you may have a Voltage Regulator going out.
This section of the Forum has "Stickies" that will guide you to check the charging system:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...ting-alarm-43/
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 25,020
Likes: 19,431
From: New York
I am not sure if this is the same problem as your. A friend bike would not start. The battery is always hooked up to a battery tender(not a Deltran). The battery tender was showing battery fine. He was bring the bike down to an indy shop to have some work done. We jump started it as per the manual. Riding down to the shop, he noticed the volt meter constantly jumping around. We get to the shop and tried to start the bike up again, nothing. The shop check the battery, it was a dead. It also turned out the battery tender was not functioning correct.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
Seems to me you need to determine if the issue is the meter or the charging system.
I'd rig a set of wires from the battery to a DVM that I could see at the same time as the dash merer. If both meters react the same way, the problem is charging system. If the dash meter drops but the DVM stays constant the issue is the meter or its wiring/connections.
If you determine the charging system is at fault I would lean toward the VR as well but would hesitate to buy parts until I did a complete, systematic test of the entire system.
Has anyone asked if you've pulled DTCs yet?
I'd rig a set of wires from the battery to a DVM that I could see at the same time as the dash merer. If both meters react the same way, the problem is charging system. If the dash meter drops but the DVM stays constant the issue is the meter or its wiring/connections.
If you determine the charging system is at fault I would lean toward the VR as well but would hesitate to buy parts until I did a complete, systematic test of the entire system.
Has anyone asked if you've pulled DTCs yet?
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Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Houghton, MI
Thanks for the input. Nobody mentioned DTCs yet, but I pulled them a couple days ago. All it had stored was a 56, the cam/crank sensor code. The tender is from Harbor Freight, btw. Not the highest quality, I realize.
Doug
Doug
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 373
Likes: 90
From: australia
Seems to me you need to determine if the issue is the meter or the charging system.
I'd rig a set of wires from the battery to a DVM that I could see at the same time as the dash merer. If both meters react the same way, the problem is charging system. If the dash meter drops but the DVM stays constant the issue is the meter or its wiring/connections.
If you determine the charging system is at fault I would lean toward the VR as well but would hesitate to buy parts until I did a complete, systematic test of the entire system.
Has anyone asked if you've pulled DTCs yet?
I'd rig a set of wires from the battery to a DVM that I could see at the same time as the dash merer. If both meters react the same way, the problem is charging system. If the dash meter drops but the DVM stays constant the issue is the meter or its wiring/connections.
If you determine the charging system is at fault I would lean toward the VR as well but would hesitate to buy parts until I did a complete, systematic test of the entire system.
Has anyone asked if you've pulled DTCs yet?
+1 on the above ....
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 95
From: lancaster, pa
try tapping the guage. dead give away.
I replaced/upgraded to ecycle stator and vr 2 winters ago and guage started acting up , all over the place , then good for awhile. I knew i had gone through every thing carefully cause I did the work.
I replaced/upgraded to ecycle stator and vr 2 winters ago and guage started acting up , all over the place , then good for awhile. I knew i had gone through every thing carefully cause I did the work.
Last edited by voodoodrug; Aug 14, 2017 at 07:10 PM.
