Electrical problem/question
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 82
Likes: 17
From: Annapolis, MD
Electrical problem/question
Happy holidays all...
Here's my issue (potentially). Bike is an '09 Road King FLHR. Stock except for S&S cleaner and slipons. Running it with a Vance & Hines FP3.
When I start the bike it cranks fine, but immediately before it's going to start it almost sounds like it stops cranking before it bursts to life (my old high compression Chevelle used to sound like this). So far it starts every time.
But after it starts, I notice that the odometer (LCD on my speedo) resets to total vehicle mileage. I usually keep it on clock. I'm able to change it back to clock and it stays there for the rest of the ride, but it didn't used to do that. So I'm thinking I'm having some kind of voltage problem.
Battery is about 1 year old and ALWAYS on a conditioning battery tender.
So is it my Stator? Is it my voltage regulator? I'm worried one day soon I'll be stuck on the side of the road with no way to start the bike.
Where should I look in your experience?
Thanks
Here's my issue (potentially). Bike is an '09 Road King FLHR. Stock except for S&S cleaner and slipons. Running it with a Vance & Hines FP3.
When I start the bike it cranks fine, but immediately before it's going to start it almost sounds like it stops cranking before it bursts to life (my old high compression Chevelle used to sound like this). So far it starts every time.
But after it starts, I notice that the odometer (LCD on my speedo) resets to total vehicle mileage. I usually keep it on clock. I'm able to change it back to clock and it stays there for the rest of the ride, but it didn't used to do that. So I'm thinking I'm having some kind of voltage problem.
Battery is about 1 year old and ALWAYS on a conditioning battery tender.
So is it my Stator? Is it my voltage regulator? I'm worried one day soon I'll be stuck on the side of the road with no way to start the bike.
Where should I look in your experience?
Thanks
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Utah
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
To me it sounds like a weak or failing battery.
Or bad/loose connections.
Age and tender are not reasons to exclude the battery without a good check.
Pull the battery, charge it well - not with the tender - and have it load tested.
While it's out check and clean both ends of all wires that attach to the battery and tighten them well. Don't just look, take them off, clean them shiney and tighten.
From there you can grab a DVM and do the stator/regulator tests. But I seriously doubt your problem lies there.
Or bad/loose connections.
Age and tender are not reasons to exclude the battery without a good check.
Pull the battery, charge it well - not with the tender - and have it load tested.
While it's out check and clean both ends of all wires that attach to the battery and tighten them well. Don't just look, take them off, clean them shiney and tighten.
From there you can grab a DVM and do the stator/regulator tests. But I seriously doubt your problem lies there.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,822
From: Oklahoma
Nothing wrong with the above suggestions but while it still starts, simply checking the electrical system voltage at idle and around 2000 rpm should tell you about the stator and voltage regulator without having to disconnect anything. With 14 plus volts while the engine is running the charging system is OK. I too suspect a weak battery or oxidized or loose battery connections.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,198
Likes: 3,028
From: St.Louis Mo.
make sure connections at battery are tight and then see what it's putting out at idle. if it's 14.5 then pull battery and have load tested. make sure the compression releases are opening up if you have them.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 851
From: Puyallup, wa
You wont see 14.5 at idle. Charge the battery up and check the voltage at 1500 RPM you should see about 14.5 Volts DC at the battery. I would take a good long look at the battery.
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