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Need some opinions on volts
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 136
Likes: 6
From: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Need some opinions on volts
I am having this strange issue with my 2008 ultra.
When I first start my bike more often than not my volt gauge will hover right around 12 volts. When it does I will shut the bike off and repeat the process until it corrects itself. At times it may take more than 10 tries to get the volts to come up to normal. Once it does the issue goes away until the next time I start it. I have had the battery load tested the stator test ok and the voltage regulator seems ok with the test light. Cables are tight at the battery.
Any thoughts were to look next?
Regards Dave
When I first start my bike more often than not my volt gauge will hover right around 12 volts. When it does I will shut the bike off and repeat the process until it corrects itself. At times it may take more than 10 tries to get the volts to come up to normal. Once it does the issue goes away until the next time I start it. I have had the battery load tested the stator test ok and the voltage regulator seems ok with the test light. Cables are tight at the battery.
Any thoughts were to look next?
Regards Dave
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 675
Likes: 252
From: Alberta
From my flying days sometimes the only reliable information from a gauge is that you have one or perhaps the reading is more of a guideline. Maybe hook up a voltmeter and compare it to the gauge. Metres are fairly inexpensive if you don't have one.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 680
Likes: 224
From: Buhl, Idaho
I have an '08 FLHT that did that exact same thing. And I do mean exact same thing. Do yourself a favor, and get a new regulator, as the one you have now is giving you a heads-up that all is not well in regulatorland. A test light doesn't tell you what you need to know about the voltage being converted from AC to DC.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
For me it would depend on where im headed. 13 year old regulator may not be reliable for a long trip. If I was just riding local I might assume that has been common for the life of the bike. I have a jump box and I would toss it in the saddlebag and roll. It's not hard to change a regulator on the road. And around here and my favorite short vacation im rarely 50 miles from a dealership.
I wouldn't do those 10 starts every time. Id start once and see if it starts charging after a long ride. Choose a day when you can get help if needed.
I wouldn't do those 10 starts every time. Id start once and see if it starts charging after a long ride. Choose a day when you can get help if needed.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
My voltage regulator, ['06 Ultra], acted up sporadically for almost a year. Would charge fine for days, then quit. Sometimes like yours,I would shut off the bike and restart it and it was fine. I always thought that since it was a solid state unit, it would either work or not work, I was wrong! JP and Dennis Kirk sell 'Cycle Electric' regulators, and I think I bought mine on Amazon. Better and more reliable than HD.
Last edited by hdbob2006; Apr 24, 2021 at 10:29 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 2,134
From: W. Texas
Borrow or get a decent DVOM digital volt ohm meter. Ck voltage at the battery
If you have leads to hook up a battery tender you can use them to periodically test the voltage readings on a test ride. The leads should go straight to the battery.
If the only symptom you have is the volt readings on the gauge you maybe over thinking this a bit.
A bit of trouble but I have a set of leads that hook to the tender connector and to a small DVOM I can ride the bike and monitor the voltages
Will admit have seen alot of HD voltage regulators replaced because they are bad as well as people thinking their bad
Best of luck WP
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,525
Likes: 57,082
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
May seem silly but have you tried a "blip" of the throttle after starting ... "exciting" the system" ... Just a thought
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
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From: Oklahoma
The only other FREE suggestion would be to separate the plugs on the VR and clean both the pins and the plug sockets. If the problem continues, at least you won't replace a "good" VR that only had dirty connections.
