Fluctuating Voltmeter
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From:
Fluctuating Voltmeter
Coming home from 120 mile trip, very hot, air temp between 110-120, check engine light came on, saw volt guage at 8, while running at speed, volt go up to 10 if lucky, then at red light, go up to 10-12, but when i started moving/accelerating volt drop to 8, then at highway speeds, settled to 10-12 volt. Made it home, next day battery dead, wont start. PS, i turned of all accessories. Am charging batt now, will do all checks from manual, would like some input from others, thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Glenside Pa.
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
Check to see that the battery cables are tight. Make sure the ground wire is tight down by the starter and the ground wire at the voltage regulator.Charge the battery and hook up a volt meter directly to the battery, start the bike up voltage to go up to 13.5 to 14 volts. If not I would suspect the voltage regulator is bad. That is the most common charging problem. Good luck.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
ORIGINAL: ironhorse62
Coming home from 120 mile trip, very hot, air temp between 110-120, check engine light came on, saw volt guage at 8, while running at speed, volt go up to 10 if lucky, then at red light, go up to 10-12, but when i started moving/accelerating volt drop to 8, then at highway speeds, settled to 10-12 volt. Made it home, next day battery dead, wont start. PS, i turned of all accessories. Am charging batt now, will do all checks from manual, would like some input from others, thanks.
Coming home from 120 mile trip, very hot, air temp between 110-120, check engine light came on, saw volt guage at 8, while running at speed, volt go up to 10 if lucky, then at red light, go up to 10-12, but when i started moving/accelerating volt drop to 8, then at highway speeds, settled to 10-12 volt. Made it home, next day battery dead, wont start. PS, i turned of all accessories. Am charging batt now, will do all checks from manual, would like some input from others, thanks.
and do the test yourself.
May be the regulator or stator.
www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1207_motorcycle-maintenance.htm
Peter
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 0
From: NH
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
I had something similar to what you are describing,my volt meter never moved while running,,got stuck in some real heavy traffic,bike got hot enough that i show it down,I ended up having to replace both the stator & rotor,wasn't a cheap repair replacing the 45 amp police stator
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
Ironhorse, HDF has a DIY sub-forum(?), that has an excellent two-part diagnostic/trouble-shooting threads--essentially what you'd read if you had the HD Electronics Diagnostic Manual. Take a look at the threads--should be a help in figuring out what is going on.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,865
Likes: 32,874
From: King George, VA
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
The air temperature is the clue. Check your electrolyte level in the battery. I'll bet it's low.
hahaha, at first I thought the thread title was Flatuating voltage.
hahaha, at first I thought the thread title was Flatuating voltage.
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
RE: Fluctuating Voltmeter
my best guess is the rotor is bad, pull the primary, and check the rotor, and if you need to replace it, you dont need tp replace it with the police 45amp, drop it down to the standard road king/classic 35amp system,either the magnet has come loose and moved or the rivits the hold the rotor together have let go, very common on 99 model TC's, the OEM rotor is laminated instead of one peice rotor cover
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
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
