Ultra Classic electrical problem.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Ultra Classic electrical problem.
Hello, I haven't been on here in awhile.
Here's some background on my problem.
I have a battery tender on my battery all this winter. I was going to ride in a funeral and went and warmed my bike up. Was going to take it for a shake down ride before the funeral acouple of days later. Well I warm it up and notice a loose panel, and to make it easier to tighten down(it was on the top of the fuel tank) I removed the seat and then replaced it. I had no power, so I removed the seat and started looking at wires and my battery post. The battery tender pig tail that I had installed on the battery sparked at the negitive post. So I removed the pig tail and reconnected the battery. So I take it for a ride and now my gauge on the dash for the voltage was fine but half way around the ride(less than 30 miles) the guage started going down and I lost my radio display and when I made it home it would not restart. Fast forward today. I charge the battery up and get it started. Same thing gauge goes down. I check the fuses and they seem fine. Looking at the wires and don't see anything that jumps out at me. I guess my question is should I keep looking at the wires or is it the alternator? And if its the alternator how much do they usually run.
Sorry for the long story.
Thanks for any help.
Here's some background on my problem.
I have a battery tender on my battery all this winter. I was going to ride in a funeral and went and warmed my bike up. Was going to take it for a shake down ride before the funeral acouple of days later. Well I warm it up and notice a loose panel, and to make it easier to tighten down(it was on the top of the fuel tank) I removed the seat and then replaced it. I had no power, so I removed the seat and started looking at wires and my battery post. The battery tender pig tail that I had installed on the battery sparked at the negitive post. So I removed the pig tail and reconnected the battery. So I take it for a ride and now my gauge on the dash for the voltage was fine but half way around the ride(less than 30 miles) the guage started going down and I lost my radio display and when I made it home it would not restart. Fast forward today. I charge the battery up and get it started. Same thing gauge goes down. I check the fuses and they seem fine. Looking at the wires and don't see anything that jumps out at me. I guess my question is should I keep looking at the wires or is it the alternator? And if its the alternator how much do they usually run.
Sorry for the long story.
Thanks for any help.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
could be alternator ( expensive for labor)
regulator
or a burned cable
best to have it go to an experienced tech unless you have a basic knowledge of auto-electrics
the service manual outlines the simple diagnostic checks with a voltmeter.
there is also a tutorial on the electrical tech forum, you could read it over
mike
regulator
or a burned cable
best to have it go to an experienced tech unless you have a basic knowledge of auto-electrics
the service manual outlines the simple diagnostic checks with a voltmeter.
there is also a tutorial on the electrical tech forum, you could read it over
mike
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 881
Likes: 13
From: ONT
Battery appears to be taking charge from tender so I would suggest the battery is good. Bike seems to be running off battery. You could have a bad voltage regulator, bad altenator, or just a bad connection to the bike. Look in your maintenance manual it will tell you where to put the test leads on your reg. and alt. If they check out good then you will have to find the bad connection. It could be just a bad ground.
I forgot to mention, you should first check to see if you are thowing any codes. If you are it will point you the right direction to start trouble shooting.
I forgot to mention, you should first check to see if you are thowing any codes. If you are it will point you the right direction to start trouble shooting.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 54
From: SE Wisconsin
Most likely you missed a connector when you removed the pig tail from the battery, there are several, one of which goes to the regulator (the one that charges the battery), check it and be sure they are all connected.
If they are all connected, I would check the battery first, then the regulator.
Let us know what you find.
If they are all connected, I would check the battery first, then the regulator.
Let us know what you find.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 881
Likes: 13
From: ONT
If the battery takes a charge from the tender and doesn't discharge right away when a load is put on it the battery is good. From what you are saying it sounds like the system isn't charging. To confirm battery is good take it to an automotive centre and have them check it out. It could be as simple as loose connection or a bad ground.
Another quick check is to take the inspection cover off the primary. If it stinks like (you know what) your stator is toast and will need to be replaced.
Another quick check is to take the inspection cover off the primary. If it stinks like (you know what) your stator is toast and will need to be replaced.
Last edited by Nute; Feb 22, 2012 at 06:40 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Heres a link to a video that will give you an ideal of where the stator/rotor (combined they make up the "alternator" for your bike) are located:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F_p3rsqjSA
Stinking primary fluid is a positive indicator of a bad stator.
My brother has his stator replaced at a harley shop for $200 total. Me, I would do the work myself, but that's just me.
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Club Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 937
Likes: 22
From: Ontario, Canada
Hello, I haven't been on here in awhile.
Here's some background on my problem.
I have a battery tender on my battery all this winter. I was going to ride in a funeral and went and warmed my bike up. Was going to take it for a shake down ride before the funeral acouple of days later. Well I warm it up and notice a loose panel, and to make it easier to tighten down(it was on the top of the fuel tank) I removed the seat and then replaced it. I had no power, so I removed the seat and started looking at wires and my battery post. The battery tender pig tail that I had installed on the battery sparked at the negitive post. So I removed the pig tail and reconnected the battery. So I take it for a ride and now my gauge on the dash for the voltage was fine but half way around the ride(less than 30 miles) the guage started going down and I lost my radio display and when I made it home it would not restart. Fast forward today. I charge the battery up and get it started. Same thing gauge goes down. I check the fuses and they seem fine. Looking at the wires and don't see anything that jumps out at me. I guess my question is should I keep looking at the wires or is it the alternator? And if its the alternator how much do they usually run.
Sorry for the long story.
Thanks for any help.
Here's some background on my problem.
I have a battery tender on my battery all this winter. I was going to ride in a funeral and went and warmed my bike up. Was going to take it for a shake down ride before the funeral acouple of days later. Well I warm it up and notice a loose panel, and to make it easier to tighten down(it was on the top of the fuel tank) I removed the seat and then replaced it. I had no power, so I removed the seat and started looking at wires and my battery post. The battery tender pig tail that I had installed on the battery sparked at the negitive post. So I removed the pig tail and reconnected the battery. So I take it for a ride and now my gauge on the dash for the voltage was fine but half way around the ride(less than 30 miles) the guage started going down and I lost my radio display and when I made it home it would not restart. Fast forward today. I charge the battery up and get it started. Same thing gauge goes down. I check the fuses and they seem fine. Looking at the wires and don't see anything that jumps out at me. I guess my question is should I keep looking at the wires or is it the alternator? And if its the alternator how much do they usually run.
Sorry for the long story.
Thanks for any help.
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2010, 2012, alternator, classic, davidson, electrical, harley, issues, limited, problem, problems, regulator, troubleshoot, ultra, voltage
