charging system problem?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Read this carefully:
Not the same thing.
Yes cleaning the connector's contacts can help but as MK pointed out you should unbolt the regulator and clean the mounting area so it makes a good solid ground to the frame where it's bolted.
Arcing and shorts can lead to damaging the stator by overheating it and melting the insulation in the windings and shorting internally, giving you a lower voltage. Either check the output of the stator with a test meter, you will be getting AC before the regulator which converts it to DC. Or open an inspection cover to the primary and take a whiff of the fumes. If it smells like a burning wire / transformer odds are the stator is damaged and needs replacement.
Yes cleaning the connector's contacts can help but as MK pointed out you should unbolt the regulator and clean the mounting area so it makes a good solid ground to the frame where it's bolted.
Arcing and shorts can lead to damaging the stator by overheating it and melting the insulation in the windings and shorting internally, giving you a lower voltage. Either check the output of the stator with a test meter, you will be getting AC before the regulator which converts it to DC. Or open an inspection cover to the primary and take a whiff of the fumes. If it smells like a burning wire / transformer odds are the stator is damaged and needs replacement.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
Based On
On my way to work this morning I noticed my volt gauge below 12 volts, with the passing lamps on it is usually a little above 12 volts, I turned the lamps off and it came up a little but still below 12 volts. When I was stopped at a light it sat in the same position, when going thru the gears after the light it would shoot up to over 14 volts when the rpm's got above 3,000 but drop back down to below 12 when cruising. When I got to work, is a 60 mile one way drive, I shut the bike off, then re started it, it started fine, the battery is 2 months old, am I having a problem? The volt gauge has not ever been below 12 volts before this morning.
In EVERYONE'S defense, all the cable and wire connections would have to be clean and tight in order for the system to be working properly all the time. Any loose or dirty connections could possibly cause an intermittent problem. As the problem was described, it is a constant (not intermittent) condition and once again I came to the conclusion of a probable bad battery.
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