Pretty sure I have a failing VR. Brand new battery from last summer, and it's a HARLEY battery. Voltage meter dips on my 2007 FLHX occasionally - mostly in warm weather. Drops til the battery and engine check lights illuminate. After shutdown/restart, the voltage returns to normal.

Other times, voltage begins to drop.....then I pull the clutch in and rev the motor and the voltage goes back to 14. Other times, meter will be slow to get to 14 volts on start up. Problem is intermittent, but cannot go a long distance away from home for fear of draining battery completely and VR crapping out altogether.

Battery connections all tight. Checked as many grounds as I can find...all seem tight.

I know the VR is pretty cheap as parts go, do I need to jack the bike to replace it? Any special tools needed? Anyone have the procedure text to replace it out of the manual?

If it's an easy change out, I'd like to do it myself and try and save some $$. If it doesn't fix the problem, then I'll let the stealer take a look at it.

Help is appreciated....

 

No need to jack the bike up, but it my help save your back. It is located if front of your motor right behind the front fender. There is a connector that is mounted under it from the stator and the wires from the voltage reg run along the right side frame and up to the battery. Find where all this is and check the connections to be sure these are tight and making a good connection (no corrison). If you find everything good than you also know how to replace it.
Not a hard job at all. You may find removing the battery is needed to do this and having it checked to be sure it is not defective is a good thing to do as it is possible that even a new battery can be bad. Most dealers will check them for free if you bring them the battery.

 

Thank you Dragon!!

 

At about 8k miles I replaced thew stock VR on my 09 SG w/ chrome. I'll gladly sell you my oem for a fair price, shipped to your door. If interested, PM w offer.

Jef

 

I'd begin by reseating the regulator-stator connection plug. Unplug it from the regulator and examine it for arcing, etc. Clean it and then carefully reseat it into the regulator - ensure that it is locked in place.

Don't rule out the stator as a problem - but I doubt it - that would be a catastropic failure.

It is crucial that the regulator be properly grounded - ensure that the cable on one of the regulators mounting bolts is tight to the frame on both ends.

 

The DIY Electrical section has stickys on checking your charging circuit, so you can find what is wrong, before buying new stuff!

 

Yes, just as drbrown said, there are many self help threads on how to test everything. I just replaced my stator. I replaced it with the cycle electric 3 phase set up. VR is very simple to replace and they stator is easy but take a lot more time!
Here is a thread that I recently started and received a lot of good advice:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...to-itself.html