What does your voltage gauge read?
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
What does your voltage gauge read?
Mine has always read between 14-15. I noticed last Saturday, that it was up well over 15, almost to 16. It's under warranty so I took it up to the local Harley dealer (Bossier Harley, Bossier City, LA). I went out with the service writer, he started the bike, and yep, 15.5 volts. He calls me back a couple hours later and says that the charging system is OK. Charging 14.2-14.5 volts. So I said, great! You put a new gauge on, right? He said, "no the gauge is reading fine". I don't want to be an azzhole, but I don't want him blowing smoke either. We both saw the gauge reading high when I dropped the bike off. What would cause the gauge to fix itself? The tech probably pulled off the stator lead plug on the front of the motor, and maybe the plug at the regulator. I'm guessing, I don't KNOW that he pulled off any plugs. But if he did, could just doing that fix the volt meter? Maybe a plug was dirty, or maybe one was a little loose.
Thanks
David
Thanks
David
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 154
From: Buffalo, NY
Nothing to offer here other than seeing what the answers are. Mine, a 2004, is always reading 15 to 15.5. I'd swear it always read 14+. Wondered if my 6 year old battery is going because this year only it can be hard starting at times
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Those voltmeters, like oil gauges, are not good for your health! They are not very accurate and in the case of the voltage, when in doubt use a multimeter. Get used to how YOURS reads and when it changes, check with your multimeter. We've been suffering pangs of anxiety over the darned things since before the internet was invented!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
Those voltmeters, like oil gauges, are not good for your health! They are not very accurate and in the case of the voltage, when in doubt use a multimeter. Get used to how YOURS reads and when it changes, check with your multimeter. We've been suffering pangs of anxiety over the darned things since before the internet was invented!
they didnt even have a fuel gage until the 1980s and life was good before.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
I understand that the gauge isn't accurate, but Mr. Brown hit the nail on the head. In my case the voltage needle was always in the center(+/-). Then last Saturday, it went way over almost pegged on 16. Is it really 16v? Probably not, but sure as hell, it wasn't in the center anymore either. I knew something was wrong, and that it needed to be fixed before it boiled my battery.
BTW, I just heard back from the dealer again. Service writer said that they changed my voltage regulator. I have no clue why he originally put a load of BS on me that there was nothing wrong. Of course I haven't picked the bike up yet either. We'll see.
David
BTW, I just heard back from the dealer again. Service writer said that they changed my voltage regulator. I have no clue why he originally put a load of BS on me that there was nothing wrong. Of course I haven't picked the bike up yet either. We'll see.
David
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
The gage accuracy is poor at best. If they replaced it, the new one would be no better. Mine used to indicate between 14 and 15v when running until last year. Now it reads greater than 16v a lot of the time and sometimes it will come down to the 15v range. As long as it's reading "ballpark" and there's no engine trouble light, you're good. If it indicates around 11 or 12 with the engine off and increases with the engine running, things should be good. When it's pegged on zero, then you have (regulator) problems. Mine has been reading high with a seven year old battery and still does after I replaced it. Readings with a Fluke are in spec.
Last edited by Woodchuck; May 20, 2014 at 01:24 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I don't know if it is still the same these days, but I visited a huge processing plant many years ago and in the control room there was a wall of large gauges, measuring umpteen different aspects of the process. They were all set to read 'normal' at 12 o'clock. If any one of them moved an iota it was immediately obvious, but the next action was to investigate further.
Hence my comment about our voltmeter, in fact all of 'em. When they read something different to usual, investigate! Otherwise sleep easy....
Hence my comment about our voltmeter, in fact all of 'em. When they read something different to usual, investigate! Otherwise sleep easy....
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 248
From: Sterling IL.
Mine reads over 15 always and near 16. Being from a electronic a background, I'm tempted to add a resistor to get correct. Being near pegged is not a good indicator of what's going on. For sure will be hooking up dvm to verify what it really is. Have ignored but now concerned about over charging