little troubleshooting help
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 1
From: Palm Coast Florida
little troubleshooting help
Hey guys,
While riding in this morning just after topping off the gas tank (maybe about 10 minutes after that) I happened to notice my battery light and engine light had come on. It is the first time I have had any issues with my bike so my first thought was to pull over and turn it off and re-start just to make sure it wasn't a false signal or what not. It stayed off for about a block or two then popped back on both lights again. At this point I am far enough away from home that I just ride on it about 15 - 20 minutes to work. No issues pop up, no odd sounds/stutters or anything. seems completely normal. I notice my battery gauge is about 10 as opposed to the normal 14 so I am guessing time to swap the battery. I was just curious if the battery alone could cause this or if there may be a bigger issue going on.
any ideas? did some research on these forums and it seems like maybe a voltage regulator? or should I try the battery first?
While riding in this morning just after topping off the gas tank (maybe about 10 minutes after that) I happened to notice my battery light and engine light had come on. It is the first time I have had any issues with my bike so my first thought was to pull over and turn it off and re-start just to make sure it wasn't a false signal or what not. It stayed off for about a block or two then popped back on both lights again. At this point I am far enough away from home that I just ride on it about 15 - 20 minutes to work. No issues pop up, no odd sounds/stutters or anything. seems completely normal. I notice my battery gauge is about 10 as opposed to the normal 14 so I am guessing time to swap the battery. I was just curious if the battery alone could cause this or if there may be a bigger issue going on.
any ideas? did some research on these forums and it seems like maybe a voltage regulator? or should I try the battery first?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
your charging system may be bad.
the electrical section has a diagnostics section.
get a voltmeter and take readings at the battery, the in dash meter is not accurate.
diagnosis is better than replacing parts until it is fixed.
mike
the electrical section has a diagnostics section.
get a voltmeter and take readings at the battery, the in dash meter is not accurate.
diagnosis is better than replacing parts until it is fixed.
mike
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 1
From: Palm Coast Florida
Thanks for the input this morning. I was browsing the charging system tests write up in the electrical section and may start that this evening when I get home.
Currently I do not use a tender but may pick one up on way home just to be safe. I ride pretty much daily unless the weather is just way too bad which isn't that often. May double check all battery connections right quick just to cover that easy check.
Currently I do not use a tender but may pick one up on way home just to be safe. I ride pretty much daily unless the weather is just way too bad which isn't that often. May double check all battery connections right quick just to cover that easy check.
DO the most cheapest thing check the cables for tightest and corrosion.then go to the next step battery,charging system(expensive)
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 7
From: D/FW Texas
your voltmeter tells you what your charging system is doing. Sounds like your regulator to me. BTW, never put a chrome one on, the regulator generates heat and chrome does a poor job of disipating heat. For the same reason, don't add a fancy chrome regulator cover...they block the airflow into the fins, therefore defeating the cooling effect. We all know that heat is not the friend of electronics
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 1
From: Palm Coast Florida
Well just in case was curious,
Drove the bike home from work Friday, it made it about halfway home before the electrical system completely died out on me and the bike stalled on the road. Luckily I had my wife following me home as I figured this was going to happen. Sent the wife to the store to grab me a battery so I could make it the remaining 10 minutes to the house. Once I installed the battery (which is nice to do at 10:00 pm on the side of a busy highway with no lighting at all other then the cell phone) I fired her up and was able to get her home. Never got a chance to test the charging system but Saturday I hit the Harley dealer and grabbed a new voltage regulator, quick install and bike seems to be up and running. No issues so far with the battery or check engine light and the battery reading on the gauge is back up to 14.
So $340.00 later everything is back on track. Luckily, after 7 years, it was a good time to replace the battery anyways so I don't feel quite as bad buying that.
Drove the bike home from work Friday, it made it about halfway home before the electrical system completely died out on me and the bike stalled on the road. Luckily I had my wife following me home as I figured this was going to happen. Sent the wife to the store to grab me a battery so I could make it the remaining 10 minutes to the house. Once I installed the battery (which is nice to do at 10:00 pm on the side of a busy highway with no lighting at all other then the cell phone) I fired her up and was able to get her home. Never got a chance to test the charging system but Saturday I hit the Harley dealer and grabbed a new voltage regulator, quick install and bike seems to be up and running. No issues so far with the battery or check engine light and the battery reading on the gauge is back up to 14.
So $340.00 later everything is back on track. Luckily, after 7 years, it was a good time to replace the battery anyways so I don't feel quite as bad buying that.
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