Voltage Regulator / Electrical System Issue
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 52
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From: Ohio
Voltage Regulator / Electrical System Issue
I have a 2012 Ultra Classic. Shortly after buying the bike I had the voltage regulator replaced due to the issues on the 2012 bikes (mine went crazy right when the issue was addressed). Yesterday I was riding the bike to work as usual when my engine and battery lights come on for no reason and my volts drop. About 1 mile later, the volts go all the way up, settle back to normal and both lights go off. On the ride home everything is fine, no issues.
Today I ride the bike to work and the same issue happens. On the way home, my volts are low, dash lights are dim but the headlight / passing lights are fine, and the engine and battery lights DO NOT come on. About 1 mile into the ride everything goes back to normal. There is nothing else going on with the bike to indicate a problem.
I work afternoon shift so on the ride in it is sunny and warm, ride home is dark and cool.
Does it sound like the voltage regulator needs replaced again? I doubt this one is under warranty at this point.
If you do think it is a regulator problem, can you recommend a good aftermarket regulator since the HD model has crapped out on me 2 times.
Thanks,
Rider718
Today I ride the bike to work and the same issue happens. On the way home, my volts are low, dash lights are dim but the headlight / passing lights are fine, and the engine and battery lights DO NOT come on. About 1 mile into the ride everything goes back to normal. There is nothing else going on with the bike to indicate a problem.
I work afternoon shift so on the ride in it is sunny and warm, ride home is dark and cool.
Does it sound like the voltage regulator needs replaced again? I doubt this one is under warranty at this point.
If you do think it is a regulator problem, can you recommend a good aftermarket regulator since the HD model has crapped out on me 2 times.
Thanks,
Rider718
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, TX
I have 2013 Limited that seems to be doing the same thing. I started off on a ride Saturday and everything was fine, 60 miles into it, the check engine light came on as well as the battery light, volt meter showed just under 12 volts. For 20 miles the lights came on and back off, each time when the lights went off the volt meter would jump to 14+ volts. Being concerned of being stranded in the Texas hill country, i shut the radio off and passing lights, a few minutes later all lights went off and the volt meter is again around 14 volts. Everything is fine now, but I know there is an issue. I checked the battery connections and nothing loose there. Maybe we are having similar issues, I'll wait and see if anyone responds with something else to check.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 469
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
Had same issue last couple of weeks on my '07 Ultra. Took the battery out, it looked fine, no swelling, put it on a charger overnight and had it load tested next day. It passed the load test, date code said it was exactly 2 years old.
I went to the electrical section here and did the stactic tests on the stator and regulator. I think it was the number 2 test on the regulator that failed so bought a very expensive regulator from the dealer, which also failed the same test... so much for those tests. Can't return electrical items. Installed it though and everything seemed OK until a week later when I was 70 miles into a ride I stopped for a minute and the battery was dead.
It happened to die in front of a motorsports dealer. My only choice was to buy their $200 Interstate battery or get towed, and I was still going to end up buying a battery. So I changed it out in the parking lot. My old battery was swelled up on one side, wasn't that way a week prior.
In the end I think it was only the battery all along, just couldn't believe a bad battery could cause the volt meter fluctuations, really seemed like a stator or regulator issue.
I went to the electrical section here and did the stactic tests on the stator and regulator. I think it was the number 2 test on the regulator that failed so bought a very expensive regulator from the dealer, which also failed the same test... so much for those tests. Can't return electrical items. Installed it though and everything seemed OK until a week later when I was 70 miles into a ride I stopped for a minute and the battery was dead.
It happened to die in front of a motorsports dealer. My only choice was to buy their $200 Interstate battery or get towed, and I was still going to end up buying a battery. So I changed it out in the parking lot. My old battery was swelled up on one side, wasn't that way a week prior.
In the end I think it was only the battery all along, just couldn't believe a bad battery could cause the volt meter fluctuations, really seemed like a stator or regulator issue.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 14
From: Pollock La
Yep, get you another regulator. I found it helped with my case when i took pics, and video of when it was doing it. since the first time i took it in they "couldn't duplicate the problem" i showed them the pics, the video and told them i would be contacting HD directly with the pics and info. i lucked out when the service writer started the bike up the volts wouldn't go above 9v on the gauge, he saw it, service manager saw it, and an older mech saw it too. what was said next boiled my blood BAD.... the mechanic standing there said "just rev it up the volts will go up and it will be fine."
** side note at this point i was "that a**h#le customer in from of him and the service manager ** and went stupid on him. looked the service manager square in the eye and yelled loud enough that they heard me up in the show room "REV IT UP.. REALLY... REV IT UP.. that how you fix things around here a certified harley mechanic says REV IT UP to fix the problem, what kind of chicken s*#t operation are you running here, EFF-it, i got his name i'll call harley with this shi*#!
i was then escorted outside (still really pi$$ed) and she said he was going to be dealt with, and she asked that i calm down, my bike would be completely diagnosed and the part changed.
hadn't had a single issue since..... with the regulator OR the local service department at the HD dealer!! even got a gift card and a 10% coupon for my next full service!
** side note at this point i was "that a**h#le customer in from of him and the service manager ** and went stupid on him. looked the service manager square in the eye and yelled loud enough that they heard me up in the show room "REV IT UP.. REALLY... REV IT UP.. that how you fix things around here a certified harley mechanic says REV IT UP to fix the problem, what kind of chicken s*#t operation are you running here, EFF-it, i got his name i'll call harley with this shi*#!
i was then escorted outside (still really pi$$ed) and she said he was going to be dealt with, and she asked that i calm down, my bike would be completely diagnosed and the part changed.
hadn't had a single issue since..... with the regulator OR the local service department at the HD dealer!! even got a gift card and a 10% coupon for my next full service!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
I'm on my 3rd regulator. First one replaced under recall and the 2nd one failed about a year later. It was doing something similar to what you are experiencing.
I'd put a regulator on the bike and be done with it.
I'd put a regulator on the bike and be done with it.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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On my second regulator and stator on my 13. They said the pins between the two on the plug were starting to burn. They replaced it under warranty after a lot of back and forth and they finally saw the issue for themselves. My bike now has 23K miles and the first was replaced about 4000 miles ago.
We'll see what happens with this one but so far so good.
We'll see what happens with this one but so far so good.
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Just had my voltage regulator replaced but only 25 miles ago so I don't know if that's going to cure my electrical problems, since they've been occurring from the first week of owning my 12 Heritage. It also had the voltage reg recall in July 12 but the bike was already acting up before replacement. If it ever stops raining in S Fl I'll get the bike out to see.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Had a bike repair buddy come over and check out the electrical system. All checked ok. I checked the battery connections and both the positive and negative connections were loose - approx. 3/4 turn each but definitely not tight. I tightened them up and everything seems to be working good again. Going to take a short ride here in a bit and will see how it works out.
Rider718
Rider718