Faulty reg/rec, battery, or both?

After the lunch stop at the GM the bike wouldn't start and had to get a push start. About a mile or so down the road I noticed the tach needle had spun round to it's limit and stuck there. A minute or so later I lost power completely, heard a big bang, and coasted to a halt - accompanied by a very burnt smell.

Battery was reading 9.5v when the AA turned up, and after a jump start he reckoned the charging voltage was switching between 0V and 30V. Got recovered home.

It's now been charging for 24h and is only showing 11.3V so I assume the battery is dead.

Then tried to test the reg/rec according to http://www.svdownunder.com/index.php?topic=12100.0 but not sure if my tester can do this. It has a diode test function but all I get is '1' on the screen.

So, things I'm wondering:

1. Was the big bang just a backfire?
2. What was burning?
3. What's up with the tach needle?
4. Is my battery dead?
5. Is there any other way to test reg/rec?

[Old Git]

I had intermittant non-starting, had no pattern would work for 3 weeks then not start, bump it then perfect for another week etc.etc.
Swapped the battery, everything was fine. Lots of peeps blame reg/rec as a matter of course, it could be that, but......
See if you can borrow a battery from someone & see if the symtoms persist.
I would go for new battery first then work from there.

[Geodude]

Have you tried this diode test http://www.electrosport.com/technica...ting-guide.pdf
Or this electrical diagnosis guide http://www.electrosport.com/media/pd...ng-diagram.pdf
Or have a read through my thread here http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=164281

Hope its of some use till the clever peeps come along

Battery had gone up to 12.6V since taking it off the charger, soon as I hit the starter button it drops to 3.5V so will get a new one tomorrow.

Thanks for the links Geodude. Have read all and great info but am not getting far enough to do most of the tests.

Will try other tests once I get bike started but tried the diode test again, and still always '1' - what setting should the meter be on? Only reading I get is 570 if I set it to ohms (with black tester on red wire and red tester on any of the yellows)

Hi i had a simalar issue with the battery looking like it was dead.
i wouldnt fit a new battery until you know the reg\rec is ok or a couple of weeks down the line the same might happen an destroy a new battery.

I know that people just assume its the reg\rec but its always best to check all of the bases first before you go spending on parts mate.
an if you had a burning smell then some thing must be wrong unless the battery is low on fluid an not charging properly.

[Geodude]

Originally Posted by Terah

Battery had gone up to 12.6V since taking it off the charger, soon as I hit the starter button it drops to 3.5V so will get a new one tomorrow.

Thanks for the links Geodude. Have read all and great info but am not getting far enough to do most of the tests.

Will try other tests once I get bike started but tried the diode test again, and still always '1' - what setting should the meter be on? Only reading I get is 570 if I set it to ohms (with black tester on red wire and red tester on any of the yellows)

Results i got are below but i also got '1' on the readings which i was told was the resistance of air so will always read '1'. I didnt understand the diode ohms test stuff either. Symbol on the meter should look like an arrow connected to a plus sign >+ in the ohms range and might also say 2k but may depend on the multimeter.

Originally Posted by Geodude

Done reg rec diode test and results are:

Multimeter* Black - probe to red wire on reg/rec
MM*Red + probe to yellow #1 wire ON REG/REC = 0.574
MM*Red + probe to yellow #2 wire ON REG/REC = 0.575
MM*Red + probe to yellow #3 wire ON REG/REC = 0.574

MM*Red + probe to red wire on reg/rec
MM*Black- probe to yellow #1 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
MM*Black- probe to yellow #2 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
MM*Black- probe to yellow #3 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
**1. is the readout on multimeter when nothing is connected so no change**

MM* Red + probe to black/white wire on reg/rec
MM*Black- probe to yellow #1 wire ON REG/REC = 0.563
MM*Black- probe to yellow #2 wire ON REG/REC = 0.570
MM*Black- probe to yellow #3 wire ON REG/REC = 0.565

Multimeter* Black - probe to black/white wire on reg/rec
MM*Red + probe to yellow #1 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
MM*Red + probe to yellow #2 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
MM*Red + probe to yellow #3 wire ON REG/REC = 1.
Again no change on meter

MM* Red + probe to red wire
MM* Black probe to black/white wire = 1.

MM* Black - probe to red wire
MM* red + probe to black/white wire = 0.887

Ahah. It's making a bit more sense now. With it on Diode test and set for resistance I'm getting sensible results, just on a different scale (I'm getting 570 instead of .570).

Will check it all again tonight but from memory I got:

Multimeter* Black - probe to red wire on reg/rec
MM*Red + probe to yellow #1 wire ON REG/REC = 0.570
MM*Red + probe to yellow #2 wire ON REG/REC = 0.570
MM*Red + probe to yellow #3 wire ON REG/REC = 0.570

MM* Black - probe to red wire
MM* red + probe to black/white wire = 1.108

[Geodude]

I gave up trying to test my reg/rec in the end as i didnt really understand the results and no one on here had done diode tests and got a new one just to be safe and got the similar readings on the new one? Fitted new battery also. Then fitted an extra earth wire from neg on reg/rec to neg on battery and its done the trick for me so far.

[punyXpress]

Had similar issues just before Aviemore ( not an SV though )
About 10 miles before, engine stuttered & dasjh went wild - change up lights & tacho went berserk. Had 3 cherries lit up, but no jackpot!
Stayed OK to Aviemore where it didn't start first time - no signs of life, but fired up 5 minutes later. No more problems, but that was part reason I didn't head further north next day.
Glad i didn't cos by Stirling same thing was happening! Like a fool I didn't check things before putting all that luggage on.
After a few miles getting slower & slower on M73 it finally stopped & had time on my hands to check it. Off with all the luggage & seat. Battery earth lead slack as a slack thing! Tightened up & it never missed a beat all the way home - about 250 more miles.
Have you actually removed your battery, & were the leads tight?
I was so very lucky ( & stupid! )

[yorkie_chris]

Don't bother with those diode tests just do voltage test at tickover and 5000rpm with lights on and off. If it is bad then test for voltage drop over charge wires. If that is OK then test alternator output. If that is OK then the reg-rec is knackered.

If it is overcharging it is more likely reg rec.