WTH is going on with this charging system? I know...discusse

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

There is a 4-page PDF of charging system fault-finding at www.electrexusa.com look under tech support (link on the left).

Thanks, got it already.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

Have you ruled out grotty connections?

Pretty much by this time, any bad connections I feel I would have found. At least I hope that I would have. Will check again just to make sure that I am at least looking.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

Since replacing the battery has it gone flat again, or have trouble being charged?

The new battery did indeed go flat as ya'all put it. Shortly after getting the new battery my friend put it in and checked the charging system with my VOM. I wasn't there, but he says that it was reading pretty much as I described already. The bike died on him as it ran out of gas. Not realizing that this was the reason he continued to try and restart the bike, hence draining the new battery.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

The first battery was definitely scrap if the voltage dropped that far on starting, but at the moment, is there still a problem?

You'll get no argument from me! Definately Toast! There isn't a problem per se with the new battery but I want to nip it in the bud and ensure that it doesn't end up like the old one before its time due to a faulty charging system.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

As well as the alternator/RR producing more juice for charging at higher revs, the ignition system is also gobbling it up at a greater rate, and I reckon there will be a bigger internal voltage loss in the battery cos of the higher current.

I really didn't look at this too closely, it just seemed a little off the beaten path for charging problems. But I have to continue the tale. When my friend refilled his fuel tank and we tried to start the bike it just wouldn't fire up at all. I finally said to heck with it and we pulled the plugs. Holy Cow! One Denso and on NGK and neither the right heat range for this bike. Both were carbonized and produce a very faint spark.

Well we changed out the plugs with correct NGK's and it fired right up on jump start. Now the bike runs and starts every time. But I wonder if the coils are pulling too much for the stator to replenish? So far all we have done are short trips that involve a lot of idling, but I am worried about trips at speed where the charging voltage drops to a point where everything is driven by the battery.

Again thanks to you all.

[johnnyrod]

I doubt the type of plug would make a lot of difference to the current drawn by the coils, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong. The only real way, as all the other tests etc. seem to check out okay, is to get a fat ammeter to check the charging current. Some car shops sell them to retrofit to cars I think, could be worth a look. To be honest, I don't think you've got anything to worry about. If the headlight has been returned to stock (i.e. not pulling a ridiculous current, but these run fine with a pair of 60W bulbs anyway) and there aren't really any other things using the juice e.g. alarm, stereo, fag lighter, heated seat, demister fan, electric back window etc., then there should be no problem. The alternator should pump out enough current at any speed to run the bike, and there should be plenty of wallop at higher revs. Ride it and see, or get an ammeter, I think you've eliminated the rest of the stuff.

Something to remember, flattening a battery can kill it, though new ones are more resistant. I'm sure oyu knew that already.

Were you experiencing any problems with the guages flickering while riding?
I sure am but Im not sure how to check the voltage and resistance of the stator. Can you help me? The bike runs perfect but the guages turn off and on when riding but when the bike is at idle they work fine. I can be going a hundo down the interstated and the guages wont work but as soon as I pull the clutch in and coast with the motor idleing the guages come back on. A friend of mine had the same problem and said it was his stator, but I want to make sure first.
Thanks,
Damian