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Buell Forum » 1125R Superbike Board » Stator/Voltage Regulator/Charging System subforum » Voltage sys error. Stator burn out. » Archive through September 08, 2009 « Previous Next »

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Buellerandy
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 12:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hey guys,
Just wanted to post that I had a "voltage sys" error pop up last weekend on the way to a ride so obviously I took it in.

Turns out it was the stator so no biggie. I took my lil brother to see it at the dealership and he looked at it and asked "what color is it s'posed to be?"

I almost died laughing when I saw the look on his face after I told him "copper".

The thing was as black as the tires on the bike lol. So obviously warranty will have it sorted soon. For those that run out of warranty, a new stator is $650.00.

It appears that maybe the wire was coiled improperly on one of the stacks, so I'm pretty sure it was just a random defect.
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Ccryder
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 12:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

We have a joke in the "motor" industry (I work for Emerson EMR) that the reason the motor/ stator failed is the "smoke got out."

We spend 1,000's of hours and countless $'s trying to determine why a motor/ stator fails. The majority of the time is a termination issue or some contamination that causes the magnet wire insulation to be compromised.

As you noted that the stator was black. They start off usually a dark copper to dark brown color. When it gets hot both the insulation and the oil turns brown to black. Typically, where the hotest area is you can see swelling of the turns around the poles of the stator.

So that's my $0.02 of what I have learned over the past 12+ years playing with electric motors (btw, just our plant, can manufacture 10,000+ stators per day! Can you say mass production!).

Later
Neil S.
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Chadhargis
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 01:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Neil, sounds like you need to convince your company brass to strike a deal with Buell to supply stators for them. We could use another man on the inside.
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Oldog
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 01:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"what color is it s'posed to be?"

GOLD!

680$
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Thedavyboy
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 02:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I just had to have my cr towed in last weekend as it died while coming back from a ride . Dealer say's the stator and regulator were both bad on my bike .
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Chadhargis
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 03:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, it could be worse. You could have a VFR.
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Buellerandy
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 03:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

yeah, I'm not bitching by no means, just figured I'd throw it out there lol.
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Stevasaurus
Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 07:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There have been other threads for people with bad stators too, including mine. It's not epidemic, but it's not random either.

Even since it was replaced, the charging system has been a happy camper!
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Betzy
Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 03:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ok I was at the track today(left at 5am) and I unload the bike, no start! Dead as a door nail, so I boost it, soon as i lift off the jumper cables it pretty much dies. Long story short, i pack it all up drive 3hrs to dealer and they say it was just the battery, new one in on warranty, the guys at my dealership are awesome BTW.
How does one know if it is the stator and not the battery?
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Froggy
Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 08:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If its not the battery, your not going to make it very far before your in the same boat again.
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Avc8130
Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 09:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Should be able to tell by putting a multimeter on the battery. Or you can ohm the stator wires.

It SHOULD all be in the electrical diagnostic manual.
ac
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Cringblast
Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 09:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Voltage sys error is what the CR had.
Charged the battery and would not hold.
Drained out quickly after the charge.
Stator replaced under warranty.
C.
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Ccryder
Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yep a DVM can help you determine a number of things with your electrical system. A service manual can give the procedures to check things and the specifications it needs to meet.
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Betzy
Posted on Sunday, September 06, 2009 - 08:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Any direction as to location of stator wires?
For a ohm reading?
thks
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Kttemplar
Posted on Sunday, September 06, 2009 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My stator burned out about three weeks ago. I just got the bike back. It was fine one day and then the next day I went to start it and it acted like the battery was dead, but the battery had plenty of voltage. Luckily, everything was still under warranty. They replaced the battery, regulator, and stator.

Mike
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R2s
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I was Always told you should never jump start a motorcycles. The wire size in the charging system can't handle the amperage. This can fry your stator. And yep Neil, you can't put the smoke back in once it gets let out.
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Zac4mac
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 12:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"Jumping" is no different than starting normally, same current path.
Same as the old wives tale that if you put a battery on cement it will die. BS.

Betzy - the stator connector has 3 yellow wires IIRC, under the rider seat.
3-phase, all wires infinity to ground.
1-2, 2-3, 3-1 should read 0.1-0.3 ohms.

Z
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R2s
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 01:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Not true. The starter wires from the battery to the starter are large enough, true, but the charging system wires from the battery to the regulator and stator are of a much smaller size.

Both circuit are interconnected. You might get away with it some but I sure would never do it. That's why motorcycle battery chargers are of the trickle charger type and car battery chargers are not.

My Deltran Battery tender + has a charging rate of 1.25 amps. My car battery charger is rated at 15 amps. The motorcycle battery charger is over ten times less for a reason.
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Zac4mac
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 06:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

From the specs page at Buell.com for the 1125 -
Charging system:
37-amp, permanent magnet, three-phase alternator with solid-state regulator (520W peak power)

Battery Type and Specifications Sealed Lead Acid, maintenance-free, 12-volt, 12 amp-hour (per Battery Council International rating), 200 cca.

Just because your Deltran is 1.25A Max means nothing, sorry.

Is that hillside on the way to Black Canyon by Julian still used for shooting?
I used to go camping at the Canyon and stop there on the way for artillery therapy...

Z
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Avc8130
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 10:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I know people who have tried to jump start bikes. I always suggest they start the bike with the car/truck turned OFF. I personally know someone who did not heed this advice and fried their Regulator/Rectifier by jumping the bike off a RUNNING car/truck. Cars/trucks when running output a higher charging voltage than some bikes. This COULD be outside of the design realm for the bikes charging system and cause damage.

ac
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R2s
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 06:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I burned out a stator on a Honda I had years back doing something very similar. Some need to learn the hard way, that is fine. Maybe that's why so many have charging issues. All motorcycle specific chargers are low amperage for a reason.
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Ridenusa4l
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 07:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Zac

Are you talkin about Black Canyon, AZ or is this somewhere else lol?

Jake
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Blake
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 07:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Motorcycle battery chargers are smaller with less amperage because motorcycle batteries are smaller, a LOT smaller, than car/truck batteries on the order of 1/10th, so they likely cannot endure high amperage for long without risk of overheating and plate warping/shorting issues.

I agree with Zac, who knows his electrical technology.

How do you burn out a stator charging or jumping a battery?

I do know that some motorcycles, the Honda Gold Wing I think, do warn against jump starting them.
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Zac4mac
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 09:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I was talking about Black Canyon campground by Julian Calif.
A little place along a creek/river, half-dozen campsites.
When the water's flowing there are pools to swim in, jump off the rocks into.
The road fords the creek at one point...

I have some VERY fond memories from there, 30 some odd years ago.
Lots of parties, a hot rod Sportster and the Navy.

Back on topic, some charging systems, ECMs etc are less tolerant of voltage spikes.
Older CMOS stuff could be wiped out with the static from a cigarette cellophane.
Be smart, be smooth.
Hook up, then turn on, then start. no lost magic smoke.
Doesn't matter if the donor vehicle is running or not.

It's not the act of "jumping", it's the method that works or kills.

As usual, YMMV.

Z
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R2s
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 09:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Motorcycle Batteries put out a good amount of cranking amps for their size. they are small to save weight and to fit were there isn't a lot of room. The trade off is they don't store much. They can handle it. Try again.

Hey, do what ever you want, But its not a wives's tale I've seen it happen.
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R2s
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 09:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Don't turn a dead battery in to a bad stator. Don't jump start, use a motorcycle battery charger overnight to avoid problems. That's just good advise.
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Avc8130
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I beg to differ about the "doesn't matter if the vehicle is running or not". Cars generally charge at a higher voltage than motorcycles. It is a very real possibility that certain components on the motorcycle cannot handle the extra voltage.

If a good car battery will not start your bike without the car running, you have other issues than a dead battery.
ac
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Ccryder
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Anthony:

Are you confusing volts with current (amps). Because of the nature of 12v systems, they usually can't produce more than ~15v +/- .5v. Current is another story. Yep automotive alternators can produce a lot more current.

If you have a dead battery, most trickle chargers don't have enough amps to bring back a completely dead M/C battery. You can use an automotive charger at 2 amps and get it charged. After a few hours on the 2 amp charger you can then switch to the M/C charger to cycle the battery to full charge.

If push comes to shove (if that doesn't work) the best advice is to hook up the battery cables with both vehicle turned off. Allow the auto battery to charge the M/C battery for ~5 mins. and then try and start the m/c, still with the cables hooked up and the auto NOT running.

Hey if you are out there and your battery is dead, you need some way, besides a trailer, to get your ride started. I carry a set of jumper cables designed for an M/C. I've used them on other M/C just not mine.

Time4Sleep
Neil S.
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Buellsrule
Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 11:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Go to bed Neil. Your long weekend is OVER!
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Zac4mac
Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 08:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Anthony - unless you're talking about a truck with a 24 volt system, then no, cars with a 12 volt system do NOT charge at a higher voltage.

A 12 volt system is a 12 volt system. period.
In order to charge the battery, the source must be greater than the battery.
That means the source will be around 14-15 volts.
The greater the difference between the source and battery, the greater the current, constrained by the available current output of the source.

Think of Volts as the pressure in a pipe
The wire is the pipe.
Current is the Flow-rate in the pipe.
Resistance is how big the pipe's diameter is.
More pressure, bigger pipe - higher flow-rate.

Several points -
Jumping a battery is an emergency step, when you need to get home and don't have access to a trailer.
Charging a dead or low battery is also a similar situation.
A vehicle's charging system SHOULD be all that's required to keep the battery up.
Regular use of a Tender will keep the battery equalized and in top shape.
Equalization means that all six cells in the battery are in a low current charge-discharge condition that brings all six to the same voltage. good thing
Normal usage tends to produce a small variances in the cell to cell voltage which places uneven load on the cells. bad thing

Your m/c's lead-acid battery is a "shallow-cycle" device, it will last longer if it has a low current charge/discharge condition.
Running a battery down and then charging it will shorten the battery's life considerably.
The battery in the 1125s is a 12 Amp-Hour battery.
That means a flat battery will take 12 hours at one Amp, 6 hours at 2 Amps... One hour at 12 Amps.

If you notice your battery is draining, address the cause, ie. stator or regulator or both.
Everything else is only a "band-aid".

Zack
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