G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Electrical - Battery, Charg Sys, Lights, Switches, Sensors & Guages » Electrical Archives » Archive through June 12, 2007 » Charging system not working right « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Shaiss
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 11:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

bike runs fine but the battery will drain.
Last night I topped of the battery. So with the bike running at 3000RPM with running lights voltage was 14.10. but when you turn the high beams on it drops to 13.6.
Then when you tap the rear brake you go down to 12.4.

As far as electrical mods:
rear is the ermax undertail from asb with led turn signals and 2 incadecent tail lights.
Incadecent aftermarket front turn signals
sportVue MC-1
Heated grips

I've had trouble with the batter for the last 2 weeks. Last week I put a new battery and everying was 100% good, till I aceidently left the lights on for an hour.

My shops saying the charg sys is messed up. What you guys think?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 11:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think your stator or voltage regulator is toast.

Pull the connection between the stator and voltage regulator, start the bike, and measure the AC voltage coming out of the stator.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Fullpower
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 05:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

As Reepi has indicated, you very likely have a regulator or stator problem, you may get lucky and find a corroded or melted terminal where the stator leads connect to the regulator, which will be a cheep fix.
For a point of reference, my XB will maintain 14 volts at an idle with heated grips, and electric vest plugged in. anything engine speed above 1500 rpm it will also maintain 14 volts with (3) 55 watt halogen lights, an HID low beam, and the previously mentioned accesories. The stock Buell (XB) 3 phase charging system is capable of running 500 watts continuously.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Shaiss
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 05:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Can you guys point me the right direction to finiding this terminal, or figuring if the stator or voltage regulator.

I have a multimeter which I dont how to use.

Are there any basic checks I can do to determine the issue?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Jackbequick
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Shaiss,

This thread in the KV is solid gold stuff for what you're trying to do. It has the detail and even some photos. Print it and study it a little and I'll bet you find the problem quickly.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/54010.html?1107789974

A multimeter (aka VOM) is easy to use. You want to play with it a little get a battery (DC) and use an wall outlet (AC) and figure out the switch settings and readings.

An AAA, AA, C, or D cell will show 1.5 Volts on DC, the wall outlet on the AC scale will show somewhere around 120V AC.

Careful with the AC, it can be lethal. Never touch the metal parts of the probes.

The Ohms scale should read "0" when probes are touched together. You may have a thumbwheel to use for setting it to "0". The Ohms scale is what you use for checking continuity on a wire. If you touch both ends of a piece of wire, it should be zero or very close to it. If not is is broken or shorted.

The simple or quick and easy things are to:

1 - Bike off, ignition off, touch the VOM leads to the battery posts and see what the voltage is. If battery is charged it will be about 12.4 Volts DC or higher.

2 - Start engine and hold a fast idle (1,500-2,000 RPM or so) while you check the battery posts again. With engine running you should see the charging voltage across the battery posts. That will be around 14.5 Volts or so. If voltage does not come up bike is not charging and either voltage regulator (VR) or alternator is bad or a wire is broken.

The output from the alternator is an AC voltage. You can test the alternator by pulling the two (or three?) pin connector down under the cam cover and oil pump. Check the resistance (Ohms scale, Rx100) to ground (engine or frame) for shorts and across the windings. The details on that are in the posts in the thread above. Reep is describing a tuber with a two pin connector there.

If you have a three pin connector on the alternator output wires the readings will be different and I don't know what they are But it should all be in your service manual.

If the AC into the VR is good, then you want to check the DC output voltage from the VR. That will be 14.5 Volts or so and is measured on a single black wire that comes out of the VR and that has a inlinee connector down in that same area where the other connector was.

Good luck!

Jack
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 11:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

And don't do anything to measure amps with the meter until you know what you are doing. Stick to the volts / ohms settings. That'll keep the smoking to a minimum ;)
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and custodians may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration