Constant low voltage

[Chameleon]

Use to be that the volt meter on the dash would jump from 13 to 14 volts. Now when I sit at idle with headlight off, it is a steady 12, turn on the headlight and it drops to 11, turn on the radio and it drops to 10.5.

My voltage regulator had been changed 5 years ago and the current battery is 3 years old. If I charge the battery overnight, it starts out at the old 13 to 14 when at idle with the lights off, turn them on and it immediately drops to 11 again.

I don't have an ammeter, I suppose I should buy one and figure out how to read it!

Any thoughts?

sounds like battery to me... but I don't know nuthin'...

[dynageno]

I have to agree with Mike, but I don't know nothing either

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by Chameleon

Use to be that the volt meter on the dash would jump from 13 to 14 volts. Now when I sit at idle with headlight off, it is a steady 12, turn on the headlight and it drops to 11, turn on the radio and it drops to 10.5.

My voltage regulator had been changed 5 years ago and the current battery is 3 years old. If I charge the battery overnight, it starts out at the old 13 to 14 when at idle with the lights off, turn them on and it immediately drops to 11 again.

I don't have an ammeter, I suppose I should buy one and figure out how to read it!

Any thoughts?

I don't know anything either, but it doesn't sound like your charging system is making enough juice.

How often do you have to charge the battery?

[LittleBear]

Cruising down the road at 2500 rpm with the lights on what does it read?
If it reads between 13 and 14, I would say your battery.

[Type O]

sounds like a regulater or ground .but get a volt meter and check the bike running.at 1200 rpm 13 volts

[Chameleon]

Originally Posted by LittleBear

Cruising down the road at 2500 rpm with the lights on what does it read?
If it reads between 13 and 14, I would say your battery.

Guess I forgot to add that part, cruising down the road, it stays at 11, doesn't go higher or lower unless I turn on the radio, then it drops to about 10.5.

If I turn off the headlights when cruising, it goes back to 12 volts.

[LittleBear]

Originally Posted by Chameleon

Guess I forgot to add that part, cruising down the road, it stays at 11, doesn't go higher or lower unless I turn on the radio, then it drops to about 10.5.

If I turn off the headlights when cruising, it goes back to 12 volts.

You need to drag out the manual and check the stator output. Have the battery load tested to make sure it does not have a shorted cell. If the Stator and battery are good the Voltage regulator is toast.

Might put a real meter across your batter and measure the voltage when you rev the motor. Sometimes the ones on the bikes go funky. If it reads the same as your on board meter, then follow advice above.

[flhpi-ohio]

is 16~20VAC @ 1000RPM

[Berserker]

Like people have said, when bike is running your running off the stator/rotor.

Follow the wires back from the volt reg, there is a connector. Depends on year. Probably on on the frame cross member above volt reg. Atleast it is on TCs. Need to unplug. Check AC volts, with bike running. Will vary with RPM. Manual will give you volt range for every 1000 rpms.


I have one for 2001. I can look it up. But probably better off coming from a Evo manual.

They switeched to 3 phase sometime after that, so not sure. I have bought an elec manual for my 07, hoping to wait on that.


Also while you got the connector apart, read resistance, ohms from wire to wire, and wire to ground.

[Type O]

i have the Manuel for my 92 ultra i can look it up for ya if you would like me to . just let me know

[Type O]

MIGHT HELP

[Chameleon]

New Battery and voltage regulator didn't do the trick. Bought a new stator. Gonna install it after work today. Would a rotor ever go bad? Its just magnets.

[Geezer-Glide]

Originally Posted by Chameleon

New Battery and voltage regulator didn't do the trick. Bought a new stator. Gonna install it after work today. Would a rotor ever go bad? Its just magnets.

Not the rotor, but the stator can. It's just windings. One thing to check. Before you pull the rotor off, see if you can make it rock back and forth on the spline of the crank shaft. If you can, junk it. They're supposed to be on so that you really need the puller to remove them. If it's wiggling, it can make contact with the windings of the stator, then....... POOF! All gone!

[Berserker]

I don't know what the failure rate is on rotors, but I would think the magnets could come loose. Thats why the manual, and printed on the comp nut, do not use impact wrench. Though it seems like a alot of people do.

I hear of stators failing here and there, but are people really diferentating, which it really is?

Out of curosity has the volt reg been changed before? How long have you had it? Volt regs seem to be a Harley weaknes, and is almost a maintance item, to me. Sad.