Fluctuating current?

[Colapop]

I noticed the RF has a 'flickering' headlight. When I rev the bike the headlight is brighter and when I apply the brakes it's dimmer. Is this standard or do I have a fault that I need to find and address?

[James Deuce]

Get your regulator/rectifier checked (swap yours out with a known good - there's a lot of good bastard RF owners in Wellington). Check the battery is charging, check the alternator output across the rev range.

[Patch]

do what James has suggested but wire in a relay (http://www.ebbo.org/headlamp_relays.php) to your headlight as well - helps the bulb illuminate to its full potential.

I did have an easier diagram somewhere but I dunno what I did with it :weird: It ain't as hard as it looks

Try here for Suzuki Parts (http://www.racewaysuzuki.com.au/)

[CookMySock]

At a low idle it's normal for the alternator to reduce output to where the lights dim just a little. If they are dimming heaps at idle I'd say it was a shot battery (edit: especially if its sluggish starting). If the same is happening but at much higher RPM then I'd say get your stator or rectifier checked.

Steve

[vifferman]

Before you get too carried away with replacing stuff, check your connections are clean and tight, particularly the battery terminals, earth connection, and any plugs in the circuit. Corrosion on these is common, and can significantly reduce output voltage, and even melt plugs, burn wires, or kill your R/R.

I have a fault-finding chart for diagnosing stuff like this - I'll see if I can dig out a reference to the online version I printed it from. It's been useful so far for diagnosing electrical system faults in my last two bikes.

Here you go (http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/fault-finding-guide.php).

Do you have a multimeter? You should be getting over 13V at idle, and up to 14.x volts at ~5k rpm. It shouldn't get lower than 12V or much higher than mid 14s at any revs.

[Colapop]

Never been any good at 'lectrics. I have access to a meter but it's got dials and guage and screen an things - quite scary!!

I have the parts for a relay already so I may try that as well as cleaning up the connections (which still scares me!)

[Finn]

I had the same problem with a dyno on my Raleigh 20. The trick is to just keep peddling.

[ManDownUnder]

If it only happens on idle - don't worry about it.