GN250 charging problem

**GN1NiteStnd** · 19th September 2006, 13:11

My GNs has slowly been going down hill for a while. Usually it starts as soon as you hit the starter button, but lately I have to get people to crash start it. Three times in about two months it has died while I was slowing down at an intersection, the lights on the dash get real dim before it dies. I had heated handle grips on my bike, but took them off a month ago thinking that was the problem. People have been telling me that the alternater is playing up, cause the battery is completely flat when it dies. Ive had it charged back up after each incident which keeps it going for a shorter and shorter period.
Does anyone know how much the alternater it suposed to take?
Though I doubt im running too much electricals.

I also need a GN manual, the link to download one in the older post doesnt work anymore.

Any thoughts guys?

**MSTRS:Me** · 19th September 2006, 13:33

How old is the battery? They don't last forever eh. Is Froggy stumped?

**GN1NiteStnd** · 19th September 2006, 14:03

The battery was replaced just after the cold duck.

**GN1NiteStnd** · 19th September 2006, 14:10

Frogs going to go over the bike with a multimeter tonight. He was also thinking of taking off the spotlights, and replacing the headlight bulb with something abit brighter, but he doesnt know how strong the bulb can be without putting too much stress on the electrical system.

**MSTRS:Me** · 19th September 2006, 14:10

In that case, you need to find out what voltage (if any) the charging system is putting out. It should be around 14v. If that is OK then you have a short or bad earth somewhere.
The brighter bulb would be fine but may have to add a relay too.

**Steam** · 19th September 2006, 17:19

I had the exact same problem, and it turned out the stator was stuffed. (The copper windings which generate the electricity.) It's bolted inside the side-cover on the left hand side. Just got a new one from the wreckers, it's easy to replace yourself and quite interesting to see inside.

**GN1NiteStnd** · 19th September 2006, 18:02

Hi guys, froggy here.

Samantha got it all wrong. Yes there is a charging problem on said gn, the alternator is producing current so its down stream from there. I have fixing that under control.

What i asked her to ask you was
1. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a gn250.
2. What should the alternator output be (in watts)

If anyone can help, please do.
Froggy.

**MikeyG** · 19th September 2006, 18:08

I've got an electronic copy of the GN250 workshop manual. Resoloution isn't great but most pages are legible.

25MB file so hard to email but PM me and I can send it on a CD or something.

Manual has wiring diagrams and details on alternator output, testing, etc

**Paul in NZ** · 19th September 2006, 19:05

Number one rule - don't assume the battery is OK untill you have tested it properly and don't try and diagnose anything untill you have a good battery fully charged.

**thehollowmen** · 19th September 2006, 20:25

Originally Posted by MikeyG

I've got an electronic copy of the GN250 workshop manual. Resoloution isn't great but most pages are legible.

25MB file so hard to email but PM me and I can send it on a CD or something.

Manual has wiring diagrams and details on alternator output, testing, etc

You have no idea how long that took to scan.

The other half of the project (putting it in pdf, orientating the pages and making it pretty and telling me what pages to re-scan) piked so... it is sitting in haitus as a zip.

**thehollowmen** · 19th September 2006, 20:27

Originally Posted by MikeyG

I've got an electronic copy of the GN250 workshop manual. Resoloution isn't great but most pages are legible.

25MB file so hard to email but PM me and I can send it on a CD or something.

Manual has wiring diagrams and details on alternator output, testing, etc

You have no idea how long that took to scan.

The other half of the project (putting it in pdf, orientating the pages and making it pretty and telling me what pages to re-scan) piked so... it is sitting in haitus as a zip.

**thehollowmen** · 19th September 2006, 21:10

reuploaded
http://rapidshare.de/files/33650929/GN250.zip

**merv** · 19th September 2006, 21:52

Regulator/rectifier is another likely candidate and needs to be checked out - hopefully that manual tells you what the correct readings off the reg/rec should be.

**FROSTY:Me** · 20th September 2006, 10:22

a much simpler possibiliity is that the spotlight/headlught combination is draining the battery faster than its able to charge. Just a thought.
Id suggest doing a calculation of how many amps are being drawn out of the bike by the spot/tailight brakelight to be sure it isnt more than the system can handle
That said I dont dissagree with the above posts.
Alternator windings,reg.rec unit would be my first two suspects.
ohh and a thought.If it is the alternator windings rather than just getting it rewound --why not see if you can get a higher output winding put in to cope with the heavier drain