Electrical Fault?

[hang0ver]

The ol' FZR400 had a bung battery so brought a new one, had it charged and put it in.

It ran fine for the next couple of rides with a huge improvement, then it slipped back into its old ways...

It's now a couple of weeks later, she's having trouble holding an idle on a cold start (with the throttle on), you need to rev her like crazy to take off on a slight incline. Low down power is also really weak & the headlights pulse when revved.

Are these symptoms of an electrical fault? And if possible what kind?

Sorry if this is a no brainer, but I don't have any experience with this stuff...

Cheers,

_-H-_

[idb]

The ol' FZR400 had a bung battery so brought a new one, had it charged and put it in.

It ran fine for the next couple of rides with a huge improvement, then it slipped back into its old ways...

It's now a couple of weeks later, she's having trouble holding an idle on a cold start (with the throttle on), you need to rev her like crazy to take off on a slight incline. Low down power is also really weak & the headlights pulse when revved.

Are these symptoms of an electrical fault? And if possible what kind?

Sorry if this is a no brainer, but I don't have any experience with this stuff...

Cheers,

_-H-_

Sounds like a charging problem to me.

Put a voltmeter across the battery with the bike running and lights on.
Rev it and look for the voltage to rise to 13V or so.

If not then you've got a charging issue.

[Paul in NZ]

Do you have access to a meter and kinda know how to operate one?

If you do - it's relatively simple to test the basics. If not - I can guide you through it here or in real life (up to you). I have several spare 'bits' if required but its either....

Stuffed alternator

Stuffed rect / reg

Dirty contacts

or a combination of above

Cheers

[hang0ver]

Do you have access to a meter and kinda know how to operate one?

Hey Paul,

I'm sure I can get hold of one, but have no idea of how to operate them.

I'd definitely be keen to take you up on the offer (in real life).

It's going into Motorad for a service friday, so I'm gonna ask them to give it some thought. I'll keep you posted with how it goes...

Cheers,

_-H-_

[JimO]

i had a similar thing on my boys NZ it would charge the battery until the headlight was on then it would use more than it was making, it ended up needing the charging coils replaced and i was lucky enough to get a set from another kiwibiker as having the old ones rewound was going to cost hundreds

[Paul in NZ]

Sweet as....

I would charge the battery before every ride. the easiest way to root the system is to expect the poor old alternator to charge a flat battery - they just are not up to it - thin wires, old connections etc etc.

I've got mine on trademe with all the spares but I will have a spare rect/reg.

How about you charge the battery up next day or so and then come out to our place saturday morning and we could take a look see. Basically, we need to remove the fuel tank cover and the fuel cell and bungie that to the workmate so we can get to the rect/reg and alt output wires and still run the engine. I have about everything we need except if the alternator is rooted and it has to come off - things will get a bit tricky..

Cheers

[hang0ver]

How about you charge the battery up next day or so and then come out to our place saturday morning and we could take a look see. Basically, we need to remove the fuel tank cover and the fuel cell and bungie that to the workmate so we can get to the rect/reg and alt output wires and still run the engine. I have about everything we need except if the alternator is rooted and it has to come off - things will get a bit tricky..

Cheers

That would be awesome.

I don't have a charger, but I should be able to sort something before then.

I'll give you a PM on friday evening after I get it back from the shop.

Cheers,

Hamish

[hang0ver]

I've got mine on trademe with all the spares but I will have a spare rect/reg.

Oh yeah, just read up on that project, sounded like that bike turned out great (looked damn good too)...

You'll get a fright when you see this one!

How much are you listing it for anyway?

[Paul in NZ]

Oh yeah, just read up on that project, sounded like that bike turned out great (looked damn good too)...

Thanks

You'll get a fright when you see this one!

No worries.... I have rubber gloves.... (and a hose and a bucket too if you are keen) (erm - that could be read wrongly - I mean to clean the bike)

How much are you listing it for anyway?

Its an auction - I'm not supposed to tell as it kinda ruins the punchline...

Tell the shop and they should charge the battery up for you.

[hang0ver]

No worries.... I have rubber gloves.... (and a hose and a bucket too if you are keen) (erm - that could be read wrongly - I mean to clean the bike)

Haha, I think its gonna take a lot more then a hose & bucket to get it looking cosmetically 'Ok', but at this stage I just want it to be somewhat mechanically sound!

_-H-_

[Paul in NZ]

Well we got it sorted...

Diagnosed by the bike shop as a fucked rect/reg... "Could be $350 mate" when all it needed was some contacts cleaned and an extra earth strap ffs. Total cost = zero..... (well ok a bit of time 'cos we fixed a few other things too and all the bits were in different places to mine - damn Japs)

Folks - I'm not very clever but it didn't take us long to sus out - well worth buying a meter I reckon

[riffer]

Geez Paul what would the Kapiti Coast Kiwibikers do without you mate?

Well done.

[Paul in NZ]

Geez Paul what would the Kapiti Coast Kiwibikers do without you mate?

Well done.

Actually I've been playing fairygodmother to the Eastbourne KB's Simon... That FZR came from there and I delivered a slightly battered bike there sunday night to a fairly sore chappy we met coming back from picking up kermit with the trailer on sunday - not a nice way to meet new faces on KB. Shit happens and we get unlucky somedays eh!