Troubleshooting test...

**Ragingrob** · 14th February 2008, 13:26

Hey guys, so I'm having some problems with my bike and it's all leading to the regulator/thingy...Problems have been such as cutting out, lurching when I throttle back, large lack in power when accelerating...

Squiggles and I ran some troubleshooting tests for voltage today on the battery and here's what we have :

Fully charged battery : 12.8V (no engine)
Bike running : 14.5V
Bike running after heating up the regulator : 12.3V!!!!!
After 5mins of running, battery : 12.6V (no engine)

Does all this run in accordance with a stuffed regulator? Any advice or suggestions other than that? Or sounds definitely just like getting a new regulator?

**arj127** · 14th February 2008, 18:17

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Hey guys, so I'm having some problems with my bike and it's all leading to the regulator/thingy...Problems have been such as cutting out, lurching when I throttle back, large lack in power when accelerating...

Squiggles and I ran some troubleshooting tests for voltage today on the battery and here's what we have :

Fully charged battery : 12.8V (no engine)
Bike running : 14.5V
Bike running after heating up the regulator : 12.3V!!!!!
After 5mins of running, battery : 12.6V (no engine)

Does all this run in accordance with a stuffed regulator? Any advice or suggestions other than that? Or sounds definitely just like getting a new regulator?

Sounds pretty normal to me, although was the engine running voltage measured with a few revs up or was it just idling. When my reg was stuffed the stator was putting out 18volts at maybe 5000rpm.
Before i figured out that the reg was f'd the bike had previously stalled on me (on the motorway of all places) and would not start till maybe ten minutes later (reg needed time to cool i would say).

**Ragingrob** · 14th February 2008, 18:26

Normal as in normal broken regulator lol? Measured while engine was idling...

**Steam** · 14th February 2008, 18:39

I can't help sorry, but this flowchart for fault-finding it worth its weight in gold...

**Ragingrob** · 14th February 2008, 18:43

Originally Posted by Steam

I can't help sorry, but this flowchart for fault-finding it worth its weight in gold...

Cheers for that, it's awesome! So far we've been following the manual trouble shooting... But this one rocks!

**arj127** · 14th February 2008, 19:10

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Cheers for that, it's awesome! So far we've been following the manual trouble shooting... But this one rocks!

Crank the revs up, if it goes above 14 the reg is more than likely stuffed.

**Ragingrob** · 14th February 2008, 19:32

The revs were at idle and it was on 14.5V! OK so pretty certain it must be that huh? I think I've found a very nicely priced 2nd hand one so maybe I'll grab that and hope it all sorts out!

**arj127** · 14th February 2008, 20:46

Yep probably stuffed reg, but charging system generally puts out 13.8+, so i would be inclined to start the bike and rev it over 5/6 grand. If its putting out around 17v/18v you know the reg is gone. Is it the original reg? It is a common Honda problem.

**arj127** · 14th February 2008, 20:48

Hope the second hand one is not a Honda original or you may be going down the same track with it again.
Ring Red Baron and see if they still have the reg that i purchased.

**Ragingrob** · 14th February 2008, 21:00

Is it a decent amount better? Because I can get the Honda one for $85 plus postage... That's a LOT less than $150 I must say lol!!! You think the original will just crap out again? Cause this one's lasting 45k and 20 years!

**Squiggles** · 14th February 2008, 22:16

Funny thing with that flowchart is that, without looking here, i found it randomly on the web at about the time you posted

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Fully charged battery : 12.8V (no engine)
Bike running : 14.5V
Bike running after heating up the regulator : 12.3V!!!!!
After 5mins of running, battery : 12.6V (no engine)

More:
While running after another 5 minutes: 13.3V
After that when revving at 9-10k: 13.9V
After switching bike off: 13.4
After allowing to cool for 5 (still off): 13.2V

9 hours later: 12.83V (from memory, was in the 12's)

I guess we/i shall be running through the flowchart tomorrow to find the problem.

**arj127** · 15th February 2008, 06:04

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Is it a decent amount better? Because I can get the Honda one for $85 plus postage... That's a LOT less than $150 I must say lol!!! You think the original will just crap out again? Cause this one's lasting 45k and 20 years!

Buy the Honda one if it has fins on it. I would put a good one on as when it comes time to sell the bike, anyone who nows Honda's is going to ask you if the reg has been replaced. Up to you.

**Ragingrob** · 15th February 2008, 16:15

OK, started going through that flow chart today and kept pointing towards the conclusion that's everything's fine!!!

Squiggles and I think it could've been a simple case of a slightly lose wire or contact point somewhere. We have cleaned all contacts and tightening all connections, will be riding it tomorrow and if all seems to be normal again I will cruise up north for a decent ride. If bad things happen again, then we're back to square one but at least we can rule out any bad contact points!

Grrr!

**davereid** · 15th February 2008, 17:56

Yeah, all the voltages you have quoted are entirely normal for a motorcycle. The alternator, rectifier and regulator are very basic, and it looks from the data you gave that the battery is charging OK without being overcharged.