Yamxs850 wrote:
> hope the group don`t mind as it is non-harley......
> i`ve just recently changed carbs on my bike and thought
> this was the cause of
> difficult starting ,investigating further i used a borrowed meter and checked
> across the battery terminals, reading 12.4 volts ! with revs at 2k the reading
> 12.8 volts .
> Checked the resistance on the alternator, manual says .48 and i get reading of
> .9
> Can i assume from this that the alternator needs replacing (ouch).
> Also if the charging system is not working properly would this affect the cold
> starting of the bike (even after i fully charge the battery)
> When the bike is running (warmed up) there is a misfire from the exhausts,would
> a damaged charging system cause this ?Thinking that the spark is maybe not
> strong enough.
> Another pointer which may help is that after starting the bike with battery on
> full charge and letting it run for 20 mins. or so the battery does not have
> enough power to restart the bike
> Although i am going to get a 2nd opinion on my meter readings (not to sure i am
> doing it correctly) any opinions on this would be appreciated
> thanks
> stan.
>
>
What you really need here is an amp-meter, that reads up to the max capacity of the
charging
system. The most I've seen any HD put out is 60 amps. I use a clamp on meter that
will read to
500 amps (I use it for starter testing too).
Clamp the amp-meter on the regulator out put wire.
Put you volt-meter on the battery terminals. Note the voltage, then start the
bike.
Once it's running, check the voltage again, it should be higher than the initial
voltage.
You may have to run the bike above idle to get it there, but not higher that
cruising rpm.
Also, the amp-meter should show current flow.
If it is a harley you're working on here, if your battery is fully charged, and you
run the engine
at 2000 rpm, the voltage should steadily climb to 14.4 volts or so, then it should
peak there
and the current should drop off.
To do a full load test on the system, connect a battery load tester to the battery
at this point,
run the engine to 2000 rpm, and hit the load tester. The amperage shown will be
the maximum
the charging system is capable of.
Good Luck!
HogDr
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