Need Help With Charging Issues

I'm going to continue my research but if you guys wouldn't mind helping me out in the meantime...

I just replaced a dead battery yesterday. I replaced my r/r with a FH020AA perhaps 2 days before. Tonight I was trying to get back home from work and the bike sputtered and then nothing. I got a co worker to jump start the bike but it still wouldn't get it started. I have a voltmeter mounted on the bike and it continued to read 12.5. Oddly enough, I gave it a running start and it indeed worked. The voltmeter continued to read 12.5 while I was on 4-6k rpms. I got home and just tried to see if I could start the bike again. Nothing. The voltmeter still reads at 12.5 while the bike is off atm. Can anyone help? 

Btw, it's a 98 vfr800. 
 

12.5 isn't enough. Should be charging more along the lines of 13.8-14.5.

Did you do "the drill" & check the stator output?

Sounds like you replaced a good RR, and the real problem is the stator.

You didn't mention if the motor cranks and won't start, or if everything is simply dead.  In addition to the above, if everything's dead, also check the main fuses, particularly at the starter relay and be sure the connections there are clean and tight.  

This was at 1:30 in the am so didn't do any real checking beyond the main fuse, which is okay, so I guess that's up to today. The motor doesn't crank anymore. When I turn the key, the lights turn on but that's about it. Thanks you guys. 

I  know  it  seems  to  be  over  cautious  to  replace  both  the stator  and  R\R  BUT  your's  is  a  example  of  why  most  of  us  do. 

haha, yeah I honestly don't know why I didn't also replace the stator. My last bike I just did all three at once. I'll pull the cover off and see if she's crispy. Thank you

Check the stator output and resistance levels with a multi-meter. Are your lights bright?  do they turn off when the starter is supposed to be starting?  I wonder if its a starter switch issue and some compromised wiring.  I love the VFRness.

Lights are dim and turn off when the starter is supposed to be starting. I will say that the reason why I had to replace the r/r was because there were some burnt wires but I had a shop look over that. Seems about time I buy a multimeter.

After installing a VFRness, I got an extra volt out of my recharging system.  It sounds like some power might be lost in the connections.

Seems about time I buy a multimeter.

You're never gonna know how the system is doing without one. 

Could be just a dead/damaged battery. They can show a high enough voltage at your voltmeter but no cranking amps to get the motor going. Have the battery tested at your local dealership or cycle parts store and buy a new one if it does not pass testing.

Seems about time I buy a multimeter.

You're never gonna know how the system is doing without one. 

I know I'm stumbling one foot after another but is there a link/how to on how to test, with the multimeter, the electrical system? I'm assuming it's more than just the battery.  :blush:

Download the Service Manual it's all in there

Seems about time I buy a multimeter.

You're never gonna know how the system is doing without one. 

I know I'm stumbling one foot after another but is there a link/how to on how to test, with the multimeter, the electrical system? I'm assuming it's more than just the battery.  :blush:

And  remember  when  one  fells , most  times,  the  other  component  is  affected.

For  me  the  one  I  did  not  replace usually  craps  out at  about  150  miles  from  home .  

Thanks for the help guys. Remember that shop I mentioned installed the r/r?, well it seemed that the wires from the stator to r/r were only crimped and not soldered so one was disconnected. I'm taking the bike back to the shop for them to repair it but to pay two bills for crimped wires is a bit f'ed. So I guess in the mean time I'll have them check anything else while they're in the process... just if I want them to look at it, I have to cease and desist for the moment. 

I want to ask, would one stator to r/r disconnected wire cause the symptoms that I'm having? Thanks guys.

yes

YES  +1  .....

haha obvious right? I just don't know if I want to ditch this shop, do the repairs myself  then it be something else and thus be hosed by any 'warranty' I get from the shop. They fucking crimped the wires though. That's just irritating to type. 

Crimping wires is one thing, connecting 2 of the 3 wires from the stator is another, incompetence I'd say. Get a $10 multimeter from Harbor Freight, then go through https://www.electros...ing-diagram.pdf

after they correct the stator connection of course.