Yesterday, my 54k mile 08 plate 6th Gen started giving me some strange indications on the voltmeter I have fitted;
Sub-3k rpm <12v, >3k rpm (after a few seconds) charging fine (green). Voltmeter is a Sparkbright Eclipse, decode here.
Checked some voltages last night but left the numbers at home so can post them later but suffice to say I don't think it's the battery as it was showing good voltage.
Found some corrosion in the larger of the 2 reg/rec connectors and cleaned that up but again this morning, was getting some poor charging indications (low 12v) and I couldn't get it to go >13v above 3k rpm like yesterday.
I struggle understanding electrickery and can do some more diagnosis tonight/this weekend but any helpful thoughts would be appreciated.
I'm guessing it's the r/r on the way out but happy to be advised otherwise.
I notice DSS don't stock an r/r for the 6th Gen so I assume it is a different part # than for the 5th Gen and therefore incompatible??? Wemoto stock 2.....is the more expensive one better?
Thanks for any assisstance. :beer:
Figures from yesterday (will pop out shortly and see if they've changed):
IGNITION ENGINE voltage across battery terminals after cleaning connector just now
OFF OFF 13.04v 13.4v 13.04v
ON OFF 12.25v 12.5v (lights are ON) 12.15v
ON IDLE 14.6v 14.6v 12.3v
ON 5k rpm 14.77v 14.77v 14.4v
Of note, at IDLE just now, the reading started at 12.3v then went randomly up & down as low as 2v and at 5k rpm, it started in the low 13's then moved up to 14.4v. Below approx. 3k rpm, after a few seconds, it goes back to low 12's.
Is there any more diagnostics I can do in order to ascertain whether it is the r/r or the alternator?
Thanks.
You fixed it !!!
Unfortunately not. Now quite consistently around low 12's at idle when it should be charging. It did seem to sort itself yesterday but this morning's start up showed it was still doing it, even though the r/r was cold (I've heard that it can overheat and cause problems).
I think I edited the above post after your post.....sorry.
You fixed it !!!
Unfortunately not. Now quite consistently around low 12's at idle when it should be charging. It did seem to sort itself yesterday but this morning's start up showed it was still doing it, even though the r/r was cold (I've heard that it can overheat and cause problems).
I think I edited the above post after your post.....sorry.
I would next disconnect the rr and start the bike and check stator output and if it good replace the rr.
But with the mileage I would replace both .
^^ What Switch said. Stators and R/R's do get tired - when cold they can seem ok but then as they get hot they can display erratic behavior. At 54,000 miles, IMO it's almost a given that it could use a new stator.
I had a similar issue with voltage readings - turned out I had not tightened the ground from the voltmeter to the frame. Could be an intermittent connection someplace. Some good preventive maintenance is to go over all the charging system connections and treat with Oxgard - it should help rule out any bad connections.
Ok, thanks guys.
I figured it's either the r/r or the alternator but are there any tests I can do to identify which it is? I'd rather buy a replacement for an unserviceable item than for one that is working fine and waste my money.
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Thanks m8. Tried that but the only result was your post above. Was there another search parameter?