Bad Voltage Regulator

Lifter · 06-01-2016, 09:35 PM

Hello Gang!

Today while on my way to work, I experienced periods where my bike was stumbling.

I pulled over and it stalled. After a rough resart, I was able to limp it back home while my bike had more studdering periods.

I stopped into my local bike shop and they used a multimeter on battery. When I opened the throttle, the battery voltage dropped some.

They then used the multimeter on the contacts for the regulator and diagnosed it as vaulty.

Also, I have recently had a hard time while starting having to turn the engine over long time or multiple times to get it started. I just assumed that the battery was cheap..

I have a regulator on order but I thought that I would ask the group if this sounds like that likely fix or should I save time and money trying something different.

Thanks again in advance!

Brad

blaine · 06-01-2016, 10:07 PM

Sounds like regulator to me!!!

Vegas Street Rider · 06-02-2016, 03:40 PM

Ditto on the regulator.

spldart · 06-02-2016, 07:38 PM

I had one fail on me. First symptom was dim lights, slow blinkers and eventually it would crank slowly and not start. It ran just fine and with good power with a push start. (still dim lights though)
Replaced regulator and I'm fixed.
Testing charge system is very easy.
Put your meter on volts.
Good battery at rest = high 12's
Good battery with good charging system engine at 2k rpm. Mid 13 volt range
Good charge battery at 2k rpm with bad regulator. Low to mid 12 volt range.
Bad charge system and depleted battery will be low 12's or lower. Lower will not crank the bike to start.
If you need bad battery advice I can help there too.
Meters are cheap.
Trust me on the advice... There is a little various from bike to bike but it should be close enough.

Vegas Street Rider · 06-03-2016, 10:44 AM

Thanks Spldart. We all learned a lot. Off topic, how did things turn out after your accident?

spldart · 06-03-2016, 10:53 AM

After speaking with my attorney I can say I'm doing good. Bike isn't what it was even after all the money to repair and apparently my claim is going to suit.
Don't wanna say to much.

Lifter · 06-03-2016, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the help gents!.. Sorry to hear about the accident

The bike is new to me this month. I can't say I observed any dimming but it has been hard starting from the beginning. It might be they were always dim/slow. I found the headlight dim but had no frame of reference. My blinker indicator has been working intermittently but I hadn't started to diagnose that yet...

I don't have a tach so I did my best to get the test numbers you asked for.

Here is what I tried

Before I started bike: 12.7
After start while idle: high 13
Rev half way : mid 13
Idle after that: climbs over 14
Turn off: back to high 12

I'm going to take these few days for some maintenance and pull and clean carb tonight.

I figured I would have to do some repairs this spring so im looking forward to having a bullet proof smooth running commuter!

spldart · 06-03-2016, 08:03 PM

"Before I started bike: 12.7
After start while idle: high 13
Rev half way : mid 13
Idle after that: climbs over 14
Turn off: back to high 12"

Your charging system is working. Maybe not perfect but it is definitely working.
I'll guess it always turns over for you... jerp jerp jerp... always the same. Just hard to start.
Carb is the way to go.
And check your valve clearances.

Sorry! One more thing. Pull the spark plug and if you can take a picture of it and post it here. We wanna see the
end that make the fire. Electrodes. If it's a brand new plug then nevermind. But if it's been in there firing with the
problem we may be able to 'read' it for a lean or rich condition.

spldart · 06-03-2016, 08:12 PM

Oh... And you did good on the numbers

And if you do get the plug out and post it or not post it but wanna try to read it yourself....
Google 'how to read spark plug' and look for pics till you find one with lots of pics of different conditions and what they mean.
Good is a light tan on a used plug.
A new plug is very hard to read. Need to get some hours on it first.

Lifter · 06-03-2016, 09:50 PM

Thank you for the quick response and encouragement lol

At first I thought it was a fuel supply problem and I've been meaning to clean carb.. Just too busy riding

Pulled the carb out but had trouble with screws that hold on float bowl. Going to try again tomorrow with bigger screwdriver. For now I have it filled up with seafoam to soak for night..

Have pic attached of plug

Any tips in taking off the generator cover cap?!? Took a pic of mine..

06-01-2016, 09:35 PM	#1
Lifter Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 15	Bad Voltage Regulator Hello Gang! Today while on my way to work, I experienced periods where my bike was stumbling. I pulled over and it stalled. After a rough resart, I was able to limp it back home while my bike had more studdering periods. I stopped into my local bike shop and they used a multimeter on battery. When I opened the throttle, the battery voltage dropped some. They then used the multimeter on the contacts for the regulator and diagnosed it as vaulty. Also, I have recently had a hard time while starting having to turn the engine over long time or multiple times to get it started. I just assumed that the battery was cheap.. I have a regulator on order but I thought that I would ask the group if this sounds like that likely fix or should I save time and money trying something different. Thanks again in advance! Brad Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-01-2016, 10:07 PM	#2
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Sounds like regulator to me!!! __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
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06-02-2016, 03:40 PM	#3
Vegas Street Rider Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,089	Ditto on the regulator. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-03-2016, 10:44 AM	#5
Vegas Street Rider Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,089	Thanks Spldart. We all learned a lot. Off topic, how did things turn out after your accident? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-03-2016, 10:53 AM	#6
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	After speaking with my attorney I can say I'm doing good. Bike isn't what it was even after all the money to repair and apparently my claim is going to suit. Don't wanna say to much. Last edited by spldart; 06-03-2016 at 11:12 AM.
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06-02-2016, 07:38 PM	#4
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	I had one fail on me. First symptom was dim lights, slow blinkers and eventually it would crank slowly and not start. It ran just fine and with good power with a push start. (still dim lights though) Replaced regulator and I'm fixed. Testing charge system is very easy. Put your meter on volts. Good battery at rest = high 12's Good battery with good charging system engine at 2k rpm. Mid 13 volt range Good charge battery at 2k rpm with bad regulator. Low to mid 12 volt range. Bad charge system and depleted battery will be low 12's or lower. Lower will not crank the bike to start. If you need bad battery advice I can help there too. Meters are cheap. Trust me on the advice... There is a little various from bike to bike but it should be close enough.
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06-03-2016, 07:54 PM	#7
Lifter Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 15	Thanks for the help gents!.. Sorry to hear about the accident The bike is new to me this month. I can't say I observed any dimming but it has been hard starting from the beginning. It might be they were always dim/slow. I found the headlight dim but had no frame of reference. My blinker indicator has been working intermittently but I hadn't started to diagnose that yet... I don't have a tach so I did my best to get the test numbers you asked for. Here is what I tried Before I started bike: 12.7 After start while idle: high 13 Rev half way : mid 13 Idle after that: climbs over 14 Turn off: back to high 12 I'm going to take these few days for some maintenance and pull and clean carb tonight. I figured I would have to do some repairs this spring so im looking forward to having a bullet proof smooth running commuter!
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06-03-2016, 08:03 PM	#8
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	"Before I started bike: 12.7 After start while idle: high 13 Rev half way : mid 13 Idle after that: climbs over 14 Turn off: back to high 12" Your charging system is working. Maybe not perfect but it is definitely working. I'll guess it always turns over for you... jerp jerp jerp... always the same. Just hard to start. Carb is the way to go. And check your valve clearances. Sorry! One more thing. Pull the spark plug and if you can take a picture of it and post it here. We wanna see the end that make the fire. Electrodes. If it's a brand new plug then nevermind. But if it's been in there firing with the problem we may be able to 'read' it for a lean or rich condition. Last edited by spldart; 06-03-2016 at 08:08 PM.
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06-03-2016, 08:12 PM	#9
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	Oh... And you did good on the numbers And if you do get the plug out and post it or not post it but wanna try to read it yourself.... Google 'how to read spark plug' and look for pics till you find one with lots of pics of different conditions and what they mean. Good is a light tan on a used plug. A new plug is very hard to read. Need to get some hours on it first. Last edited by spldart; 06-03-2016 at 08:14 PM.
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