Weird Recharging problem

Bagpuss · Post by **Bagpuss** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:56 am

Hello,
I've got a right problem with my storm. Its a 2nd hand one with 28K miles on it. It also has a powder coated frame. When testing the recharge, with lights off, I get the proper voltage readings across the battery rising to 14.5v. As soom as I put the lights on (I 'll check but it may even be just the parking light), the voltage goes down instead of up as I increase the revs. On a good charged battery it does from 13v down to about 12.5v. After a few attempts I've even had it drop into the 11.5 volt range.

I've also been finding that after a good ride the bike is OK, unless I put the lights on. In this case its around 20 miles to a battery weak enough that starting the bike cold the following morning again is a no go.

I've tried unplugging the rear lights and testing,voltage goes silly, even removing the front bulb, again voltage goes silly.

Anyone got any clues. My thoughts were a short somewhere in the wiring thats dumping all this power into the frame, if that makes sense? Or after powder coating its a bad earth in the lighting? Or the other is the rectumfrier is not taking one of the power sources from the alternator.

I've tested the alternator thats fine. Its had a good reg/rect put on from a another 2 bikes and both give the same wacky voltage. The dealer even wired in a second earth to the reg rec incase it was a poor earth on this. I've followed the recharge curicuit testing from the service manual and the Electrex(?) guide. All checks out fine unless I put the lights on.

RAINMAKER · Post by **RAINMAKER** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:59 pm

i HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM............ITS LIKELY THE REG/RECT THATS GONE OR AT LEAST INTERMITTANT AND THAT COOKS THE BATTERY.
IF YOU RENEW BOTH REG/RECT AND BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME IT MIGHT BE THE ANSWER.............IT WAS FOR ME.

Bagpuss · Post by **Bagpuss** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 11:24 am

I've had a new battery, swapped out the reg/rect stator and CDI/ECU (?) unit. It didn't seem to make a difference, but its going back to the dealer on Sat so I'll mention that you had.

yellafella · Post by **yellafella** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:10 am

Your recharge may be showing, but at what current ? Think you may have a charging problem ?

Bagpuss · Post by **Bagpuss** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:38 pm

I'm not sure at what current I havn't run a test on that yet. Presumably with the voltage drop it should be insufficient.

I think a nice man from the dealers is going to turn up in a van and wheel it away for some work. Hopefully this time it will return good.