• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Bizarre Charging Problem - 83 GS400E

  • Thread starter Thread starter n780
  • Start date Start date
Possibly you have a coil that is burned out(voltage drops at higher revs -) or some other short circuit.
Possibly the headlight bulb is too much. Possibly the PO put a very bright headlight bulb in.They can go to 100watts and still fit your bike, but it will kill it.

There are lots of things to check.
I would start with simple tests to see if there's any current flowing with KEY OFF....

and check for burned wiring under the seat etc.

Then move on to unexpected loads withKEY ON but headlight disconnected, STOP switch to STOP.


Also, where did you put sense wire from that ebay regulator? if it has one, that is. I'd put it on the sunny side of your fuse, so it is tasting battery voltage direct.

On my older '81 400E, I was able to easily discombobulate the always-on headlight, which I think is a good thing.The actual switch was there, but merely disabled in the factory.
 
I'll check the front bulb.

Already checked inline with key off: No current.

I'll need to do some digging around to see if I can find a toggle for the light. Regardless, I'll be taking a good look at all of the wiring.

I guess I'll go ahead and buy another R/R...

Local mechanic thinks it could be the rotor, sound possible?
 
Okay, here's where I'm at, but I'll preface this with a thanks to posplayr and everyone else helping me through this.

Back when I got at the stator I found that the threads were stripped at the drain plug. The mechanic who sourced the stator for me took care of putting it in when he tapped out some new threads. The stator was OEM and has a one-year warranty. That being said, he's super skeptical that the stator would have died right off the bat and suspects either the generator rotor or the R/R.

The R/R I have passes the diode test but, from what I understand, that's not conclusive. Further, the SH775 comes pretty well-recommended in my situation regardless so I'm sucking it up and purchasing that. Since I'll need to dump the new oil I just put in before I check the stator and rotor I'll wait until the SH775 comes in, fully charge the battery, install it and see what's up. If things are amiss after that I'll drain the oil and take a look at the generator components.

As I said earlier, at idle the stator is giving me 30 VAC between the leads. From what I understand that's not enough but the mechanic seems to think it's not the stator as at about 4,000 rpm the values reach about 75 VAC. This is in contrast to the fact that the voltage across the battery terminals drops as revs increase...

So, I'll wait and see when the R/R comes in. For the meantime I've checked what I can. As suggested above I looked at the from light, it's 55 W. I didn't find any switch for it but I'd rather just have it on like it's meant to be. The wiring's not a mess but there a hell of a lot of it. Connections that I can find all look fairly clean.

So, is there anything I should be doing now or is waiting for the R/R the next step.

Thanks again.
 
n780 said:
Okay, here's where I'm at, but I'll preface this with a thanks to posplayr and everyone else helping me through this.

Back when I got at the stator I found that the threads were stripped at the drain plug. The mechanic who sourced the stator for me took care of putting it in when he tapped out some new threads. The stator was OEM and has a one-year warranty. That being said, he's super skeptical that the stator would have died right off the bat and suspects either the generator rotor or the R/R.

The R/R I have passes the diode test but, from what I understand, that's not conclusive. Further, the SH775 comes pretty well-recommended in my situation regardless so I'm sucking it up and purchasing that.
Click to expand...
Yes your should

Since I'll need to dump the new oil I just put in before I check the stator and rotor I'll wait until the SH775 comes in, fully charge the battery, install it and see what's up. If things are amiss after that I'll drain the oil and take a look at the generator components.

As I said earlier, at idle the stator is giving me 30 VAC between the leads. From what I understand that's not enough but the mechanic seems to think it's not the stator as at about 4,000 rpm the values reach about 75 VAC.
Click to expand...

Those are proper readings; The 75 VAC at 4000 is right in spec and apparently nothing wrong with the stator



This is in contrast to the fact that the voltage across the battery terminals drops as revs increase...
Click to expand...

It is indicated in both the Quick Test and the Revised Stator pages Phase A that this is a clear indication of dirty connections.

So, I'll wait and see when the R/R comes in. For the meantime I've checked what I can. As suggested above I looked at the from light, it's 55 W. I didn't find any switch for it but I'd rather just have it on like it's meant to be. The wiring's not a mess but there a hell of a lot of it. Connections that I can find all look fairly clean.

So, is there anything I should be doing now or is waiting for the R/R the next step.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

...............................
 
Ok then. I'll get a brush and some cleaner, scrub every connection I can find.
Once I put the new R/R in I'll post the results.
 
n780 said:
Ok then. I'll get a brush and some cleaner, scrub every connection I can find.
Once I put the new R/R in I'll post the results.
Click to expand...

The main connections to worry about is everything between the R/R and the battery which includes the fuse box. You can do the headlamp later.

Looks at the grounding requirements of GS charging system health.

I'm doing thsi right now

Navel Jelly to cut through the cruddy stuff
flush with water
solder
detoxit
 
All good info. Will get on it this weekend.
Thanks for keeping me sane.
 
SH775 finally came in. Finally charging, finally!
OEM stator, scrubbed and secured wiring and proper R/R. Feels good.

Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top