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Charging System Overvoltage

  • Thread starter Thread starter GSJim69
  • Start date Start date
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GSJim69

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For some reason I decided to check the charging system on my new to me '85 GS550L (mainly due to funny turn signal behavior that I posted about earlier). To my surprise, I measured up to 17 volts at the battery at say above 3,000 RPM (I don't remember exactly). I understand that this is an indication of a faulty Regulator/Rectifier. Is this correct?
Is there something else I should check?
If I do need to replace the R/R, what is a good source for purchasing one?
Can I ride the bike a few days until the new R/R arrives (weather is too good to resist)?
 
I understand that can happen if R/R is not grounded well enough. The r/r black wire is the ground wire, and is usally connected to a bolt that mounts the solenoid to the battery box, maybe a bad connection there. Is also an other wire on that same spot, a black/white wire that goes into the wiring harness and then connects to the frame, this is suppose to ground the battery box, maybe bad connection there at the frame.

This is why you will also hear recomendations to not rely on these connections and add your own ground wire from that bolt on the battery box (where r/r ground wire is) directly to the battery negitive.

The r/r regulates by switching excess current to ground thru that black wire, and if that black wire isnt making a good connection to the frame, or if the battery negitive isn making good connection to the frame, then the R/R cant regulate.

Other possibility is that the r/r has failed.

But easiest thing to try is checking the ground connections and/or adding your own additional ground wire.

Good that you checked the charging voltage. High voltage like that will burn out light bulbs and cause the battery to gass and "dry out". But those are long term effects, so riding it a few days not that much of a problem.
.
 
Last edited:
I check the wiring real quick. The black/white wire had a really poor splice/connection that showed signs of overheating. A previous owner covered this poor connection up with electrical tape. I replaced the splice, hoping that this was the cause.
I will repeat the charging test tomorrow and see what effect this had on it.

Thanks
 
Don't ride it that way !! Do you have another vehicle ? Check the battery voltage with it off just to verify meter reading. . should be 12.6 V. Chances are the reg is toast 17V the stator is putting out. No regulation by rect/reg
 
I've got the same issue. We had a warm spell yesterday, so I took the battery out of warm storage and low and behold the fluid level was at 1/2....Filled the cells to level and checked the voltage at the battery at 1,800 rpm and was getting 16.5 volts.
The rr and stator were replaced a few years back but who knows.
 
zehrmacht said:
I've got the same issue. We had a warm spell yesterday, so I took the battery out of warm storage and low and behold the fluid level was at 1/2....Filled the cells to level and checked the voltage at the battery at 1,800 rpm and was getting 16.5 volts.
The rr and stator were replaced a few years back but who knows.
Click to expand...

The R/R has failed, or you have a grounding issue. Battery might be cooked now also due to over charging.

On the GSR homepage there is a series of pages called the Stator Papers. It will lead you though the troubleshooting process.

Good luck.
 
the battery could be the cause for this problem!!!!

as with ANY motorcycle electrical issue start at the battery!!!

do not pass the step of removing it from the motorcycle loop first. (remove ground wire)

test and diagnose from there. most passed up detail because every one just bought a battery and it CAN"T be bad... huh? it's what?? but I I just bought it ~!!! do not buy low quality batteries batt plus or wall mart junk.

First interstate #1 Exide #2
after battery is assured good move on.

next is a poor ground.
then reg/rct.
 
trippivot

trippivot

I measured up to 17 volts at the battery at say above 3,000 RPM (I don't remember exactly).
Click to expand...

Filled the cells to level and checked the voltage at the battery at 1,800 rpm and was getting 16.5 volts.
Click to expand...

Hi,
I don't disagree that one should get a good battery but I don't understand this comment from you. Are you referring to the symptoms above? If so I don't see how a bad battery would cause an increase in the terminal voltage. Could you explain?


the battery could be the cause for this problem!!!!
Click to expand...

Pos
 
jwebb6906 and zehrmacht

jwebb6906 and zehrmacht

+1 on what Redman and Nessism said.

The symptoms that both of you describe (over charging, boiled out battery, hot connections) were very similar to my GS750EX when I got it. After carefully fixing the grounds between R/R and battery both positive and negative full system function was restored and there were no faulty parts.

Oh I did replace the battery just because of all the overcharging and unknown history. Otherwise just wiring. I double checked these results with two different OEM as well an Electrosport R/R as well as with a new Stator.

Pos
 
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