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WOA....look at that meter reading!

  • Thread starter Thread starter GreatDane
  • Start date Start date
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GreatDane

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So I thought it was time to run through the stator papers and check out the charging system on the '85 450L. Got out the meter and did a few checks with the engine off. Got to the point of starting the engine and proceeding with the checks.

Started the bike and the meter went absolutely crazy (meter was sitting on the top of the air box. Picked up the meter and moved it a couple of feet from the bike (stator side) and the meter calmed down. Moved the meter back towards the bike and the meter started going nuts again.

A LOT of RF is causing the meter to go crazy and not allowing any checks to be able to be performed.

I have cleaned and applied dielectric grease to all connections. The wiring "looks" good. All grounding points have been cleaned. Brand new battery has been installed.

Anyone have any ideas on where this RF is coming from? I am thinking that I am going to look at the R/R really close to see if I have a grounding issue. Going to look at the igniter and check the ground there as well. The main fuse tied in to the Battery cable is still the round glass type. I think I am going to replace that fuse with a blade type fuse but really don't think that's the issue.

So you gurus have any pearls of wisdom for me? I really would like to/ have to chase this down...
 
GreatDane said:
So I thought it was time to run through the stator papers and check out the charging system on the '85 450L. Got out the meter and did a few checks with the engine off. Got to the point of starting the engine and proceeding with the checks.

Started the bike and the meter went absolutely crazy (meter was sitting on the top of the air box. Picked up the meter and moved it a couple of feet from the bike (stator side) and the meter calmed down. Moved the meter back towards the bike and the meter started going nuts again.

A LOT of RF is causing the meter to go crazy and not allowing any checks to be able to be performed.

I have cleaned and applied dielectric grease to all connections. The wiring "looks" good. All grounding points have been cleaned. Brand new battery has been installed.

Anyone have any ideas on where this RF is coming from? I am thinking that I am going to look at the R/R really close to see if I have a grounding issue. Going to look at the igniter and check the ground there as well. The main fuse tied in to the Battery cable is still the round glass type. I think I am going to replace that fuse with a blade type fuse but really don't think that's the issue.

So you gurus have any pearls of wisdom for me? I really would like to/ have to chase this down...
Click to expand...

if you connect the meter to the battery with engine off does the meter jump?

leaving it connected to the battery, if you start the motor does the meter jump

if the answer to either is yes get a new meter.
 
I've heard of this from time to time, but I've never actually seen this happen. I've used the cheapest meters possible several times (freebies from Harbor Freight), and never had a problem.

Anyway, try another meter. If it's an auto ranging meter, try placing it in the correct range manually.

The only source of powerful RF on a GS would be the ignition system, so make sure all the spark plug wires and connections are good. A cracked wire arcing to the frame or engine could generate some crazy RF (and create all sorts of other problems besides) -- turn the lights off and look for sparks.
 
Your meter is fine.

The interference is probably coming from your spark plugs. You likely have spark plug caps with no resistors in them. You can test this by putting your meter on ohms (engine off, of course) and putting a lead in each spark plug boot and checking the value against what the service manual says for the resistance on the secondary coil. If it's around 10k lower than expected, you have no resistors in the caps. The stock caps can be disassembled for inspection, if you like.

If that's the case, you have two options: 1) buy new spark plug caps with resistors in them, or 2) buy equivalent plugs with resistors in them. If your bike takes B8ES plugs (I believe it does), then you want BR8ES instead.
 
A lot of the old bikes will do that. Just don't worry about it.. Just ign noise as these bikes use a solid core plug wire
 
DIng Ding Ding.....WE HAVE A WINNER!:)

Well, while at work, I kept thinking about this issue...EIL hit the nail on the head.

Now for the DOH moment...:eek: There are Dyna coils on this bike. The wires are non resistor type wires. I purchased B8ES plugs.

On the way home tonight swung into parts store and bought BR8ES plugs. All noise has gone away. Sometimes I wonder how I get anywhere....

Thanks for all your input.
 
FWIW, my bike is wearing Dyna coils, non-resistor wires, and non-resistor plugs, and has been for many years.

I've never had any trouble with a meter.
 
I had the same issue with a cheaper, and older meter. Readings all over the place, even with the correct combination of plug and wire. Turned out there was a crack in the plug cover. I replaced that, and the fluctuations went away.

Didn't affect my Fluke meter at all...
 
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