Charging issue on 83 GS1100E

[Guest]

I've owned my bike for a year. It quit on me one day right after I bought it and using this forum I traced the problem to the R/R. I replaced the OEM unit with an ElectroSport product and have had no problems for several thousand miles until recently. I replaced the battery a couple weeks ago because it was showing less than twelve volts and that was after an off-the-bike overnight charge. In monitoring the new battery I found after-ride voltage to be perfect. However, just yesterday I noticed some hesitation in starting after getting gas--got home and was PO'ed to find that the charging voltage was hovering around 12.4V. I will do the required testing again but does anyone think it's now stator replacement time? thanks

[bonanzadave]

You wont know until you test it...and that is an easy test. How did you connect the new RR ? I would suspect those connections.

[GlenT.]

Charging issue on 83 GS1100E

Thanks for the reply bonanzadave. I do not suspect the connections. Actually, the one (only) place I am an expert is electrical connections--I have worked for a major manufacturer of electrical connectors for 35 years. I used bullet connectors, sized correctly for the wire, installed with a ratcheting crimper and coated with a conductive anti-seize compound called Kopr-Shield (which I recommend for any electrical connection). Although I grant that ANYTHING is possible when searching for electrical gremlins.

I just recharged the battery and now will do the stator test.

[posplayr]

Since you bought an Electrsport R/R you must have gotten the idea that that was going to solve your problems from teh Stator pages. There are many better solutions that the Electrosport.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=191795

Read these links

Read about GS Charging Health Charging system sanity Quick Test and COMPU FIRE THREAD
SERIES R/R.

[GlenT.]

Charging issue on 83 GS1100E

Posplayr. Great info, thanks so much. You are correct; the copy on the Stator pages looks like it was an edorsement for ElectroSport and indeed the ESport regulator solved my problem for a while. However, looks there are alternatives. I'm hoping the problem IS the R/R cause that's a whole lot easier to fix than the stator.

[dant-40]

Hi Glen
My 78 GS 1000 was charging at a low voltage so I checked and cleaned all the connections and cleaned the fusebox. This did the trick. It might be worth checking your other connections and fusebox.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

My Electrosport stator lasted only long enough for the warranty to run out.

Make sure the all the connections in the charging system are clean, clean, clean. Make sure the ground from the negative battery terminal to the engine block is clean. Connect the three stator output wires directly to the three r/r input wires. Connect the ground from the r/r unit directly to the negative terminal of the battery. Make sure there is no voltage loss (or as little as possible) between the r/r output and the positive terminal of the battery. You could even connect the r/r output directly to the positive terminal of the batter through an inline 15amp fuse.

Perhaps if I had been diligent with all of this my Electrosport stator would have lasted longer. But I like Rick's Electrics stators the best, followed by Caltric (an eBay seller).

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bwringer]

Have you bypassed the stator loop that goes up to the headlight shell?

I bet you'll find an overheated gray or white connector up in the headlight shell...

[GlenT.]

Charging issue on 83 GS1100E

Thanks dant-40. Still looking for the problem but I will definitely try your suggestion. As I mentioned, I recently replaced the battery so I might have disturbed a connection or inadvertently caused another issue without realizing it.

[GlenT.]

Charging issue on 83 GS1100E

BassCliff: Thanks for the feedback. I have used your website for several maintenance or upgrade issues so I trust your instincts: (fork spring replacement, valve adjustment, brake pads) I will again check connections and grounding. As I said, the problem seems to have reared it's head after I replaced the battery so I have to eliminate the obvious first (loose connections, corrosion.