battery issue 1983 gs 650 gl

[Chris G]

There are problems starters can get that where they won't work when they are hot, but work fine when cold. Can't remember what it was, maybe a brush thing? Sorry I have read about it but can't quite rcall the details.

Assuming your charging system tests OK, and the battery Voltage is good, and the solenoid and cables to the starter are good, solid 12V going to the starter when you push the button, you might want to look at the starter itself.

One more thing, corrosion in the ground cable from the battery to the engine can do this too.

Had this issue with a Mitsubishi Pajero, from cold never an issues when warm very temperamental, stripped the starter a few times unable to locate the cause, could even be connection to the windings soldered joints etc, that look good to the eye but break down when warm/hot.

[lrgguy]

thx Chris ... hopefully like Tom said its nothing to complicated !! will do some testing when i get home ...
at the moment my mind is all over this 78 gs 1000 E !!!

insurance company just gave me the bad news !!! my rate would go up $410.00 buck a year ....

hmmm continue riding this 83 gs 650 gl or climb aboard this 78 gs 1000 ......

[lrgguy]

the bike looks to be in AWSOME shape for a 78 !!!

[lrgguy]

Ok just drove the bike home ... a total of 40 km doing 120 on the hwy the hole way . Pulled into the driveway , turned the bike off ... tried to turn back on !! But zero power what so ever !!! Have charger hooked back up to battery again so I can start bike after charging ... grrrrr

[lrgguy]

When I hooked the battery up to charger it was reading 10percent charged ( LO )

[tkent02]

Charging issues are easy to fix. Congrats on a great deal on a great bike.

[lrgguy]

Hahahaha thx .... we will see how easy it is !! Lol

[lrgguy]

Ok I start the bike up and put the digital multimeter on red on red black on black and turn the meter to dcv .. I bring the revs up to about 3000 and the reading on the meter is 11.8 !! Is my battery gone ?

[lrgguy]

Or is my rectifier or stator gone ??

[tkent02]

Something isn't working right. Often it's just a corroded connection thing, at least at first.
The longer it isn't working right the more stuff in there gets cooked.

You have some reading to do…

There is a ton of information about charging systems here:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1630965&postcount=1

Posplayer has put a ton of work into making this stuff understandable for us laymen. Do the tests in The Stator Papers, you can find links to them in his signature. A simple multimeter is all you need.

Dead charging systems are a good thing, they are the number one reason for us to be able to buy these great old bikes for cheap.

[lrgguy]

Ok so u fully charged the battery ... and started bike up and put the multimeter red on the positive black on the ground and reved the bike up to 5000 rpm the reading I got was 16.2 volts DC .. correct me if im wrong anything higher then 15.5 volts would mean the rectifier needs replacing .????? Anything less then 14 volts would mean the alternator , or the rectifier is no good ??? .
So with me getting a reading of 16.2 volts , is this a clear indication that it is the rectifier ?? HELP !! I can take anything appart and put it back together but electricity ... volts .. current ... ummm yeah might aswell be talking to me in german !! Lol
This rectifier was replaced just before I bought the bike only one yr ago .. and I even have the receipt. ..

[posplayr]

You should do the quick test but it should never go that high unless it is not regulating.

[tkent02]

Beverly? Spell check sux.

[posplayr]

Beverly? Spell check sux.

Iphone. .......

[lrgguy]

So by the high number im recieving when testing the battery terminals . In your opopinion should I be ordering a new rectifier in the Am ?? This bike is my only means of transportation ...