1978 GS 550 Draining battery Wont start

[Guest]

My bike is draining the battery, and not getting a charge back to it. Any idea where I should start, as far as what parts could be bad? I have found that it is probably my stator or my voltage regulator.

Is there a way I could narrow it down?

Any input would be appreciated. Supposed to take the bike for a 12 hr ride in a week, so I'm scrambling to figure this out.

Thanks.

[bccap]

Start here........

http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_statorfaq.htm

[bccap]

Even better click on posplayr charging checks in his signature

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=2066623#post2066623

[bkostiuk]

It also seems very odd, that my bike will fire right up on a jump, but I can kick it all day and it wont fire. Does this seem unusual, or does it seem like something i can attribute to my other problems?

[bccap]

Just tell me you're not using a running car to jump it ?

[OldVet66]

If someone has put an electronic ignition in it, it will not start if your battery is low.

[bkostiuk]

Ha, no not a running car.

[bkostiuk]

Is there a way I'd be able to recognize the difference between electronic or not?

[bccap]

If it doesn't have points it's electronic. Do the simple test in post 2 to check your voltage at various revs than get back to us with the results....

[bkostiuk]

Turns out the battery was bad. Getting a new one tomorrow. Going to see what I can find after replacing that.

[bkostiuk]

At idle I'm getting about 12.4v at 6000 rpm, im getting a jump to about 12.8v. Safe to assume just the bad battery? were working on testing stator now.

[bccap]

Nope. That voltage is too low to charge the battery. Should be around 14-14.5v at 4000 rpm.

[posplayr]

At idle I'm getting about 12.4v at 6000 rpm, im getting a jump to about 12.8v. Safe to assume just the bad battery? were working on testing stator now.

if you reported all the Quick Test numbers it would be easier to tell what is going on.

[bkostiuk]

Stator resistance was .9 ohms on all 3 coils
75-85v when at 6k rpm
No continuity either way on any wires of voltage regulator.

[bkostiuk]

Not sure what numbers youre looking for on a "quicktest"