What is the easiest way to remedy my Charging system?

[Guest]

Hello all
Ive been riding my 1982 GS850GL for 3 weeks now that is is back up and running after a 14 year hiatus (last registered in 2000 by PO). My indie did a complete tune up / carb rebuild / valve adjustment, tires, etc.

I rode it for 2 weeks , then came home from a ride and turned it off. It refused to start after 10 minutes of being off, so tested the battery, it was at 12.2V.

Left it on the battery tender overnight, started it, ran at 13.15V at 5000 RPM at the battery with no accessories on.

Now, I'm no mechanic and I just want it to charge right. I would like a charging system that is bombproof yet easy to install and be able to run a light bar, GPS and upgraded lights - at some point .

My question is stated- what is the Easiest way to accomplish my goal?

I am willing to toss out the old components and simply buy new ones because I'm not cheap.

From what I have been reading, it means a new Stator (Rick's) and a new R/R. What kind I do not know.

I'm not looking for any complicated bypass wiring or other project that will result in my frustration, confusion or downtime.

What is my easiest upgrade plan?

Thanks!
BG

[tkent02]

Easiest way or would you prefer to do it correctly?

[Cassius086]

Start here

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1138531&postcount=1

[Locomotion]

Electrex make excellent replacements

[posplayr]

Electrex make excellent replacements

Strongly beg to differ; see GS Stator in my signature.

[posplayr]

Hello all
Ive been riding my 1982 GS850GL for 3 weeks now that is is back up and running after a 14 year hiatus (last registered in 2000 by PO). My indie did a complete tune up / carb rebuild / valve adjustment, tires, etc.

I rode it for 2 weeks , then came home from a ride and turned it off. It refused to start after 10 minutes of being off, so tested the battery, it was at 12.2V.

Left it on the battery tender overnight, started it, ran at 13.15V at 5000 RPM at the battery with no accessories on.

Now, I'm no mechanic and I just want it to charge right. I would like a charging system that is bombproof yet easy to install and be able to run a light bar, GPS and upgraded lights - at some point .

My question is stated- what is the Easiest way to accomplish my goal?

I am willing to toss out the old components and simply buy new ones because I'm not cheap.

From what I have been reading, it means a new Stator (Rick's) and a new R/R. What kind I do not know.

I'm not looking for any complicated bypass wiring or other project that will result in my frustration, confusion or downtime.

What is my easiest upgrade plan?

Thanks!
BG

Read eveal threads in my signature incluing GS stator
Read GS Charging Health, use Quick test till it seems close. Then move on to Revised Phase A test.

[Cassius086]

Jim,

I think every link in your signature simply needs to be made a sticky, so they stay at the top of the thread list on this electrical/ignition forum.

[BigD_83]

there is no way to get around the fact that you are stil going to have to go through the electrical system and clean everything up. Putting new components into a highly resistive system is going to get you nowhere.

[tom203]

there is no way to get around the fact that you are stil going to have to go through the electrical system and clean everything up. Putting new components into a highly resistive system is going to get you nowhere.

There goes the easy way!
OP: this thing is 32 years old- that means lots of electrical corrosion ready to strike at any moment as you found out.Best to fix correctly and not just throw new stuff at it as a cure-all.
Running more electrical loads will be no problem if you follow the guidelines that members here have devised based on their experience .
Do those tests! A bad charging system only gives you about 45 minutes of running with fully charged battery - not much traveling time.

[mrbill5491]

Electrex make excellent replacements

Not even...

[greg78gs750]

oh. my. sweet. baby. jesus. we need more stickies, updated stator pages, purged corporate sponsorship information, and a few other things. ermergerd i literally can't even right now. sorry for the hijack, but seriously folks.

[Cassius086]

Ha! I don't think a couple of good threads in a permanent/prominent place is a bad thing. Especially if it will cut down on duplicate threads asking the same general questions over and over.

Now if people would simply read them....there is the challenge.

[tom203]

Ha! ....
Now if people would simply read them....there is the challenge.

Apparently many have difficulty!

[wymple]

On my 850, I ran the 3 stator wires directly to the R/R, and added a dedicated ground from the R/R to the battery. Picked up a full volt over the 13.3 I was getting, to 14.3. I still plan on upgrading the stator and R/R after the season is over.

[Gregory]

On my gs1000 I kept losing a charge. The battery was an older open cell battery but it had never been filled. The bike also came with a box of battery acid.

Luckily before I spent money on a stator etc., I decided I wanted to upgrade to a closed cell battery anyway, so that is what I bought first. That was two seasons ago and I haven't had any charging issues since.