Charging issue

[my98xplorer]

ok guys i know everyone is gonna direct me to the stator papers, but ive never done those tests and honestly i dont know how to. I charge my battery up and can ride for about 3 or 4 days, then the battery it too weak to start the bike. Once its running, it wont die, but if i shut it off then the battery is too dead to restart it. I have replaced the regulator about 7 months ago, it went bad and kept blowing my main power fuse. Ive had the battery problem ever since. I have a spare stator that i bought a while back, should i swap it in? Thanks for the help!

Brian

[tfb]

Brian,

You're right -- we're going to direct you to the Stator Papers! If you're not up to following them, then as the papers themselves suggest, you should get a more electrically adept friend to help you through.

Unfortunately there is no better way to go; otherwise the Papers wouldn't exist... Well, you could try replacing items like the battery or the stator etc. at random until it all worked OK, but they might not be your problem.

Take your time, make a sound diagnosis, and save yourself some time and -- no doubt -- lots of money.

Mike.

[my98xplorer]

well honestly ive already changed the regulator and the battery, so i would guess the only thing left is the stator. Does this sound like it could be the problem?

[tfb]

Brian,

Probably it is the problem... but it also could be a bad connector so that one of your 3 phases isn't getting through to the reg/rectifier, for example.

When it comes to these charging systems, you can't really say that because you have ruled out X and Y, that therefore it *must* be Z. Things just aren't that simple; there are many things that could be wrong, some common, some uncommon, and some downright bizarre.

Really, the best way to move ahead is not to make any assumptions you don't have to.

Mike.

[Anonymous]

I've been down for two week with a charging issue as well. The stator papers are a start but they can be pretty confusing. May I suggest you check out http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com? I just got off the phone with Rob about 20 minutes ago (their number is on the home page). He immediately knew my bike and how it's wired ('80 gs550). He told me how to test my stator with the bike off in a way that the stator papers and my clymer manual did not. Can't wait to get home and perform the test. Try the phone call. Can't hurt. And post what you find out here. Also, price of a RR if you need one is less than the electolex one.

[my98xplorer]

Let me know what you find out and how to do this test, i would like to try it on the one that i bought and see what it says.

Thanks, Brian

[lberkhei]

Was your replacement regulator a new or used item? Especially if it was used, are you sure it was a good working unit?

[my98xplorer]

Was your replacement regulator a new or used item? Especially if it was used, are you sure it was a good working unit?

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I was told it came off of a goor running bike that was being parted out. I just have heard about the regulator getting too hot and frying the stator so i figured that might be my problem.

[Evil Hobbit]

Was your replacement regulator a new or used item? Especially if it was used, are you sure it was a good working unit?

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I was told it came off of a goor running bike that was being parted out. I just have heard about the regulator getting too hot and frying the stator so i figured that might be my problem.

I've heard that before. Disconnect the stator from the R/R and test the stator for AC Volts should be around 70 vac. I just changed mine out the stator was putting out 6vac, not nearly enough. I also got a new R/R because I suspect the R/R was causing all my electrical problems and it didn't even look close to the original the new Electrex is working, so far.

[Anonymous]

I checked the resistance between each of the stator wires and the engine block. I got no resistance from all three. Which means a fried stator since there should be no contact between the stator winds and the casing. Guess I need a stator, rr and a battery to make it all new. So I'll be out $300 or so. I only paid $650 for the stinkin bike!

[Evil Hobbit]

Your hard work will be rewarded.

[my98xplorer]

I was just talking to someone who came here and bought my friends 79 GS850 and he said his wife has a Suzuki and that she had the same problem. He said he had to rewire the stator because the wires were corroded and not thick enough. After he did that everything was fine. I might try and do that this weekend. Does that sound logical to anyone?

[IanFrancisco]

On these GS's, typically what happens is that the harness gets corroded, causing faulty grounds or other connections, leading to overloading of the charging system. Usually the RR (reg.rect.) fails first causing the stator to overheat and fail. When you say "rewiring the stator" you don't mean "rewinding the stator". That is a two or three day job because it involves epoxy glue that has to set up hard. The first thing to do is clean EVERY connector on the wiring harness throroughly, inlcuding the ones in the headlight bucket. Unplug them one at a time to eliminate confusion and use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove corrosion, spray with contact cleaner (the type with silicone lube is good for both connectors and switches) then reconnect. Run an extra ground wire directly from the RR neg/ground (black wire) to the battery negative. Use new crimp connectors or solder new connectors on your extra ground wire. Once you have done all these things, then it's time to test and/or replace the expensive parts (RR, stator).

[my98xplorer]

When you say "rewiring the stator" you don't mean "rewinding the stator". That is a two or three day job because it involves epoxy glue that has to set up hard. ).

No, i ment replace the wires that come from it. He said the often get very corroded and that they cant do what they were ment to do because of the resistance.