Battery Not Charging

[c50t rider]

1983 GS650 GL -I think I have a bad battery or the battery's not charging. How can I tell? My friend told me to start the bike, then disconnect the positive cable. If the bike dies then the battery isn't charging? Is this right? Because I tried it and the bike DOES die when I disconnect the positive cable. I can charge the battery and the bike will run for a couple days, then the battery goes dead. I just replaced the solenoid. Is there something that could have happened then? Does the voltage regulator do the recharging of the battery? Could it be bad? Where is it located and how can I test it?

[C.V.]

Welcome to charging system hell! Most here have suffered this problem. First off, go to the "in the garage" section here at GSR, and read "the stator papers" There is a step by step guide on how to troubleshoot your charging system. You will need a voltmeter, to do a preliminary check, just attach pos. lead of meter to batt. pos, and neg to neg. let the bike idle, and read DC voltage, at idle it should be around 13-13.5 volts, rev the engine to around 2500, and voltage should rise to over 14 volts. If not, it can be a million little things, not only the rec/reg or battery. Read the stator papers, they are a huge help. PAY ATTENTION when evryone talks about bad amd burnt connectors! A bad connector can shut down the entire charging system, I speak from experience! Good luck!

[Redman]

C50T,

Yup, you need a meter, first to check the overall operation of the charging system. Measure battery voltage with engine idleing and then with engine at mid rpm as stated above. , and as described on BassCliff web site complete with pictures.

And secondly, need meter to then troubleshoot the various parts of the charging system. Many checks described in the Stator Papers to check the stator, to check various connections, and to check the R/R.

Voltage regulator is part of the regulator-rectifyer (often called "r/r") and that is usally mounted on bottom or side of battery box. Other major part of the charging system is the stator (called "generator" in diagram below)which in inside the left engine case (in engine oil). BUt you dont need to know so much where these items are, you need more to find the cables & the wires & the connectors to/from these. Start looking behind the left side cover where you get at the fuses (I am speaking from experince with Gs, dont know if GLs different), look for these colors of wires.




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[BassCliff]

Hee Haw Howdy!?!?

Hi Mr. ct50 rider,

Did I somehow miss giving you my world-famous mega-welcome!?!? Please click on the words "mega-welcome" and you will be taken to a page on my website with links to The Stator Papers and other resources which will help you learn about and diagnose your charging system. Feel free to visit my website and download any information that may be helpful to you.

The "stator" and "rotor" work together (like a generator) to make AC voltage which then gets rectified into DC voltage which is then regulated to 13-14 volts to run your bike and charge the battery. Do not disconnect your battery and expect it to keep on running. Our motorcycles don't work quite the same way as cars.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[makenzie71]

since no one seemed to think to mention it...I'm retty sure the bike wouldn't run sans battery, healthy or not.

[BassCliff]

Reading is fun!

since no one seemed to think to mention it...I'm retty sure the bike wouldn't run sans battery, healthy or not.

From the previous post:

Do not disconnect your battery and expect it to keep on running. Our motorcycles don't work quite the same way as cars.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[makenzie71]

sorry...your post wasn't there when I got done typing mine out...dinner bell rang mid-typing...

[BassCliff]

sorry...your post wasn't there when I got done typing mine out...dinner bell rang mid-typing...

I totally understand. It's sort of a "virtual time continuum" thing. It's a wonder this whole "interweb" universe works at all. I think it's a new technology called magic.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff