Topic: 1978 CB550 running issues

[Deltarider]

... so I was under the impression my charging system is fine

Looks like it. According to the book, it is supposed to be 14,5 V max, but digital meters may show spikes. I could live with 15 V. Conventional lead acid batteries can handle it. That's why I stick to them.

[Kcanela]

Welp my head hurts then, one highly reputable member says 15v is ok then the other says it’s not

[robvangulik]

15v in a lithium battery will set it on fire, 15v on a wet battery will boil the acid out. Mounting a battery on a moving part is, in my opinion, so dangerous than i would refuse, as a certified engineer, to certify it.

Bryan is absolutely right, sorry Delta, a spike is only a spike if it occurs only occasionally, not right at the first start of measuring. A continuing voltage of 15v and above is detrimental to any battery!

[bryanj]

Perhaps i said it wrong but it sure made the point, a continuous 15v is very bad, a momentary 15v (no more than 1 second) is acceptable.
Dont alter the fact that mounting the battery on the swingarm is downright dangerous

[Kcanela]

I’m not altering the fact that having my battery on my swing arm is bad I’m just trying to get the bike dialed so I can organize it after, if my battery is over charging that means my R/R is the issue but it’s brand new and a better version of stock I don’t get it

[Deltarider]

15v in a lithium battery will set it on fire, 15v on a wet battery will boil the acid out. Mounting a battery on a moving part is, in my opinion, so dangerous than i would refuse, as a certified engineer, to certify it.

Bryan is absolutely right, sorry Delta, a spike is only a spike if it occurs only occasionally, not right at the first start of measuring. A continuing voltage of 15v and above is detrimental to any battery!

Sorry Rob, "and above" are not my words and a continuing voltage of 15v is NOT what I'd call detrimental. Nor would I call it 'very bad'. Look, in theory Honda's 14,5 V is already 0,1 V too high, but I know from experience 15 V is not catastrophic at all. You may have a look at the Charging characteristics Honda published on p.62 of the Shop Manual CB350F/Cb400F and tell us what Battery terminal voltage it says there. http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_man_officina/pdf_manuali/CB350-400/CB350-400_06.pdf

[bryanj]

EITHER the regrec is not working properl, just cos its new dont meen its good OR there are bad connections/high resistance between batery pos and reg/rec sense wire

[RAFster122s]

I think you need to go over ALL the changes from stock you have made electrically and mechanically and location wise on your bike along with a summary of anything not stock on the bike. You have sprinkled here and there little tidbits of one change and then another. Also, a list of repairs made to the bike under your ownership and history of it running, if it did when you got it or since you’ve gotten it...

[Deltarider]

EITHER the regrec is not working properl, just cos its new dont meen its good OR there are bad connections/high resistance between batery pos and reg/rec sense wire

My money is on the latter, be it that I'd check the minus route first. I cannot help to emphasize that Honda's stock components are known reliable. I have not had to replace any electrical component in over 40 years, apart from a small bulb here and there. Having said that... both bulbs in the rear indicators are still the ones the bike left the assembly line with and, boy, oh boy, they even had to cope with 15 V every now and then.

[robvangulik]

[ Sorry Rob, "and above" are not my words and a continuing voltage of 15v is NOT what I'd call detrimental. Nor would I call it 'very bad'. Look, in theory Honda's 14,5 V is already 0,1 V too high, but I know from experience 15 V is not catastrophic at all. You may have a look at the Charging characteristics Honda published on p.62 of the Shop Manual CB350F/Cb400F and tell us what Battery terminal voltage it says there. http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_man_officina/pdf_manuali/CB350-400/CB350-400_06.pdf

I did not quote you at all, that and above was a statement of my own, and you confirmed it your self!
Did you read all the pages you added to your post? (I didn't even had to read it all, I have the book myself)
15 volts is only agreeable if there is hardly any to no amps behind it, and in that case I wouldn't mind if it was 18 volts, like on a battery charger when it filled a battery to its capacity. In any other case it WILL be harmful!

[Kcanela]

Ever since I burned out the charging I replaced all parts mostly oem if not close to it such as from 4into1 or common motor, so everything is basically “stock” I just have the the harness under my seat in a tray so nothing is un ordinary nor did I make any changes to the harness besides relocating the kill switch and start button

[bryanj]

 Relocating it means new connection so possibly bad

[Deltarider]

[ Sorry Rob, "and above" are not my words and a continuing voltage of 15v is NOT what I'd call detrimental. Nor would I call it 'very bad'. Look, in theory Honda's 14,5 V is already 0,1 V too high, but I know from experience 15 V is not catastrophic at all. You may have a look at the Charging characteristics Honda published on p.62 of the Shop Manual CB350F/Cb400F and tell us what Battery terminal voltage it says there. http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_man_officina/pdf_manuali/CB350-400/CB350-400_06.pdf

I did not quote you at all, that and above was a statement of my own, and you confirmed it your self!
Did you read all the pages you added to your post? (I didn't even had to read it all, I have the book myself)
15 volts is only agreeable if there is hardly any to no amps behind it, and in that case I wouldn't mind if it was 18 volts, like on a battery charger when it filled a battery to its capacity. In any other case it WILL be harmful!

I'm sorry, Rob, it is back to school for you. It is: amps follow volts.

[scottly]

The OP is using the "standard" Rick's regulator, which has a set voltage of 14.9-15.0. This works OK for lead-acid, but is too high for a LiFe battery, at least for extended periods of time, but not high enough to explain the various meltdowns..