Topic: HELP: Teething problems

[chrisf]

I'm getting braver and braver and heading further out. Each time, I end up pushing it back. Some of the stuff is stupid like forgetting to turn the petcock on or forgetting there is a reserve on the petcock. But something is more serious.

Something might be wrong with the charging system. Looking at wiring diagrams and asking questions, I figuered out that the Honda charging system runs at 1/2 capacity until the headlight is on. This uses the white wire out of the stator. So I soldered the white wire and the yellow wire together and went out for a ride.

It went perfect without the headlight. I installed the headlight and made it 1/2 mile before she died. So I uninstalled the headlight and managed to ride home.

HERE"S THE KICKER: when I got home, I put the trickle charger on the batteries and they show a full charge!

Also, when slowing to a stop, the bike sometimes wants to die. I have the idle set at 1.5K RPMS or so. Any idea why she would want to die?

Any help is appreciated...

--Chris

[KB02]

Are you planning on running the bike without the headlight? If not, I would suggest undoing the solder and installing the headlight permanently.

Do you have a multy meter to check the charging system with?

[SClay115]

Well are you sure the headlight being there is what is causing it to stop running? Seems like it might be a similar issue, the stalling and all. Did you do anything inside the engine Chris? And when you went out with the headlight, did it quit while riding at a constant pace? Or when you were coming to a stop? As much details as you can give us will only help us try and help out.

Steve

[chrisf]

Hi Gents:

I figured it out!!! Looking very closely at the wiring diagram, I figured out that I missed a ground connection for my regulator and rectifier. I soldered up a new lead, wiried up the headlight and took a 4 mile (one way) trip to the local chopper shop. She felt great on the way there.

Wilst chatting with them, I found out I need only a mirror and I'm ready for inspection. That and a surety bond are all that's between my bike an a Texas state tag.

Oh, she felt great on the way back too. Those little batteries might just work afterall. Thanks for the suggestions!

--Chris

[Bodi]

It isn't necessarily 1/2 power with the headlight switch off, the two alternator coils may be different. Since there's no regulator, the idea was to make just a bit more electricity that the bike uses - the added coil should be make about the same power as the lights use.
You need to come close to balancing load and supply, you've seen what happens with not enough supply. Too much will destroy the battery (regardless of type) in fairly short order. So either replicate the coil switching with lighting or have the lights on all the time if you jumper the alternator coils together.
Bikes with this no-regulator system were always hard on batteries, and usually needed a new one every year.