Topic: broken 1977 550F

[wardenerd]

1Bikes & Parts For Sale - That YOU are selling. Use this area at your own risk as the site, nor its owner can vouch for any parties involved in transactions. / need electrical help 1977 550f
« on: June 02, 2013, 03:13:52 PM »
I am not having a good day.  I recently changed the alternator cover on my 550 because the old one had a lot of road rash and I am trying to make the appearance top notch.  I rode the bike for 45 minutes and the battery died .  Luckily I was near home by that time so I pushed it home.  I opened the side cover and the sprocket cover and I could not find anything that was obviously causing the no charge situation.  I checked the resistance for the green and white wires from the alternator and it measured 5.5 ohms.  This is in spec according to my Clymer's manual.  The measurement between the three yellow wire was 2.5ohms across the board.  The measurement between the yellow wires is not in spec according to Clymer's but I do not know why.  I pulled the alternator cover off and could see nothing like pinched wires or the like.  It just will not charge.  I charged the battery with my trickle charger  and have 12.7 volts from the battery and the motor turns over easily.

I cleaned the plugs  for the two of the connectors under the left side cover since I had to remove one of the connectors to get my ohms  measurements. The connector coming from the alternator and the one directly below it were cleaned.  Now the bike will not start.  There appears to be no spark .  What the hell did I do and how can I fix it.  The bike was operating well before I changed the alternator cover

[Barfazz1]

The winding can go bad for the charging coils, stator, etc without any noticeable problem. Usually the only way to tell is by testing the leads with a meter, as you are doing. There is some + or - give or takes (usually 10%) and I have seen in the past where a stator no longer worked at all at 11% below the proper reading. Makes you want to pull your hair out but that is electronics for ya! You cleaned everything so I would be going back over everything to make sure all connections are good.

Be sure to check for spark after each thing you do, that way you know where the problem WAS!

[wardenerd]

Well I gave up called Hagerty and the SOB is on the way to the shop.  My frustration quota is small and my wife said to send it in to get it fixed before she killed me and burned the bike.  The thought of a loved one on fire was too much for me.  I should call my Bike Bill Clinton.  Its a rascal and lies all the time but he is fun to ride to the biker bar to start conversations.
He will also abandon you if it suits his mood.

[Barfazz1]

Sometimes listening to the wife is the right thing to do. I would just hate to think of the bill... actually, give that to your wife for her "suggestion"... guaranteed she won't suggest that again! Good luck!

[wardenerd]

I post this only as aword of caution.  When I replaced the alternator cover I put in new bolts.  One bolt was 5mm longer than the old bolt and when screwed in tightly damged the stator and killed the electrical generation.  Damnit man!