Topic: '78 750k charging issue

[dmill78]

Ok guys, my bike tends to like to die on me... I cant seem to track it down, but that may be that I dont have a multimeter:(
I can ride my bike most of the day, and as the day winds down I notice things like the blinkers dont blink just steady on unless I have the rpms up over about2200, the blinkers don't flash, they are on steady. I'm thinking the rectifier...
What are your suggestions??

PS. I have replaced the batt.

[flybox1]

what kind of bulbs and flasher relay do you have?
it could be as simple as a bad flasher relay...LED's?
its a good idea to have a meter.

my cheapie $8 meter from HarborFreight can get me thru most.
it could be your vreg, or a bad/improperly maintained battery, but you'll still need to check your voltage at the battery with the bike off, at idle, 2500 and 4000rpm. 

sometimes your local auto store will allow you to 'borrow' one to use in the parking lot.
go ask. 

[Radam]

My bike wasn't charging and I didn't have a meter, so I found a new (used) alternator assembly (field coil, stator coil, alternator rotor) for cheap on ebay. I put it all in and haven't had a problem since.

[phil71]

that's the way to go! change the most labor intensive and expensive part first without testing anything. It's good for the economy.

[dmill78]

lol thats the last thing i hope to replace... and even if I did, I would wait til the season was over, cause I plan on a full rebuild on the motor this winter anyway. po has been inside the motor and now it has a leak at head/jugs and at the valve cover. anleady have HD studs and gasket kit;)

[dmill78]

Ok so i have H4 bulb in my headlight, stock blinkers and what looks to be the original flasher unit and original voltage reg. and rectifier.
I plann on going to my dads this weekend on the bike and he has a really nice meter there. could you guys tell me what i should expect when i test the electrical system. obviously when switched off it should have a steady 12-14v. then what should it be at idle, and also at 2200-4000 rpm???

[flybox1]

here's a good test procedure....
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=16459.0

[TwoTired]

Ok guys, my bike tends to like to die on me... I cant seem to track it down, but that may be that I dont have a multimeter:(
I can ride my bike most of the day, and as the day winds down I notice things like unless I have the rpms up over about2200, the blinkers don't flash, they are on steady. I'm thinking the rectifier...
What are your suggestions??

PS. I have replaced the batt.

That works! ...Replacing each part, in turn, until the bike behaves as you want.  Or, you could use tools to find out which part in the system is bad, and replace just that part.
...Like a $10-$20 multimeter.  It's possible, you may even add a new tool to your repertoire of usage.

Cheers,

[Radam]

that's the way to go! change the most labor intensive and expensive part first without testing anything. It's good for the economy.

I got all those parts for $50 and it only took a couple hours to change it. Works for me. 

[bollingball]

And what if his is OK. He could buy a running bike so he can start your way of just changing parts and then he would not have to make so many trips. save gas
If you ran a shop you would be broke real quick
This is NOT the way to fix things!

[Radam]

If I had a shop I'd have proper tools. One of my friends had looked at my bike and used the tester on it while I was helping another friend on his bike, and he told me that he thought my field coil was bad but it could be the stator. I found the parts and replaced them. I didn't mean that this guy should just go out and but all those parts. I was just throwing out the idea that that could be the problem.