Topic: FAQ charging question

[Jay B]

Went for a ride on my 350f yesterday and discovered it wasn't charging. Luckily I was able to turn off the lights and make it home on battery juice. I haven't had much time to diagnose yet. I read the FAQ's and it said that resistance between the 3 yellow wires should be less than 1 ohm. I get about 1.6 ohms between all 3 combinations. It goes on to say a reading of greater than 1 ohm means bad connections. Where? In the case at the stator, on the other end of the wires? I tested at the main plug right behind the carbs on the left side. Is 1.6 ohms enough to be my problem? Like I said, I just didn't have the time to get too far into this last night. BTW, with the lights off it will gain about .05 volts at the battery between having the engine shut off and running at 4000rpm, so I guess it's trying to do something. Battery is brand new.

[TwoTired]

When measuring low resistances, test equipment operator technique becomes important, as test leads and connections can contribute a higher percentage of measuring error.

With digital meters, you have to subtract the reading made when the probe tips are touched together from the measured result.

Analog meters usually have a zero adjust which should be done on the very lowest scale.

Both meter types will have specification for accuracy.  And, these accuracy limits must be added or subtracted to the measured result.

Imagine testing for .5 ohms with a meter that has an accuracy of plus or minus .5 ohms and a meter lead resistance of .4 ohms.

Cheers,

[Jay B]

Everything I've tested so far seems good. I'm thinking that even though I get 0 ohms between the points in the regulator maybe the connection is bad enough not to conduct a good charge. Next step is to remove it and try cleaning/adjusting the contacts in there.