Topic: Charging issue

[Borch]

Hello everyone. New to this forum. I have a 1976 Honda CB550F, 5709 miles. Now for my issue. Won't charge. what I have checked and readings I got.
Field Coil 4.7 ohms
Stator Coil 1.3 (I have a second that reads the same)
Replaced regulator and silicone rectifier with an electronic one.
Everything is connect. When key turned to run, black wire does charge field coil.
When running stator coil is producing AC current at .2 when idling and rises when RPM's increase.
What have I missed and what is my next step??

Please Help
Borch

[TwoTired]

What have I missed and what is my next step??

Checking the interconnect wire connectors in circuit for low resistive contact.
Checking ignition switch and fuse block contacts for low resistive connections.  All resistances rob power and voltage.

Checking that full battery voltage reaches the alternator field coil when the battery is below 13V.

Checking that the electrical load hasn't been increased with higher wattage lamps beyond stock or exceeding the alternators max 150W output at 5000 RPM.  (note, that at idle speed the alternator only makes about 1/3 of max output.)  The stock bike draws about 120 Watt when the key switch and lighting is on.
3 ohm coils and dyna ignition add about 50-60w drain over the stock configuration.

Cheers,

[Borch]

I put in brand new battery, 12.26 volts, it reads 11.89volts when key is in the run position at terminals and at black wire at regulator/rectifier. It has all original lighting, no after market parts. I know I'm missing something simple, what it is bothers me.

[LesterPiglet]

At 12.26v your battery is around 75% discharged.  I'm sure someone will come along with the correct figure.

[TwoTired]

A battery only stores power.  It does not create it.  Even a new battery need to be charged up.

And, you need a known good and fully charged battery to test the charging system.

Below are open circuit voltages, when the battery has been off the charger for 2 hours.

[bollingball]

Agreed Battery needs a charge. Tell us what type and size battery it is and what kind of charger do you have output current amps 550s are a little fussy about battery voltage. Lots of post here to read. What Lester and TT are saying is you have to charge that battery before the other test are taken you will not get the correct reading. All the little plug connectors have to be cleaned. What I am saying is you can screw that new battery up fast with a big car charger It is a good idea to disconnect it from the bike before charging. One second hooked up backwards and the rectifier is toast.

Ken

[Borch]

Will be re-charging tonight and testing tomorrow.
Details to come. But even if the battery is low, shouldn't it charge
when running?

[TwoTired]

Will be re-charging tonight and testing tomorrow.
Details to come. But even if the battery is low, shouldn't it charge
when running?

Yes, above 2500 RPM.

[Borch]

It does NOT charge at any RPM. This is why I'm having issues.
Everything seems fine. All connections are good, all readings are
where they should be. It's a mystery.

[TwoTired]

It's not a mystery.  It's a lack of investigation/test prowess.

Do you have a multimeter?  Brand/model?  Test probes?

If you don't have the stock reg/rectifier, give us pin outs and brand/model info for that, too.

Tell us what wire diagram you are using.

[Borch]

Good morning everyone.
To be honest this quote pissed me off.
So late in the evening I went through each wire, checking, re-checking and checking once more.
I noticed one thing, on a couple of the wires, tiny teeth marks.
In the main wiring harness was a chewed wire, a green/ground wire that
grounded the rectifier,regulator, and field coil.
So all my readings were correct and now it is charging as it should.
Actually that quote was a good thing.
Forced me to slow down and check again.

It's not a mystery.  It's a lack of investigation/test prowess.

[TwoTired]

Glad you got it sorted.
I figured you were a big boy and could take it. 

Once one understands that machines never get frustrated, and simply must do as they should when in proper configuration, then one just perseveres until one finds the bit that keeps it from doing what it should.  Sometimes, methodical plodding is a slow but sure way to get it done.

Cheers,

[bollingball]

My how the truth hurts
Ken
ps TT is one of the best trouble shooters here. Don't bite the hand that feeds.

[Borch]

LOL, He might be good at trouble shooting.
I found my issue and it wasn't anything that was mentioned in the thread.
So, I think I'm pretty good at trouble shooting also.
Electricity is like water, it takes the easiest path. Just had to check the flow.

[TwoTired]

I found my issue and it wasn't anything that was mentioned in the thread.

ahem...

Checking the interconnect wire connectors in circuit for low resistive contact.

In the main wiring harness was a chewed wire, a green/ground wire that
grounded the rectifier,regulator, and field coil.

While checking the connectors for vdrop, the broken wire would have been located.  But, you never gave us enough data to isolate the problem for you.

Clearly, you just don't needs us. 

Good luck!

[bollingball]

I was looking at the stance of your bike. My 750 was like that when I got it 6in over tubes. One problem I had was the front plates in the battery were not covered and the rear plates were running out the overflow so keep a check on the battery fluid and look for acid on the swing arm. Unless you have a AGM.
Ken

[Spanner 1]

Pity the stock regulator and rectifier were thrown away ( again ) with neither one being proved faulty. The regulator is 'bullet proof' and the rectifier good for 50 yrs. once not fried with reverse polarity or high-amp chargers...... just sayin' 

[Borch]

I saved all the parts, put them in a boxed. Never know when you might need it.

[Rgconner]

I saved all the parts, put them in a boxed. Never know when you might need it.

Without knowing exactly which electronic regulator you put on it, series or shunt, here is a post you might want to look at:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=43684.0

Synopsis: Series good, shunt bad. Burns out the field coil.

[scottly]

Good morning everyone.
To be honest this quote pissed me off.
So late in the evening I went through each wire, checking, re-checking and checking once more.
I noticed one thing, on a couple of the wires, tiny teeth marks.
In the main wiring harness was a chewed wire, a green/ground wire that
grounded the rectifier,regulator, and field coil.
So all my readings were correct and now it is charging as it should.
Actually that quote was a good thing.
Forced me to slow down and check again.

It's not a mystery.  It's a lack of investigation/test prowess.

Great that you got it figured out, and in such a short time! A missing ground can run you in circles, since you are generally looking for positive voltages at the normal test points. Well done! (damn rodents ) 

[bollingball]

I saved all the parts, put them in a boxed. Never know when you might need it.

You either saved a bad part or changed a good one