stalling and then starting over and over...

[shaggs]

Hi people, got me old shovel firing up agian the other day and did a descent little trip with some mates and had to kick it from home and every place we visited along the way (got the scar on inside of left left to prove it). Anyway got cruising a along and started backfiring and then come to a halt, then wait a few minutes kick it agian and off i go... I thought i might have been out of fuel and filled her up at the next stop and it all started again. I have put new plugs, air filter and leads on it for the ride... I am wondering if anyone has some suggestion to whats going on here??? the battery is dead flat also... and the bike ran weird also as when i would come to lights and have to stop with the clutch in you could feel the bike wanting to die but if i kept her rolling it would still run (rough) but it would still at least keep rolling in the right direction to my place... anyway got pissed off the last time it happened and got it towed as it became very dangerous in built up area...


cheers
shaggs

[Kainam]

Sounds like the stator went out, possibly the voltage regulator.

[MrMarty51]

Originally Posted by Kainam

Sounds like the stator went out, possibly the voltage regulator.

Yup. have to agree on that one.
Running with a bad battery can have some very undesirable affects on electrical components,found that out the hard way.after that,WHENEVER!,My battery starts acting up I get it out of there and get a new one in. usually about 4 years is the expected life of the lead/acid battery.

[shaggs]

Originally Posted by MrMarty51

Yup. have to agree on that one.
Running with a bad battery can have some very undesirable affects on electrical components,found that out the hard way.after that,WHENEVER!,My battery starts acting up I get it out of there and get a new one in. usually about 4 years is the expected life of the lead/acid battery.

My battery is new only a few months old but the bike has sat still for that time also... might need to recharge it and change the voltage regulator... originally all my problems began cause of changing bars and clamping the wires to the to bars for the indicators and lights and burnt out the solenoid so im wondering whether this is connected to that issue??? I thin k something is still sapping the battery dead even when not running or turned on??? any suggestions??? I thought that if the bike was running it would maintain the chrage in the battery but appears as though it does not keep it charged???
cheers

[MrMarty51]

Originally Posted by shaggs

My battery is new only a few months old but the bike has sat still for that time also... might need to recharge it and change the voltage regulator... originally all my problems began cause of changing bars and clamping the wires to the to bars for the indicators and lights and burnt out the solenoid so im wondering whether this is connected to that issue??? I thin k something is still sapping the battery dead even when not running or turned on??? any suggestions???
cheers

Charge and test the battery first,even a new battery can go bad.Put the battery on a trickle charger for at least 24 hours before testing it or having it tested.Your local parts store should be able to test it and usually for free.
Then if the battery is OK,with the key and all accesories off.
Remove the negative battery cable,install a probe/test light between the cable terminal and the battery post.
light is on,you have a voltage draw.
Light is off,every thing is OK.
If You have a light is on situation,I would start with the voltage regulator and disconnect the wires from it and see if the light turns off,if it does`nt turn off then start looking for a shorted/pinched wire.

[shaggs]

Originally Posted by MrMarty51

with the key and all accesories off.
Remove the negative battery cable,install a probe/test light between the cable terminal and the battery post.
light is on,you have a voltage draw.
Light is off,every thing is OK.
If You have a light is on situation,I would start with the voltage regulator and disconnect the wires from it and see if the light turns off,if it does`nt turn off then start looking for a shorted/pinched wire.

cheers mate

[harleytard]

Shaggs you've got some good advice so far.
My $$ is on the regulator and the pinched wire in the handle bar having shorted it.

To find the true condition of the battery, with engine off & fully charged battery, turn headlight on for 1 minute then turn it off & check voltage, should be around 12.5.

The regulator is easy to check. Compare voltage @ battery with key off, should be around 12.5, and with engine running it should be around 13+.

To check the alternator, unplug the wires and run a continuity check on the alternator; should have continuity between pins, but not from either pin to ground. Voltage should be around 50 volts ac between pins with engine running.

This is my no means a complete or accurate test but it will give you a general indication of what parts may be bad.
Hope this helps.