Posted by Mungo \"Two Sheds\" Toadfoot on August 30, 2007, 7:40 am
My 1988 Virago has been having problems with the charging system recently. A
few weeks ago I noticed that the battery fluid level was very low, which was
my fault as it had been sitting there behind the rear cylinder for ~6 months
and I forgot it should be checked (oops).
When I did top it up it kept losing the charge over about a week so I
thought I'd killed the battery as it tested as being charged (by the bike)
at 12.8v-13.8v but it didn't seem to be holding it. I was about to buy
another battery as it is now losing its charge (charged with a battery
charger indoors) within a day or two, but yesterday the engine started
popping and hesitating when accelerating. Thinking this might be related to
the battery not keeping a charge I turned on the lights whilst riding and
the popping and hesitation got much worse. I tried the horn and there was
only a very faint sound from it, yet the indicators seemed to be working
fine. When I got home I tested the charging system at the battery and there
was nothing at all - no variation in the battery's voltage whatever the
revs.
I've tested the alternator's output according to my manual - there is an
electrical connector with 3 white wires which are supposed to show a
resistance of 0.34 and 0.42 ohms between any two and they've tested ok so
the stator looks ok.
Any ideas what I can try next? My manual doesn't say how to test the
regulator but is it likely to be that? I thought that a regulator failure
gave high voltage...
Any other tests I can try?
--
Si - XV535
Posted by chateau.murray@btinternet.com, on August 30, 2007, 8:07 am
On 30 Aug, 13:40, "Mungo \"Two Sheds\" Toadfoot"
> My 1988 Virago has been having problems with the charging system recently. A
> few weeks ago I noticed that the battery fluid level was very low, which was
> my fault as it had been sitting there behind the rear cylinder for ~6 months
> and I forgot it should be checked (oops).
> When I did top it up it kept losing the charge over about a week so I
> thought I'd killed the battery as it tested as being charged (by the bike)
> at 12.8v-13.8v but it didn't seem to be holding it. I was about to buy
> another battery as it is now losing its charge (charged with a battery
> charger indoors) within a day or two, but yesterday the engine started
> popping and hesitating when accelerating. Thinking this might be related to
> the battery not keeping a charge I turned on the lights whilst riding and
> the popping and hesitation got much worse. I tried the horn and there was
> only a very faint sound from it, yet the indicators seemed to be working
> fine. When I got home I tested the charging system at the battery and there
> was nothing at all - no variation in the battery's voltage whatever the
> revs.
> I've tested the alternator's output according to my manual - there is an
> electrical connector with 3 white wires which are supposed to show a
> resistance of 0.34 and 0.42 ohms between any two and they've tested ok so
> the stator looks ok.
> Any ideas what I can try next? My manual doesn't say how to test the
> regulator but is it likely to be that? I thought that a regulator failure
> gave high voltage...
If the alternator is, erm, alternating, then it has to be the
regulator/rectifier. Once they go pop, they're not really repairable.
Not an unknown event. Go out and buy a new one (it might be pricey)
and plug it in. Job done.
Posted by Mungo \"Two Sheds\" Toadfoot on August 30, 2007, 10:00 am
chateau.murray@btinternet.com wrote:
> If the alternator is, erm, alternating, then it has to be the
> regulator/rectifier. Once they go pop, they're not really repairable.
> Not an unknown event. Go out and buy a new one (it might be pricey)
> and plug it in. Job done.
If I could find it!!
A glance at a manual is a dangerous thing.
I noticed that the manual said the regulator could be mounted near the
engine/driveshaft, or under the frame [1]. As I've never noticed it behind
or under the frame I thought "That finned thing just below the engine must
be it" and proceeded to undo the three Allen bolts holding it on. Oil
started leaking out. Ho yus? Some manner of oil seal gone, is it? Got a
receptacle, undid the bolts. ALL the oil came out along with the oil pump
strainer. T'aint that then. Ah well, I like clean oil anyway so it's an
excuse to put new stuff in.
Still haven't found it. Perhaps it's actually underneath the bike?
--
Si - XV535
[1] http://www.arcl40.dsl.pipex.com/stuff/index.html
Posted by Mungo \"Two Sheds\" Toadfoot on August 30, 2007, 10:35 am
Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot wrote:
> chateau.murray@btinternet.com wrote:
>> If the alternator is, erm, alternating, then it has to be the
>> regulator/rectifier. Once they go pop, they're not really repairable.
>> Not an unknown event. Go out and buy a new one (it might be pricey)
>> and plug it in. Job done.
> If I could find it!!
Underneath the bike just above the exhaust expansion chamber.
FFS.
--
Si - XV535
Posted by Wudsracer on August 30, 2007, 9:03 am
**************************************************
>On Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:40:20 +0100, "Mungo \"Two Sheds\" Toadfoot"
>My 1988 Virago has been having problems with the charging system recently. A
>few weeks ago I noticed that the battery fluid level was very low, which was
>my fault as it had been sitting there behind the rear cylinder for ~6 months
>and I forgot it should be checked (oops).
>When I did top it up it kept losing the charge over about a week so I
>thought I'd killed the battery as it tested as being charged (by the bike)
>at 12.8v-13.8v but it didn't seem to be holding it. I was about to buy
>another battery as it is now losing its charge (charged with a battery
>charger indoors) within a day or two, but yesterday the engine started
>popping and hesitating when accelerating. Thinking this might be related to
>the battery not keeping a charge I turned on the lights whilst riding and
>the popping and hesitation got much worse. I tried the horn and there was
>only a very faint sound from it, yet the indicators seemed to be working
>fine. When I got home I tested the charging system at the battery and there
>was nothing at all - no variation in the battery's voltage whatever the
>revs.
>I've tested the alternator's output according to my manual - there is an
>electrical connector with 3 white wires which are supposed to show a
>resistance of 0.34 and 0.42 ohms between any two and they've tested ok so
>the stator looks ok.
>Any ideas what I can try next? My manual doesn't say how to test the
>regulator but is it likely to be that? I thought that a regulator failure
>gave high voltage...
>Any other tests I can try?
***************************************
Make sure you have a good clean ground contact from the battery back
to the system. (especially from the cable end to the engine (or
frame).
Wudsracer/Jim Cook
Smackover Racing
'06 Gas Gas DE300
'82 Husqvarna XC250
Team LAGNAF
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> few weeks ago I noticed that the battery fluid level was very low, which was
> my fault as it had been sitting there behind the rear cylinder for ~6 months
> and I forgot it should be checked (oops).
> When I did top it up it kept losing the charge over about a week so I
> thought I'd killed the battery as it tested as being charged (by the bike)
> at 12.8v-13.8v but it didn't seem to be holding it. I was about to buy
> another battery as it is now losing its charge (charged with a battery
> charger indoors) within a day or two, but yesterday the engine started
> popping and hesitating when accelerating. Thinking this might be related to
> the battery not keeping a charge I turned on the lights whilst riding and
> the popping and hesitation got much worse. I tried the horn and there was
> only a very faint sound from it, yet the indicators seemed to be working
> fine. When I got home I tested the charging system at the battery and there
> was nothing at all - no variation in the battery's voltage whatever the
> revs.
> I've tested the alternator's output according to my manual - there is an
> electrical connector with 3 white wires which are supposed to show a
> resistance of 0.34 and 0.42 ohms between any two and they've tested ok so
> the stator looks ok.
> Any ideas what I can try next? My manual doesn't say how to test the
> regulator but is it likely to be that? I thought that a regulator failure
> gave high voltage...