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bad alternator/charging system?

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bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 7:52:04 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

So I finally got it all hooked up and running great, rode for the last couple weeks fine, and now I seem to be encountering a new problem...
I put a new battery in my bike a few months ago, has been working great, fires right up. But today I go to start my bike, like usual, and it seems like the battery is half drained, cranked awhile before it finally fired and ran fine. Then I go and stop at a gas station for something to drink, get back on the bike and same thing, cranks with that weak sound like the battery is running low. Could this be a problem with my charging system? seems like it, I''m just really hoping it''s not, I can''t afford to put any more $ into the bike right now. Any thoughts? Obviously I should hook a volt meter up to it and test a few things, gotta buy one of those too...ha, is life expensive?!

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

Post #: 1

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 10:48:03 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

So I took the bike to my local shop, pulled the battery and they tested it. Came back with 0% charge! DEAD! they said for a acurate reading on wether it''s a dead cell they need to do a recharge & test and that could take anywhere from 4hours to 2 days! HOLY HELL! couldn''t do it right then, had to ride back to work, and later to home. Got them to jump start it for me, once it''s running it''s fine, seems like the brand new $75 battery isn''t holding a charge (all of a sudden). I''ll take it up to them tomorrow and leave it there so they can test it, at least all the testing/charging is free, hopefully I''ll get a new battery for free too!

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to exz5string)

Post #: 2

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 11:42:44 AM

ZRX1

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/22/2007
Status: offline

exz5string,

If they check it all out and they find that is was just the battery, go with a AGM or Gel battery

you will put out a few more dollars. But in the long run you can''t get a better battery for your scoot.

Yes I have 5 of them and they are now 4 years old no problems at all. I do keep my bikes on battery tenders for AGM batteries when I am not riding them, but when I can get 5 years from a motorcycle battery. It''s worth the few extra dollars..... All of mine are AGM maintenance free batteries.

Good Luck and keep us posted on what you find.

_____________________________

Scoots I own: 79 CBX, 93 900RR, 97 Wing, 01 Erion RR

(in reply to exz5string)

Post #: 3

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 12:02:32 PM

sas1810

Posts: 103
Joined: 4/19/2008
Status: offline

just a thought, while you have the seat off, check the connection that comes from the alternator, they are prone for burning out. and when its running, you should be getting around 14.8V on a meter at 5000rpm for charge

_____________________________

1994 CBR900RR US Spec
pazzo race levers
harris rear-sets
V&H SS2R silencer
hand polished frame, swing, wheels
re-built myself all in 4 weeks

(in reply to ZRX1)

Post #: 4

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 12:02:51 PM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

Yea, next one will be. This is a Yuasa YTX9-BS, made by Westco, said it was the best they had at the shop... guess not

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to ZRX1)

Post #: 5

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/20/2008 8:12:05 PM

ZRX1

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/22/2007
Status: offline

exz5string,

Man that''''s kind of a bummer as Westco batteries I have been told are a good battery. But as I said I like the AGM glass batteries they seem to take a pounding better than just lead acid batteries.

They make lead acid batteries so damn cheep today that when they get a little hot the lead plates in them will warpe easily, and if one set of plates touch there goes a dead cell. One thing you have to be really careful if you need to jump start one, as that really helps them in the warpage department when a car is used to start a scoot LOL the amprage push from the car battery just kills the tiny lead plates....

Plus our scoots are not designed to charge up a dead battery, that is why one needs a slow trickel charger and 24 hours to do them right no overheating so no problems 1.5 Amp charger is the way to go.

Hope that is all that''''s bad.

< Message edited by ZRX1 -- 6/20/2008 8:23:52 PM >

_____________________________

Scoots I own: 79 CBX, 93 900RR, 97 Wing, 01 Erion RR

(in reply to exz5string)

Post #: 6

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/22/2008 8:17:14 AM

stynkmonkey

Posts: 286
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Leander Tx. USA
Status: offline

If you have a bad stator and or reg/rec it can destroy even the best batteries. Check those since they are great at taking a crap on the 900.

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Dragging a knee is a result not a goal.

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Post #: 7

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/22/2008 9:49:13 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

so how do I check the stator or reg/rec to see if it''s bad?

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to stynkmonkey)

Post #: 8

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/22/2008 1:34:08 PM

vaggabon

Posts: 45
Joined: 8/19/2006
Status: offline

Same thing happened to me... it ended up being my voltage regulator... i bought a cheap one from ebay for $40 and it burned out and ended up buying a honda one for $150.

V-regulator should be sending 13.5-15.5V to the battery at 5000rpm (red and white wire)

I downloaded a manual for a 900RR a long time again and here is the troubleshooting ppage. I dont know where to find it again.
GOOD LUCK

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l291/vaggabon/untitledx1.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l291/vaggabon/untitledx2.jpg

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--Freedom--

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Post #: 9

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/22/2008 4:55:23 PM

stynkmonkey

Posts: 286
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Leander Tx. USA
Status: offline

This has to be the most popular link for 900rr owners. Every single 900rr related forum has at least one reference to it. Follow the steps in the pdf and you will be able to determine any and all of your electrical system troubles. Might help to use a friend for a couple of steps

http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/fault-finding-guide.php

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Dragging a knee is a result not a goal.

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Post #: 10

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/22/2008 6:47:09 PM

sas1810

Posts: 103
Joined: 4/19/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: sas1810

just a thought, while you have the seat off, check the connection that comes from the alternator, they are prone for burning out. and when its running, you should be getting around 14.8V on a meter at 5000rpm for charge

didt i say this already? lol

never go fo the cheap R/R they willnot last!

_____________________________

1994 CBR900RR US Spec
pazzo race levers
harris rear-sets
V&H SS2R silencer
hand polished frame, swing, wheels
re-built myself all in 4 weeks

(in reply to sas1810)

Post #: 11

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/23/2008 8:15:41 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

Alright I''ll give that a shot, thanks. Should get the battery, or new one, back today. Now have to get a voltage meter! always something!

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to sas1810)

Post #: 12

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/23/2008 10:29:10 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

Ok, just got the battery back, it''s 100% good, full charge now and in perfect condition. So that makes this more expensive as now I''ll have to probably end up replacing the voltage regulator at $181. I''ll snag a voltage meter and run the tests you have suggested and see what really is the problem.

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to exz5string)

Post #: 13

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 6/25/2008 1:42:24 PM

sammie900rr

Posts: 7
Joined: 4/28/2008
Status: offline

no dude if you buy one off ebay they work just as good and mine was only $30 plus shipping but it is working fine. I had the exact same problem as you except i had just got a new battery like a week b4 the situation happen.

1996 cbr 900rr
Sammie

(in reply to exz5string)

Post #: 14

RE: bad alternator/charging system? - 7/9/2008 7:26:44 AM

exz5string

Posts: 171
Joined: 5/21/2007
Status: offline

Well I haven''t had a chance to check the whole system out but I did pick up a multimeter yesterday and tested it some this morning. Charged the battery overnight and threw it in the bike this morning, fired right up. at idle, 1500 rpm, it''s getting 12.14v. at 2500 rpm it''s getting 12.33v. I know that this should be reading between 13.5v and 15v so there is a problem. Givin that when you rev it higher the voltage reading goes up I''m assuming that the alternator/stator may be ok and it''s the regulator that''s the problem. Any thoughts? I''m gonna order a cheap one from eBay just to see if it''ll work for a bit, even if it fries out eventually it''ll be a less costly way to see if that''s my exact problem. Whenever I have time I''ll also do the rest of the testing on the system

_____________________________

1994 CBR 900RR

My friend says hes got himself a trophy wife. Apparently it wasnt first place...

(in reply to sammie900rr)

Post #: 15