Battery Or Charging System

[headcoats]

Right I know fook all about electrics but battery is flat on LC even after riding.
The neutral light was flickering at idle too which doesn't normally happen

So how do I check if battery or charging circuit ?

Was fine a few weeks ago when I got it back on road and I had been charging the battery while laid up.

[midlifecrisisrd]

If the battery is flat but the electrics work when running it's most likely the battery

The neutral light flickering is the rough voltage from the generator at idle

Steve

[headcoats]

Rough voltage, Steve,what does that mean

[midlifecrisisrd]

When the engine is idling the generator isn't spinning fast enough to produce a steady voltage so it tends to dip and surge hence the light flickering

At higher revs the regulator controls it and smooths it out

Steve

[headcoats]

Will run it in morning and see what it's doing

[elsiefan]

I was checking my charging only today and it's really easy, though you will need a multimeter to do this.

Set the multimeter to read 20 Volts, connect it in parallel to the battery terminals, so + to + and - to -, then run the engine at around 2000 rpm and you should get a reading of 14.5 Volts + or - 0.5 Volts.
Mine was reading 14.35 Volts, so I'm happy that it's charging ok.

[headcoats]

Charged battery for 2 hours
10.00

Fitted to bike,with meter on battery posts 9.50 at idle

Held revs at 3000rpm and was getting 11.70

Sheeet!

Forgive my ignorance but would it be worth swopping the reg/rec over or is this in the stator ?

[tdrpete]

If its a wet battery ie acid the plates could be starting to sulfate. Battery should be at 12volts. Charging system should be between 13.6 to 14.2. Buy a battery first its the cheapest then check the charging again. I doubt its your stator you can check the windings with a multimeter. Sounds like your rectifier is working to me.

[headcoats]

I could fit battery off my Bonneville as it's working and test again

I did try another reg/rec and got 12.33 at 3000rpm ,slightly more but not enough

[elsiefan]

I'm not an electrical expert, but if after charging your battery it's only showing 10V, then I think it's knackered. How old is the battery?

[headcoats]

About 5 years I reckon

Just fitted the Triumph battery loosely and switched off showed
13.42
At idle I got 14.27 and at 3000rpm got 14.20

So with revs rising the charge wasn't increasing

I know fook all too LOL 😆

[midlifecrisisrd]

At 5 years the battery will be shagged regardless

Decent battery charge should be 10 hours

Have you been using an " intelligent" charger? Some don't work on lead acid batteries

Try the Bonnie battery and measure again

A shagged battery can pull too much current and skew the voltage readings

Steve

[Chewie01]

The regulator will regulate the output voltage to a set level, hence the name. So it's a good sign that your stator and regulator are working as intended and giving you a steady reading.
It's looking like the battery is toast.

[elsiefan]

Apr 19, 2023 11:57:23 GMT 1 Chewie01 said:

The regulator will regulate the output voltage to a set level, hence the name. So it's a good sign that your stator and regulator are working as intended and giving you a steady reading.
It's looking like the battery is toast.

Nice to have an expert agree with my diagnosis 😁

[headcoats]

Was asked to try running with no battery and , and that threw up 9.40 idle and 10.80 at 3000rpm

[midlifecrisisrd]

It will regulate but only to a certain degree

It cannot go beyond the limits of voltage and current out of the generator

If the battery or another component is pulling more current than genny is producing the output voltage will fall

Steve

[midlifecrisisrd]

Eek, don't run it without a battery connected 😱

At least have the headlight switched on so there is a load on the circuit

On later ypvs bikes you can pop the rev counter running it without a battery

Steve

[headcoats]

It's a hybrid with LC clocks ,so don't even run it at low revs then 🙈
I have a spare stator and just pulled flywheel off which was quite painless as it has been on several years

Going to try that and see where I am with that and of course a new battery

[JonW]

My bet is the battery, which is the cheapest / easiest to swap surely?

[headcoats]

The bit that confused me (easily done ) is that i thought it would charge at 14v regardless of a battery fitted ,even a knackered one ?
With my charger fitted (on) and the meter put on the posts it was putting in about 13.5v regardless of it being a knackered battery,so wouldn't the stator be achieving similar output ?

[tdrpete]

Just buy a battery will ya lol

[JonW]

LOL, Pete... but, well, yeah... C'mon let's have this done!

[headcoats]

Might do LOL 😆

It is an F2 stator and flywheel though,weren't these supposed to be the reliable ones ?

Anyone had one fail

[midlifecrisisrd]

Stop asking questions about the stator and flywheel man, your over thinking it 🤣

It needs a battery anyway

Steve

[crigar]

If the Bonneville's battery works and the LC's doesn't, there are no more questions to ask. midlifecrisisrd is right, it should be replaced by a new one.

[tdrpete]

Can we all start a crowdfunding page to buy this lad a new battery please. lol I will spot the first fiver.

[JonW]

Are you just desperate to do some spannering or something? haha...

[headcoats]

Apr 20, 2023 9:42:32 GMT 1 JonW said:

Are you just desperate to do some spannering or something? haha...

The voices in my head are telling me to swop the stator out !

[Gitram]

sometimes the voices in my head say something and we get into a real discussion..

but, www.tayna.co.uk/

marti

[tdrpete]

I have always used Yuasa Batteries and i have to say i never have battery issues.