Charging problems...

[L2fly]

Ok, I bought the battery tender, but after having it on 6v for a couple of weeks, my bike (2002 Speed Triple 955i) STILL wouldn't start yesterday morning... so, I called a helpful friend, who came over and gave me a push start... started right up! Normally I would expect it to charge up and be ok later in the day, but that didn't happen, we rode about 75 miles and it never would start! But once it was pushed started, I had no problems... didn't notice any flickering of the lights, and for a short portion of the ride, when I was assuming the system was charging properly, I even used my heated vest for a little while, and that also worked ok.

So when I got home I plugged it back into the tender, at the 12V setting, and after 10 hours this morning it started. Put a volt meter on it, it read about 13.5-7V at idle, decreasing to 12.5 at 4,000-5,000 rpm. Pulled the stater line, tested the a/c current at the 10v setting, on all three lines, it was no higher than 1 on all three. When we plugged it back together, the battery was still registering 13.5-.7v at idle.

SOOO, I'm thinking stator, but then I priced 'em... $449 from Bike Bandit! So, I want to KNOW its the stator, rather than THINK its the stater!!

Any thoughts as to anything else I can do to confirm it is the stator, based on the above? I'm a little concerned that I tested everything properly, given that the bike did run ok once pushed-started, even though the stater tested nearly dead as a doornail... will that little 1-2 A/C current it was putting out (assuming I tested it properly...) keep a bike running for 70 miles like that?? Or do I have a different problem?

Thanks!

[BillT]

A/C current should read at least 50 volts at 5000RPM on each of the three legs. Set the multimeter to A/C volts (at least 100 if multiple scales), and check by inserting the test leads in the three possible combinations of two wires. If they don't read equal, or one reads less than 50, stator is bad.

If you need a stator, read 'Something finally went on Speedy' New stator - $120 new R/R - $110

[L2fly]

A/C current should read at least 50 volts at 5000RPM on each of the three legs. Set the multimeter to A/C volts (at least 100 if multiple scales), and check by inserting the test leads in the three possible combinations of two wires. If they don't read equal, or one reads less than 50, stator is bad.

If you need a stator, read 'Something finally went on Speedy' New stator - $120 new R/R - $110

Ok, I think I have 'multiple scales', the thing has settings for 'ACV' at 500, 250, 50, and 10... I don't have 100, so which is best? 50?

Also, 'check by inserting test leads in the three possible combinations'... ummmmkay... I took the positive, red lead, and inserted into each sleeve of the connector... and put the negative lead on different engine bolts... this is how I got my '1-2' readings... I've got to be something wrong, it should reading SOMETHING...

Yeah, I know, I'm a dumbass... but I've gotta learn this stuff sometime!

And will definitely look for that thread!! THANK YOU!!

[dano]

Hey Fly, sorry to hear of your electrical gremlins....this might be of service.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...ator_check.pdf

[trippeee]

How old is your battery? Sounds like it's not taking/holding a charge from the battery tender.

[connersw]

good rule of thumb set meter to the scale that will put your expected reading at midpoint of that scale if you expect a reading of 50v, (what you would see if evertyhing is ok, not necessarily what you will see), set meter scale to 100v

[connersw]

ps if no 100 scale set to next higher in your case to the 250 scale

[Razorback]

Wow, I figured you were in jail for throwing a case or 'losing' evidence or something.

Anyways, if it's the stator, try these guys https://www.electrexusa.com/electros...l_triumph.html

I haven't used them for a Triumph but I did for Harleys and never had a problem with them. One of the ones we installed on a friends Harley we installed about 5 or 6 years ago is still running strong on his daily ride.

[L2fly]

Hey Fly, sorry to hear of your electrical gremlins....this might be of service.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...ator_check.pdf

Oh, thats AWESOME!! Stator checking for dummies!! THANK YOU!!

[BillT]

Hey Fly, sorry to hear of your electrical gremlins....this might be of service.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...ator_check.pdf

Oh, thats AWESOME!! Stator checking for dummies!! THANK YOU!!

That's what I was referring to - connecting between the three output wires on the stator, AB BC AC. Wire orientation doesn't matter, as each wire does exactly the same thing. Dano's link says at least 60 Volts, but anything over 50 is OK. The important thing is that all three outputs are the same at the same engine speed. When I checked mine, I had 60, 60, 50. When I took the stator out, one coil was fried.