Ig is the ignition input that turns on the alternator regulator assembly. Alternator testing instructions dot motorcycle club. Basically, this does not allow the regulator to send voltage to the battery any higher than 14. The easiest way to test it is by using a voltmeter. His drag racing record holding 750 triumph is in don garlits racing museum. This tutorial will work for any bike, but check with your service manual for the proper recommended readings. Since the regulatorrectifier cannot be tested, the only way to identify it as bad is to eliminate. While at the same time this coil should not have any connection to the earth of the bike. Dot motorcycle club 2010 alternator testing instructions the series 114 alternator consists of a six pole stator ring 5 in diameter with six coils and a six pole permanent magnet rotor. Aug 11, 2019 while there are a number of variations on the theme, all motorcycle alternators boil down to two types. There are three main leads coloured white, light green and orange. How to troubleshoot a harley alternator it still runs.
Capitulo 2 automotive electrical circuits and wiring. Bmw airhead motorcycle aftermarket and stock alternators. All my test figures are right out of the factory book, run at 70 degrees, i used two different ohmmeters, and ran the tests several times. How to test a three phase generator stator, alternator magneto and regulator rectifier. Battery testers free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The first and less common is the automotivetype, externally mounted, selfcontained onepiece alternator, wherein everything needed to create and regulate the current output is housed in one unit. Nov 28, 2012 how to test a motorcycle stator on a 3 typical 3 phase charging system. Alternator testing all stepmills this document details the procedure for troubleshooting and testing a suspected bad alternator. If you test the stator first and get bad readings, confirm that the field coil is good before replacing the.
Motorcycle electrical systems have been known to strike fear even into some of the most seasoned home motorcycle mechanics. The advantage of 3phase alternators is at normal road cruising speeds they will be making more power than a single phase unit running at the same speed. Motorcycle stator and alternator motorcycle cruiser. As my t100 is in bits at the moment i decided to mount its alternator onto my bench grinder and make some measurements. How to diagnose motorcycle electrical problems dennis kirk. Rear bearing removal 7 alternator diagnostic component testing 7 positive rectifier test 7 negative rectifier test 9 alternator field test 10 rotor test 11 brush inspection 12 stator test 12 regulator test alternator. The tests will help you to identify or eliminate the stator as the problem in a charging issue. I often see requests for testing an alternator to which the usual response is the output should be 8.
Testing the charging system be sure to follow safety precautions to. Toc charging system troubleshooting fox motorcycle institute. For the 5 alternator stator which has no centertap terminal, you ground nothing, just check with the lamp between all combinations of the three stator outputs see b. Understanding the alternator four wires connect the alternator to the rest of the charging system. Disconnect the alternator wires from the bikes wiring. If the stator fails, your battery will no longer be charging when youre riding your. This is my basic beginners guide to diagnosing potential faults with the lucas electrical system of your classic motorbike, which covers. Testing the charging system linnbenton community college. Select a vehicle system below to see the available guided test. The alternator or dynamo gives out a fixed voltage for the battery, ie 12v batt usually 14v output, if the battery is flat then it takes more current to get it upto charge,once it reaches charging the current drops off,there is a current limiter in the regulator.
B is the alternator output wire that supplies current to the battery. Connect the meter leads to the battery terminals and look for. Testing the stator, a pictorial guide by basscliff the gs resources website has a very complete fault finding chart in the stator papers available on the in the garage page. There is no way of controlling the magnetic field, so the output we get we have to regulate in some way to keep the battery charging under control. Similar results cannot reliably be obtained through the use of continuity testing with an ohmmeter. It applies to any unit that uses the sm22900 or sm20205 not available from core alternator. How to test an alternator if you have a newer battery, but your car wont start, you may have a bad alternator. Mar 11, 20 this power sport vehicle tutorial is for atvs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and street bikes, water crafts. Multistrand wires may test properly for continuity, but due to opens or corrosion in the line, display a substantial voltage drop when tested. This diy article is a tutorial about typical motorcycle alternators like those on honda cbrrr fireblades and honda cbf, how they work and how they fail. The manual conveys essential safe riding information and has been designed. The motorcycle safety foundation msf has made this manual available to help novice motorcyclists reduce their risk of having a crash. With no lights turned on, all that 100 watts has to go somewhere.
Testing three phase alternator stator, regulator rectifier. The only aspect you can check at home is whether the cable connections are in perfect condition. If output is 70% of rated output, system is working properly. He has certifications in automation and control technology. The first and less common is the automotivetype, externally mounted, selfcontained onepiece alternator, wherein everything needed to create and. I know this topic has been run into the ground, but i can never get the search function to work. Load test the battery to know if it is reliable if the battery is not fully charged. All stators mentioned here are the later encapsulated type, not open wire w. If headlights dim and brighten with engine speed you already have problems. Three coils are connected in series to white and light green, the other. Motorcycle alternator output capacity motor vehicle. Forcing the alternator to run the electrical system due to weak battery will kill it prematurely. The amperehour capacity is equal to the product of the current in amperes and the time in hours during. The alternator produces alternating current, and this is where the term alternator originated.
Learning how to troubleshoot a motorcycle s charging system can be one of the more difficult tasks to fully understand. Testing out the new sena 10c evo motorcycle camera. If the meter goes off and shows that it has continuity then. This is an important figure due to the fact that oem alternators are typically illequipped to handle additional loads from aftermarket equipment and upgrades. Lets throw that illusion out, start with a clean slate and learn your motorcycles charging system in the most simple and basic way possible. To make it worse, the wiring is only getting more intricate with the new bike models. Feb 26, 2017 watch how to test a motorcycle alternator stator cagmito76 on dailymotion. With engine running at governor speed, measure amperage output and apply loads until you reach 70% of rated output. Alternators are constructed as one piece or as three pieces. Its hard to tell whether or not an alternator works if you dont know what to look for. Basic electronic troubleshooting motorcycle cruiser. John really knows his stuff and has put together a little testing help for all of us and it is greatly appreciated.
Located within the primary chaincase on the left side of the engine, the alternator is difficult to visually inspect. How to test an alternator with one tool the family handyman. Ig is the ignition input that turns on the alternatorregulator assembly. How to fully troubleshoot your motorcycles charging system. Buy motopower mp0514a 12v digital car battery tester voltmeter and charging system analyzer with lcd display and led indication black rubber paint. I probably should have put this before the stator, because if it is not working properly than the stator will malfunction. Honda cbr 125 r generator alternator stator coil testing.
Operating a motorcycle safely in traffic requires special skills and knowledge. Make sure all electrical terminals are clean and very tight also. Im working on a 1970 triumph tiger and im looking for a simple way to test the alternator itself. The alternator we all know that this just consists of a coil of wire with a permanent magnet whizzing past it, stator and rotor. It is easy to tell the difference single phase have 6 coils, three phase 9, you just have to look inside and count the metal. With the motor at idle you should see around volts or better. The motorcycle charging system consists of the alternator, voltage rectifierregulator, and battery. Courtesy of john lorenz john on left and big daddy don garlits. This test checks for voltage being lost along a wire, or through a connection or switch.
The older sm20205 alternator was used on the 7000pt and sm916 units and can be replaced by the new alter. The main function of the alternator is to charge the battery. Troubleshooting alternator and charging system problems. The list below contains pico technologys latest format of guided tests, in a structure that reflects the familiar feel of our automotive menu within the picoscope 6 automotive software. Testing the stator, a pictorial guide by basscliff. If you dont have a multimeter then a bulb test is very good, often a bit more instructive.
The output of an alternator is usually expressed in amperes, which is essentially just the amount of current that the unit is capable of providing to all of the equipment thats hooked into the electrical system. The last versions of the alternator stator housing did not use insulating washers at the d post. First find out what kind of an alternator your motorcycle has and check whichever of the following applies. This guide to testing a lucas dynamo is based upon my experiences with my 1951 matchless g3ls, although the same principles should apply to other matchless and ajs bikes and indeed to other bikes and cars of the same era which also use the lucas dynamo charging system. Modern lucas alternators single phase two wire or 3phase. Alternator tutorial motorcycle do it yourself article. Use a carbon pile to cause maximum amps to flow through battery tester 5. Firstly we have to change the generated ac into dcwe use a rectifier. Alternator tutorial motorcycle diy article still under preparation. The charging system on a harleydavidson motorcycle consists of the battery, the voltage regulator and the alternator. If i hook up an ac voltmeter across the 2 terminal leads from the alternator, with the engine running, app. How to test a motorcycle stator on a 3 typical 3 phase charging system. How to troubleshoot a harley alternator by jim murkot sr. Dan ferrell writes about doityourself car maintenance and repair.
Testing the field coil the field coil is the other part along with the stator that makes up the units alternator. Normally, specifications for alternator output, as well as the wattage of common components like the running lights and headlamp, can be found in the shop or owners manual. S is used by the regulator to monitor charging voltage at the battery. So doesnt that mean the regulator has to be capable on handling the. Having your alternator fail can leave you stranded on the side of the road. The fleet maintenance interest is addressed by performing an extensive mechanical evaluation on each motorcycle submitted. Motorcycle testing and measurement includes a range of more than two dozen statistics giving the specifications of the motorcycle, and the actual performance, expressed by such things as the output of the engine, and the top speed or acceleration of the motorcycle. Automotive electrical circuits and wiring 9 101 battery capacity the capacity of a battery is measured in amperehours. If the measurements are the same the average motorcycle alternator supplies approx. If some of the measured values are significantly below the others, the alternator is faulty. Though it is not necessary to know every aspect as to how the alternator works, knowing a few easy tests and some initial signs of failure can keep you from having a costly breakdown.
Jan 17, 20 at 1214 vdc, a 350 watt alternator can output about 25 to 29 amps. Electrical problems often cause an instant phone call to schedule an appointment at the bike shop. The alternator, in turn, is made up of the rotor and the stator. Testing was done with a commercial laboratory grade 50 mv 500a shunt, with a quality digital meter connected to it for ampere output testing. To test your alternator, follow these simple steps. How to test alternator with a voltmeter alternator test with a voltmeter if its in the range, its good.
Learning how to troubleshoot a motorcycles charging system can be one of the more difficult tasks to fully understand. The regulator ensures that the voltage is delivered within certain limits, as not to damage the battery. Lets throw that illusion out, start with a clean slate and learn your motorcycle s charging system in the most simple and basic way possible. Just a guess but your ignition system and tail light probably takes less than 5 amps. The testing process is designed to address the law enforcement officers operational requirements in terms of motorcycle performance, safety, and comfort. Sep 20, 2019 the proposed 3 phase motorcycle voltage regulator circuit for motorcycle may be witnessed in the diagram below. At 1214 vdc, a 350 watt alternator can output about 25 to 29 amps.
If you can not hook to alternator you can measure output to the battery 1. Jun 16, 2011 a motorcycle battery is barely enough battery for a motorcycle so it must be maintained with vigilance. Harley stator charging system not workingtest regulator. Use a test light on each of the three stator terminals, the other end of the test lamp to chassis. How do you test an alternator on motorcycle answers. I didnt use the wires, except the extra connecting lead for the alternator. The testing of the omega 450 and 600 were done on the same motorcycle, with the same poor battery, which happened to be the popular odyssey battery. Motorcycle operator manual motorcycle safety foundation. The bike is a 69 a65l, boyer, and podtronics rectifier regulator in one unit. A great sample question from a standard motorcycle test is when starting your motorcycle on an uphill incline, what should a motorcyclist. Product title mgaxyff 12v car motorcycle battery load tester analy.
Delco 10si 15si 27si alternator service and rebuilding. These are not to be confused with the three wire, three phase stators introduced much later. Alternator problems and charging system problems can affect your vehicle in different ways. Bmw airhead motorcycle alternator troubleshooting and repair. Get a volt meter set on continuity put the black lead on a good ground and touch the red lead to the pins in the connectorone at a time. The 3 phase output from the alternator is sequentially applied across three power transistors which basically act like shunting devices for the alternator current. A motorcycle doesnt have an alternator like a car, there is a stator, which is behind the stator cover, on the left side of the engine. While there are a number of variations on the theme, all motorcycle alternators boil down to two types. Generally, you can check motorcycle alternator stators while theyre installed on the bike, using a quality multimeter.
Rick muscoplat, an automotive expert at family handyman, will show you how to test your alternator. The motorcycle rectifierregulator current output all about. Delco 10si 15si 27si alternator service and rebuilding created date. On the various forums, there is a lot of fuzz going on about alternator troubles on these motorcycles.
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