Joined
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7 Posts
So, I have been lurking on this forum for the better part of a decade, since becoming the proud owner of a Honda Twin myself. Today I come to you with my hat in my hand seeking tokens of knowledge:
I start the bike, ride it around for a little while, and when I get home it’s dead. I have gone through the charging system, and ALMOST every test I have performed checks out; the diodes in the regulator seem good, the alternator puts out about 50 vac, and when I meter across the battery it behaves like it’s supposed to (~12v sitting, ~10v when the starter’s running, ~14.5v when the engine starts). The only thing that doesn’t check out is the amperage on the battery while it’s running (meter between the positive terminal and cable on the bike). I get nothing. Zero. Zilch. According to CLYMER (yes I know) I should be getting about 5 amps... or at least SOMETHING.
I am very confused as to where all my current is going? It seems that, logically, if I get a proper volt reading on the battery I should be getting a proper amperage reading too. But I’m not. So maybe I am missing something? This could have been human error too, or maybe my meter is bad. I get small, ambient current readings on the AC setting, but I get absolutely NOTHING on DC.
Since that doesn't make any sense, then my only other suspect is the starter motor. Even on a fully charged battery it doesn't really turn over the way it should... it will turn once> pause>turn again>pause>turnturnturnturn>igniton. I am wondering if it is worn and simply running it drains the battery to a point that I haven’t ridden long enough for it to recover from. And, I obviously don’t want to risk stranding myself miles from my house to test that theory. The screws that hold the starter together are too corroded for me to take it apart for inspection/service, so the only option is to get a new one and try it to rule that out… which is another $100 that I don’t want to throw away if I don’t have to, hence why I am actually posting for once.
This has been, at the risk of sounding dramatic, emotional for me. The bikes former owner was keeping it around as a parts bike for his other nighthawk, but decided he didn’t want it anymore, and short of the fact that it ran O.K, it was basically junk. I have spent countless dollars, time, blood, sweat, and tears over the past 5 years cleaning and/or replacing virtually everything on this bike. I just want to enjoy the fruits of my labor but the season is almost over here in Michigan and I am running out of time. So please, any help would be greatly appreciated.
I start the bike, ride it around for a little while, and when I get home it’s dead. I have gone through the charging system, and ALMOST every test I have performed checks out; the diodes in the regulator seem good, the alternator puts out about 50 vac, and when I meter across the battery it behaves like it’s supposed to (~12v sitting, ~10v when the starter’s running, ~14.5v when the engine starts). The only thing that doesn’t check out is the amperage on the battery while it’s running (meter between the positive terminal and cable on the bike). I get nothing. Zero. Zilch. According to CLYMER (yes I know) I should be getting about 5 amps... or at least SOMETHING.
I am very confused as to where all my current is going? It seems that, logically, if I get a proper volt reading on the battery I should be getting a proper amperage reading too. But I’m not. So maybe I am missing something? This could have been human error too, or maybe my meter is bad. I get small, ambient current readings on the AC setting, but I get absolutely NOTHING on DC.
Since that doesn't make any sense, then my only other suspect is the starter motor. Even on a fully charged battery it doesn't really turn over the way it should... it will turn once> pause>turn again>pause>turnturnturnturn>igniton. I am wondering if it is worn and simply running it drains the battery to a point that I haven’t ridden long enough for it to recover from. And, I obviously don’t want to risk stranding myself miles from my house to test that theory. The screws that hold the starter together are too corroded for me to take it apart for inspection/service, so the only option is to get a new one and try it to rule that out… which is another $100 that I don’t want to throw away if I don’t have to, hence why I am actually posting for once.
This has been, at the risk of sounding dramatic, emotional for me. The bikes former owner was keeping it around as a parts bike for his other nighthawk, but decided he didn’t want it anymore, and short of the fact that it ran O.K, it was basically junk. I have spent countless dollars, time, blood, sweat, and tears over the past 5 years cleaning and/or replacing virtually everything on this bike. I just want to enjoy the fruits of my labor but the season is almost over here in Michigan and I am running out of time. So please, any help would be greatly appreciated.