Subject: Re: start question
Author: Zerhackermann .
Date: May 8, 2001, 8:27 AM
Post ID: 1706640424
Don't sweat the tedious. At one time, including the inventor of the
voltmeter, hand not one clue what the hell he was doing.
You're exactly right. Negative to the negative and positive to the positive.
rev the bike to 3k or so. It'll make you wince and you gotta hold it there
for a good 15 seconds or so (an eternity with the bike screaming on its
center stand I know.) and the meter should read above 12.8 preferably above
13 and below 14. At 12.8 you're getting a minimal charge and that means
something still isn't quite right, but is functioning. Think of it as an out
of tune electrical system.
If the reading is low, it still doesn't mean that any thing is wrong that a
new battery won't fix. I have had times where I spent a whole day swapping
parts, burning my hands and squintng at a meter only to finally figure out I
had a battery that would not take a charge. It was a stupid moment.
SO you have a low reading. Now what? Well check the battery. the price of a
happy meal will get you a battery test kit at any autoparts store.
You might make up some alligator clips to use on the voltmeter. Makes life
easier. Holding two probes and revving the throttle while holding the meter
steady to read leaves you shy about 2 hands.
There may be some generator specific tests, but I don't know them. If there
is a decent alternator/generator shop nearby or even a decent auto
rebuilder, they might (for a 6 pack or some such) do a test for you. This
has worked with car alternators and starters.
| Zerhackerman, Sorry to be tedious, but when you say "put a voltmeter on the battery" do you mean put the meter leads, one on positive, one on negative and then measure as you rev the bike? With a normal battery what should the voltmeter read as I do this?? Thanks for the help. Bob |
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