Battery not charging

[jorge lobo]

to all I got my bike 78 xs1100 runign thanks to all the help
but now i got another problem the battery is not charging, but it doesnt happen all teh time some times the charging sistem works fine .
one think i notice is that all the time that it dosnt charge, the head lamp will stay on even with switch in off and battery dains
possition any sugestions ?????

[natemoen]

The headlight on/off switch ONLY controls the headlight BEFORE the engine starts. Once the engine starts the headlight will always be on no matter what position the switch is in.

[bikerphil]

I'd first try inspect/cleaning the alternator plug behind the fuse panel. It tends to corrode and even melt.

[jorge lobo]

well it works on mine when the bike runs i can turn the light on and off and that when the charging is good
but when the lamp stays all the time on, I know i will have an empty battery

[jorge lobo]

well it works on mine when the bike runs i can turn the light on and off and that when the charging is good
but when the lamp stays all the time on, I know i will have an empty battery

i will try claning plugs
thanks for the rep..

[natemoen]

I am guessing someone has done some interesting rewiring inside there then.

[jorge lobo]

Mmmjum
Now that you mention the signal and stop light stay all the time and the only one I can control is the head lamp
But still any time I see that light on darn battery

[skids]

You might have some bad contact surfaces in your key switch if your lights stay on with the key off. If that is the case take it apart and clean it.

[cywelchjr]

Or if you mean while the bike it running, that points to the charging system not working. The system can work well enough for the tach to work, but not to charge the battery.

If you check the voltage at the battery with the engine running you should be 14.2 to 14.5 volts at 3000 RPM, if it's not getting up there, something is wrong.