Charging problems

[cywelchjr]

Jorge, do you have an aftermarket Halogen headlight? A higher wattage than stock could draw juice enough to lower the voltage at the battery. Any other electrics, like running lights, GPS, radio or anything?

When you tested the voltage at the battery, how long did you hold the motor at 4,000 rpm? Did you just rev it up there for a couple seconds or did you hold it for 10-15 seconds? The gauge can continue climbing at a slower rate for a while after it might seemed to have peaked.

+1 on the slow rise, particularly if the battery is not fully charged to start with. However, the fact that the battery runs down when apparently trying to ride it, tends to point to it not reaching that magic point (at minimum .5 volt above 100% voltage for a lead acid battery (said value is actually 13.8v)) so that charging can take place. Hopefully cleaning connections will do it, but the OP claims to have done 80%, of which it's very likely that the charging stuff was done.

Extra load as you say could well be an issue as well, but can be tested by disabling the headlight for a short time.

[DAVINCI]

+1 on the slow rise, particularly if the battery is not fully charged to start with. However, the fact that the battery runs down when apparently trying to ride it, tends to point to it not reaching that magic point (at minimum .5 volt above 100% voltage for a lead acid battery (said value is actually 13.8v)) so that charging can take place. Hopefully cleaning connections will do it, but the OP claims to have done 80%, of which it's very likely that the charging stuff was done.

Extra load as you say could well be an issue as well, but can be tested by disabling the headlight for a short time.

Sure, 80% done is good, unless the 20% not done is behind the fuse panel

[cywelchjr]

Sure, 80% done is good, unless the 20% not done is behind the fuse panel

Agreed, and it would be good the check the 3 or so connections involved and make sure they are clean. However, unless he has some gawdawful headlight on the thing, I don't think that's likely to be an issue. It's either going to be the connections in the charging circuit, or the reg, I would pretty much bet on one of those.

[DAVINCI]

Agreed, i was referring to the field coil and the stator connectors behind the fuse panel