1979 xs1100 stopped charging

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  • roger
    XSive
    • Feb 2023
    • 52
    • al

    #1

    1979 xs1100 stopped charging

    I rode the bike and it stopped charging, the tachometer and head light quit working. I cleaned the wires behind the fuse box they were in pretty good shape. I ohmed the rectifier it seemed to be ok, I tryed the metel gauge to the alt it wouldn't stick. I took the cover off the alt and the magnet is real weak. is there a way of testing it. thanks
  • jkorn
    Truly XSive
    • May 2003
    • 177
    • Wickenburg AZ

    #2
    Look for a loose connection. There are many of them in that system.
    Jeff Korn
    Original Owner 79XS1100 E
    Yamaha Warrior has come and gone

    Comment

    • roger
      XSive
      • Feb 2023
      • 52
      • al

      #3
      I was doing some test and found i have 12 volt on both the brown and green wire behind fuse box, I read if you have batt volt on green it won't let alt charge. what makes it have 12 volt?

      Comment

      • DEEBS11
        XS-XJ Guru
        • Feb 2023
        • 1410
        • Connecticut

        #4
        The most likely cause of a charging failure would be a bad regulator or the connection between the 3 phase stator and the regulator is open due to bad connection. You probably ran on battery until it went low. I'm sure the magnets are fine. You should have continuity between all three legs of the stator but none of them should have continuity to ground. An open leg or a leg shorted to ground would cause no output. I would be looking at connections and the regulator.


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        Last edited by DEEBS11; 04-04-2024, 02:42 PM.

        Comment

        • roger
          XSive
          • Feb 2023
          • 52
          • al

          #5
          Originally posted by DEEBS11
          The most likely cause of a charging failure would be a bad regulator or the connection between the 3 phase stator and the regulator is open due to bad connection. You probably ran on battery until it went low. I'm sure the magnets are fine. You should have continuity between all three legs of the stator but none of them should have continuity to ground. An open leg or a leg shorted to ground would cause no output. I would be looking at connections and the regulator.


          Click image for larger version

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          I have continuity on all 3 wires and none to ground. I unhooked the green wire just to see if it would charge, it didn;t help. it said it should have low voltage on it until the motor starts then the volts come up.

          Comment

          • Socer4m
            XStremely XSive
            • Sep 2020
            • 231
            • san diego

            #6
            maybe keep it simple
            1. charge up your battery with a battery charger fully
            2. check the battery voltage not running, should be around 12v. with any simple voltmeter
            3. check the battery when running, and revved a bit, should be around high 12v, 13v
            4. if both check out, your battery and charging system are good, also clean the ground connection from the neg. battery terminal to the frame,,,,has caused many a member to go crazy, keep us updated
            5. good to see Motoman checked in,,,he is the man for xs advice......

            Mike in SanDiego and Pa

            Comment

            • roger
              XSive
              • Feb 2023
              • 52
              • al

              #7
              has anyone got a good regulator they would sale

              Comment

              • DiverRay
                Moderator
                • Nov 2004
                • 7605
                • Star, IDAHO

                #8
                Try herehttp://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/ Tony has been a member for years, and builds a GREAT reg/rec for our bikes. Not cheap, but worth the money, IMHO.
                Ray Matteis
                KE6NHG
                XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
                XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

                Comment

                • roger
                  XSive
                  • Feb 2023
                  • 52
                  • al

                  #9
                  ok I wasn't sure what the problem was so i got a cheap after market regulator to see if it helped it. when i started it up the head light came on and the teck started working. only problem it only charges about 12.8 volts, do you think that will be enough? thanks

                  Comment

                  • DiverRay
                    Moderator
                    • Nov 2004
                    • 7605
                    • Star, IDAHO

                    #10
                    You probably need about 13.4V to keep the battery charged. You DO need to check the voltage with the engine running at least 2,500rpm's. Again, this is the part you need to spend a little money on.OEM these would do 30 amps max at about 3,500RPM. The one from OMP will do the 30 amps at about 2,800RPM, and has better diodes that can take a little more abuse.
                    Ray Matteis
                    KE6NHG
                    XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
                    XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

                    Comment

                    • DEEBS11
                      XS-XJ Guru
                      • Feb 2023
                      • 1410
                      • Connecticut

                      #11
                      Your cheap regulator is probably Chinese. It very well could leave you on the side of the road at the most inopportune time.

                      Comment

                      • cajun31
                        Moderator
                        • Oct 2003
                        • 1796
                        • Brandon, MS

                        #12
                        I second what Ray has told you about Geezer's products. The are top notch and will give you many years of service.
                        2 - 80 LGs bought one new
                        81 LH
                        02 FXSTB Nighttrain
                        22 FLTRK Road Glide Limited
                        Jim

                        Comment

                        • roger
                          XSive
                          • Feb 2023
                          • 52
                          • al

                          #13
                          Originally posted by cajun31
                          I second what Ray has told you about Geezer's products. The are top notch and will give you many years of service.
                          I didn't know if my regulator was bad or not and didn't wont to spend a lot of money if that wasn't my problem. so now I can get a good one. thanks

                          Comment

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