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2 electrical questions
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:14 pm
by Chuey
I've fired up the bike that I've been working on for the last few years. 1983 R100CS My voltmeter seems to not be working.
How would I test the voltmeter?
How would I test the charging system? That is, do I use my multimeter at the battery and what should I see?
The engine runs pretty nicely but it seems like it gets really hot quickly. I know there is gasket stuff that burns off when it's first started. The pipes seem to be sending off light smoke from their surfaces. I did clean the chrome when I put it together. It could be that it's just all the sprucing up that I did when setting up this bike.
Chuey
Re: 2 electrical questions
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:38 pm
by Deleted User 62
How to test the voltmeter? Quick and dirty: first, see if you are getting juice to the meter. I'd try wiggling the wires /connections to it while it's running and see if it jumps. How to test the charging system? Do you have the generator light on your instruments? System won't charge if it's not working, it's part of the circuit. Known good light not on? check for good brush contact and continuity of the rotor. To do this lift one brush and put cardboard under it so it does not contact the slip ring, then check for continuity between the two slip rings. You can do a quick test at the battery, at rest voltage should increase to around 13.5v when revved, too much more, and the regulator's shot. Hope this helps.
Re: 2 electrical questions
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:05 am
by Chuey
I'll try the things you said. Thing is, the gen light is on when it is running. The wire harness was installed from scratch and I put together the instrument pod from parts. I think it could be a long winding road.
Chuey
Is the Charging system Working?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:37 pm
by George Ryals
Hook your multimeter to the battery. Crank the engine and watch the meter.. Rev the engine, if the charging system is working, the voltage will go up form resting battery voltage to 13.8 with a stock regulator or maybe 14.2 with a high output electronic regulator. Have a fan blowing on the engineto keep it from getting too hot. New engines heat up a lot faster than a broken in one.
Test the volt meter by connecting jumber wires directly from a/the battery to the meter. If it works that way, then the wiring is the fault.