Armchair diagnosis anyone? Possibly overcharging

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  • cableguy
    • Jan 2026

    #1

    Armchair diagnosis anyone? Possibly overcharging

    Went for a ride this evening, and noticed some strange lighting behavior. On sustained runs I noticed that the defective bulb indicators for head and tail would illuminate faintly, then go out again when the revs were lower for a while. Another thing I noticed was the headlight getting brighter as revs decreased, such as between shifts. Medium Rpms made the headlight go bright/dim/bright/ dim. Haven't put the meter to it yet but I wanted to get some ideas about what might be going on. R/R is a shindengen from a Honda, and stator is good at last check but I'll certainly check it again.
  • Riding Again

    #2
    On the right path to check the stator. Also check the battery, pull, charge and test it off the bike. Sounds funny at first glance that the headlight improves at mid/lower rpms.

    However, the fact that the head/tail indicators would be dim then "dimmer" at low RPMs does strongly point to the battery being out of "juice".

    Comment

    • tom203
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Aug 2010
      • 8925
      • Norway,Maine

      #3
      I'd suspect a stator having trouble delivering stable output to R/R as revs go up- R/R attempts to compensate.
      1981 gs650L

      "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

      Comment

      • cableguy

        #4
        Originally posted by tom203
        I'd suspect a stator having trouble delivering stable output to R/R as revs go up- R/R attempts to compensate.
        That's what I would have thought, but my voltage was all good when last tested. I guess that sounds a bit like "ran great when parked 3 years ago" doesn't it? I do need to run through it though.

        BTW, It's a brand new battery, properly charged.

        Comment

        • Nessism
          Forum LongTimer
          GSResource Superstar
          Past Site Supporter
          Super Site Supporter
          • Mar 2006
          • 35787
          • Torrance, CA

          #5
          Did you clean up the charging system wiring per GSR recommended practice?
          Ed

          To measure is to know.

          Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

          Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

          Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

          KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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          • rustybronco
            Forum LongTimer
            Bard Award Winner
            GSResource Superstar
            Past Site Supporter
            • Jul 2005
            • 14961
            • Marysville, Michigan

            #6
            Bad grounds and bad connections.
            De-stinking Penelope http://thegsresources.com/_forum/sho...d.php?t=179245

            http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...35#post1625535

            Comment

            • Steve
              GS Whisperer
              • Jun 2005
              • 35924
              • southwest oHIo

              #7
              "Armchair diagnosis" is not going to work.

              You are going to have to get up out of it and put a meter on the bike.

              .
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              Comment

              • cableguy

                #8
                Did you clean up the charging system wiring per GSR recommended practice?

                YES

                "Armchair diagnosis" is not going to work.

                You are going to have to get up out of it and put a meter on the bike.


                True dat, I was looking more for a direction to head than a definite diagnosis. Maybe if I brought an armchair out to the bike I could have it both ways.....

                Comment

                • Nessism
                  Forum LongTimer
                  GSResource Superstar
                  Past Site Supporter
                  Super Site Supporter
                  • Mar 2006
                  • 35787
                  • Torrance, CA

                  #9
                  Simple charging system diagnoses...

                  1) Check voltage at battery w/engine @ 5000 rpm. < 14.0 V = BAD

                  Assuming BAD...

                  2) Disconnect stator from R/R and check AC volts on each stator leg w/engine @ 5000 rpm. < 70 V AC = BAD.

                  If BAD, replace stator

                  If Good, replace R/R

                  This simple flow info ASSUMES: good battery, proper wiring in system

                  System wiring: the stator must be wired directly into the R/R, not into the factory harness.

                  The R/R must be properly grounded

                  The R/R power output must flow to battery with low resistance path

                  Too many charging system threads here. This ain't rocket science.
                  Ed

                  To measure is to know.

                  Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                  Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                  Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                  KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                  Comment

                  • cableguy

                    #10
                    Fixed it. The fuse holder between r/r output and battery + was bad. Like melted and charred bad. No idea how it got that way, but it was recycled out of my junk drawer when I improved the wiring. Got a heavy duty rubber weatherproof one at autozone and all is good with 13.1@idle and 14.2@5000 rpm

                    Comment

                    • rustybronco
                      Forum LongTimer
                      Bard Award Winner
                      GSResource Superstar
                      Past Site Supporter
                      • Jul 2005
                      • 14961
                      • Marysville, Michigan

                      #11
                      Originally posted by cableguy
                      Fixed it. The fuse holder between r/r output and battery + was bad. Like melted and charred bad. No idea how it got that way,
                      Melted and charred equals a bad connection.
                      De-stinking Penelope http://thegsresources.com/_forum/sho...d.php?t=179245

                      http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...35#post1625535

                      Comment

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