1978 GS 550 Draining battery Wont start

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  • bkostiuk
    • Jan 2026

    #1

    1978 GS 550 Draining battery Wont start

    My bike is draining the battery, and not getting a charge back to it. Any idea where I should start, as far as what parts could be bad? I have found that it is probably my stator or my voltage regulator.

    Is there a way I could narrow it down?

    Any input would be appreciated. Supposed to take the bike for a 12 hr ride in a week, so I'm scrambling to figure this out.

    Thanks.
  • bccap
    Forum LongTimer
    Past Site Supporter
    • May 2011
    • 27260
    • Vancouver B.C.

    #2
    Start here........

    Comment

    • bccap
      Forum LongTimer
      Past Site Supporter
      • May 2011
      • 27260
      • Vancouver B.C.

      #3
      Even better click on posplayr charging checks in his signature

      Comment

      • bkostiuk

        #4
        It also seems very odd, that my bike will fire right up on a jump, but I can kick it all day and it wont fire. Does this seem unusual, or does it seem like something i can attribute to my other problems?

        Comment

        • bccap
          Forum LongTimer
          Past Site Supporter
          • May 2011
          • 27260
          • Vancouver B.C.

          #5
          Just tell me you're not using a running car to jump it ?

          Comment

          • Guest

            #6
            If someone has put an electronic ignition in it, it will not start if your battery is low.

            Comment

            • bkostiuk

              #7
              Ha, no not a running car.

              Comment

              • bkostiuk

                #8
                Is there a way I'd be able to recognize the difference between electronic or not?

                Comment

                • bccap
                  Forum LongTimer
                  Past Site Supporter
                  • May 2011
                  • 27260
                  • Vancouver B.C.

                  #9
                  If it doesn't have points it's electronic. Do the simple test in post 2 to check your voltage at various revs than get back to us with the results....

                  Comment

                  • bkostiuk

                    #10
                    Turns out the battery was bad. Getting a new one tomorrow. Going to see what I can find after replacing that.

                    Comment

                    • bkostiuk

                      #11
                      At idle I'm getting about 12.4v at 6000 rpm, im getting a jump to about 12.8v. Safe to assume just the bad battery? were working on testing stator now.

                      Comment

                      • bccap
                        Forum LongTimer
                        Past Site Supporter
                        • May 2011
                        • 27260
                        • Vancouver B.C.

                        #12
                        Nope. That voltage is too low to charge the battery. Should be around 14-14.5v at 4000 rpm.
                        Last edited by bccap; 06-10-2014, 12:02 PM.

                        Comment

                        • posplayr
                          Forum LongTimer
                          GSResource Superstar
                          Past Site Supporter
                          • Dec 2007
                          • 23673
                          • Tucson Az

                          #13
                          Originally posted by bkostiuk
                          At idle I'm getting about 12.4v at 6000 rpm, im getting a jump to about 12.8v. Safe to assume just the bad battery? were working on testing stator now.
                          if you reported all the Quick Test numbers it would be easier to tell what is going on.

                          Comment

                          • bkostiuk

                            #14
                            Stator resistance was .9 ohms on all 3 coils
                            75-85v when at 6k rpm
                            No continuity either way on any wires of voltage regulator.

                            Comment

                            • bkostiuk

                              #15
                              Not sure what numbers youre looking for on a "quicktest"

                              Comment

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