1978 gs 1000 died 3x times

[Guest]

My 78 1000e was,running great and never gave me a electric problem.
On a group ride about 90 miles out when we stopped to eat the bike was dead when I came out. Jumping with mc starter packs did no good. I purchased a new battery and the bike started right up. I rode another 150 miles to a hotel. The second day after a brief ride 35 miles the bike was difficult to start. The battery seemed weak. A short ride later 5 miles, the battery would not start the bike. I was on a hill and bump started the bike. It ran fine and I restarted it 2 x times without a problem that day. The last day when I went out to ride home again it would not start. weak battery, Again I bump started it and headed toward home. I rode 100 miles and turned off the bike. It started right up. I had 1 more stop and again It started up.
It is not the battery? I think
As long as the bike was running it was ok, this tells me the charging system is ok? I think
everything is stock on the bike. No mods
ideas?

[chuck hahn]

At the bottom of post 2 here youll see links about quick test etc etc. Click on them

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?248371-Charging-Woes-Interpreting-Stator-Papers-Results

[Redman]

Does seem like the charging system is not charging the battery now. Maybe before it was marginal, but now is completely bad.

As with all electrical problems: Need a volt meter. Difficult to troubleshot an electrical problem with your eyeballs and ears. Need a meter to verify that is the problem. Then will need volt meter to check the stator, and other tests in the Stator Papers (back on homepage).

.

[Guest]

Who knows of a stock looking volt meter I could us on my gs1000. I know they did not come with one and would like to install one. Ideas?

[Redman]

Who knows of a stock looking volt meter I could us on my gs1000. I know they did not come with one and would like to install one. Ideas?

Let me explain myself better: You will need a handheld test equipment type voltmeter. Maybe called multi-meter (cuse can also measure other things like current and resitance). You will need such a voltmeter to properly diagnos the charging system.

Having a dash panel volt meter mounted on board the bike is also good also to give you sooner warning (before dies on the road).

[Guest]

If it has the original separate rectifier and regulator you can bet it is not charging properly. Hopefully it is not overcharging because that usually takes out the stator also. The good news is that if it is fixed properly with a modern Series R/R and possibly a stator you shouldn't have any problems again.