• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Continuing Erratic Starting Behavior

  • Thread starter Thread starter theprotege
  • Start date Start date
T

theprotege

Guest
Continuing with my trek to figure out why my '80 GS850L has erratic starting/charging issue, I got a new battery which I'm certain held charge flawlessly. Having charged it on a tender for a night, I threw it on my bike and it started RIGHT up. After riding for a few hours, without any problems (no dimming lights or bike dying at low revs), I got back home and found that the battery was only returned to a voltage of about 11.9V. At this point, the starter button refused to turn over the engine at all. The lights would dim significantly, but the starter would do nothing. Throwing the battery back on a tender to bring it up to 12.5V and putting it back on the bike helped it start IMMEDIATELY, again. Am I looking at the dreadful stator/R/R problem here or could it be something else? As previously mentioned, all battery/chassis grounds have been thoroughly cleaned and inspected.
 
lookup the stator papers intently...... then run the charging system troubleshooting table......... it sounds to me like the bike is not charging properly (11.9v could be just a surface charge)..... and the voltage should be around 12.4v for a battery to be considerd charged
 
Actually, a wet-cell battery should be at least 12.6 volts to be considered fully-charged, an AGM battery could be as high as 12.8 or 12.9.

For your convenience, click here for the Stator Papers Troubleshooting Chart. :D

.
 
yea i know 2.2v per cell 6 cells you do the math..... but it is acepted that a 12.4v (wich is more common voltage due to internal restiance and over all conditoin of the battery) is a full charge. but yes in a perfict world 12.6 is correct.
 
Ground wires, ground wires, ground wires........clean them completely, use dielectric grease on the attachment points. How do I know this? been there, done that. I bought a new r/r once upon a time and I didn't need it, it was all ground wires...............:D
 
Well, start with the basics

1. voltage at battery at idle
2. Voltage at about 3,000 rpm
3. Stator wires okay where they connect to harness?

There's nothing dreadful about the R/R problem. Simple electrical testing will tell you what's wrong and what to replace. Just follow the Stator Papers
 
The simplest fix is to run a wire from the body of the R/R to the negative terminal of the battery.

So, check #1 and #2 that I mentioned above, then hook up the wire and check again

Also, did you follow the battery set up instructions?
 
Hi,

Yes, the troubleshooting chart in The Stator Papers is in order. If all of your electrical connections and grounds are clean, and you have run a ground wire from the r/r to the negative terminal of the battery, then you have a problem with the r/r, the stator, or both.

Here are some PDF files with pictures and other info:
More On The Stator Papers

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MiahSlays6332
No Power/ No start. All Elec. Verified.
Replies
6
Views
157
argonsagas
argonsagas
E
'83 1100E very hard starting, starter motor switching directions
2
Replies
31
Views
592
eldevigo
E
S
A one year rider and a 46 year old sport touring motorcycle - 1979 GS850
2
Replies
20
Views
413
Grimly
Grimly
jon
Turn signals inop. They have voltage to both sides?
Replies
19
Views
271
jon
jon
S
No power any where.
Replies
3
Views
63
Suzukian
S
Back
Top