New 850 Ride. Big Road Trip

[tkent02]

An honest mistake that could happen to anyone… I know how to count poles in a rotor, but how do you tell which type stator it is?

I guess you could ask the PO what he bought.

 

[RobertGS]

Ok, trying to breath deeply. The stator that came out looks identical to the one I just purchased from RMStator. Both have 18 windings.
How do I check and see if the rotor matches?

Was just cleaning the surfaces to install. Man I hope you're not right but it's sounding pretty reasonable.

Let me know how to check the rotor

Thanks.

 

[tkent02]

Roll something like a drill bit around inside the rotor, see how many places it sticks to. It will stick either 12 or 18 times.

I don't know how to count them on the stator. I don't think it's just counting the number of coils, more electrical magicery than that I think.

 

[tkent02]

But I bet your '79 has a 12 pole rotor.

 

[RobertGS]

I get 8 sticking points near as I can tell.

RM stator is closed for Jean Baptist... PO is off on a trip.

So what does 8 sticking points mean. An 8 pole rotor?

How do I confirm what the stator is? Its the one that comes up on RMstator when you plug in 79 gs850G

 

[RobertGS]

Alright I have a good way to find out. Install the new stator and check the voltage. I have to anyway. Can't wait around here for two more days to source a rotor.

If you guys are right, then I'm heading out to Candian Tire for a car battery. Either way I'm hitting the road for Toronto tomorrow.

I'll let you know. If it's the car battery option I'll be looking for any warnings, suggestions, tips, but let's see if I get lucky and the new stator works.

 

[rustybronco]

I get 8 sticking points near as I can tell.

8/2=4 4X3=12

(my GS1000 3 segments of 4=12 12/2=6 6x3=18)

Your bike needs a twelve pole stator.

 

[RobertGS]

Awesome!!!!

Since I now have two perfectly good 18 pole stators, I'm thinking I may as well get the appropriate rotor.

Hitting the road tommorow morning. Ill order the rotor from RMStator and have it waiting for me when I get back.

Im off to buy a car battery right now. Couple of questions. What is the approximate voltage required to start the 850 with electronic ignition. (sorry for the grammar, keybord switched to french or something). Besides keeping the lights off and checking the car battery at stops and keeping the motorcycle batter charged as backup and charging both up each night.... what suggestions, warnings, bright ideas do you have for a guy about to try riding 5000 kms with no charging system.

Thanks, Im off tommorow morning regardless.

Heres hoping there are no other lovely surprises with the bike.

 

[tkent02]

I don't see what he's doing with his math, but he seems to understand. 12 pole, well that sucks, but at least you know now instead of finding out 200 miles or so along the way. Kick start it, lights off if it's safe to do so, keep it cruising fast, stop and start and low speed stuff stuff drains the battery as fast but doesn't get you much closer to home.

You have a battery charger to carry, right? A way of tying the battery down tight?
Wires that screw on securely but can be disconnected easily to bring the battery in to the hotel room to charge?

Remember above all else, have fun. We want to see pictures of this journey in it's full epicness!

 

[RobertGS]

Thanks Tom, great suggestions.

Got a good battery that'll fit my car back home (why not). Yes I have a good charger. Will be staying at campsites with electric or at motels in small towns (cheaper).

We got three black rubber tie downs with metal hooks at the end. The battery's going in a small backpack and is tied down with those. It's not going anywhere. I bought proper car connectors long enough to go under the seat to the bike connectors. Left the bike battery (charged) in it's spot but electric taped over the poles. So it'll be emergency backup. Connected the car battery good and tight to the bike's electrics and electric taped the connections well.

Went for a good ride and it seems to work great. Have to adjust the throttle and clutch after switching out my handlebars.

Ok I'll be stopping frequently to walk around the bike... listening close. Pretty full tool kit along with me.

What the hell. I'll take your advice Tom and have lots of fun. (as long as she gets me home)

Will take lots of pictures.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Adventures like these impart wisdom and humility

Adventures like these impart wisdom and humility

It's going to be one helluva story to tell again someday ...

Imagine -- Sitting around telling lies with your buddys, having a few libations ..and starting a story ...

"One time I rode a bike across country with a bad charging system using car battery, some wire, and rubber straps..."

 

[tkent02]

(as long as she gets me home)

Will take lots of pictures.

She'll get you home. It is a GS after all, and a mostly well maintained one it sounds like.

Agree with the pictures, We are waiting.

 

[BigD_83]

I don't know HTH I missed this thread, but you can always check with Murray over at Modern, if you are still in the GVRD:

http://www.modernmotorcycling.com/

he loves these old beasties.

 

[gustovh]

My bet is that you can do better than 500 miles on that car battery, before the drain is noticed in the bikes running. The secrete is to keep on the move as fast as you can....


V

 

[tkent02]

I'm betting farther, I'll guess 700 with lights off highway speeds and no kickstarting. Could be more but I don't have a clue how much current that ignition draws.

Who else has a guess?

 

[gustovh]

I went 230 on the bat on my 850 L with the lights on before I started having running issues. Still had 90 to go and push started the last fill up, made it home. Would not start the next day..Stator issue.

So I am with you but like to be a bit conservative. The question is, should he even put the stator in?

V

 

[tkent02]

No point in it is there? But I think he's already on the road and it's already in there. Can it hurt anything? I don't think it can but I'm no Posplayer.

 

[rustybronco]

I don't see what he's doing with his math, but he seems to understand.

Every magnet has two poles. A north pole and a south pole. He has eight 'sticking' points which equates to four magnets. These alternators are three phase. In order for his alternator to work correctly you would need twelve poles.

My GS1000's rotor has six magnets (three sets of two magnets) times the three phases equals eighteen.

http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_statorrewind.htm

Notice there are six of each of the three colours on the rewinding diagram? Those correspond to each magnet. If the diagram had four poles of each colour, then four magnets would work.

 

[tkent02]

I checked my GS550, the drill bit I used stuck 12 times, four on each segment.
What does that mean? Someone put in an 18 pole setup? It's a '77, it came with 12.

 

[RobertGS]

I feel bad about getting everyone excited. On the plus side the battery was going strong after 250kms. Worked great. Also a plus was a good couple hours of sweet mountain riding.

NOw the bad news. I'm not sure it was well maintained. The bike started dieing whenever I pulled into a town or for gas. Then most recently spewed gas from the carbs after shutting down.

It also seemed to be really hot... the plugs looked pretty toasty to my untrained eye... only cylinder 1 looking normal and tan. Cleaned them up let the bike cool and tried again. Same deal.

Seems like carb issues to me.

Soooo. I hate to be the bearer of adventure busting news, but I'm pretty close to done and looking into shipping options. No mechanic will touch it this time of year with carb issues (I tried a couple in Kamloops area). And I absolutely need to be back to the family and work so can't spend a few days troubleshooting. Also no buddies house here. Just me and hotel rooms.

The worst thing is that every 5 minutes more riders pull in here after a days ride.

So unless one of the senior guys on the site happens to live around the corner from Princton BC, AND thinks it's worth even looking for a quick solution.. (idle circuit??) Or has a brother who is a killer mechanic in Kamloops or somewhere nearby and wants to drop everything to take a job from me. I've gotta pull the trigger on getting home another way and shipping the bike.

Sorry guys, it was really really fun while it lasted... even the putting in the new stator and treating it all like a big adventure.

Anyway let me know your thoughts. Also for the Canadian guys whether you know of good shipping options from interior BC to Toronto.

Heading out for wings and beers. I'm using the hotel internet so will check in from time to time...