I'm a little vague on the new shit, but if your "H-D" gauge is going into the 15V & 16V range...something's fucked up. If you wanrt to test the charging system yourself...try this:
Get your hands on a good digital multi-meter, put it on dc volts and test the bat. Should show at least 12+ volts (13 volts is normal for a new fully charged battery), if not check the electrolite in the battery (unless it's a sealed battery), and charge until it does. If this doesn't act right, remove the battery and have it load tested...look in the yellow pages under "battery" and you'll find a battery shop in your town, they will load test a battery for free if ya' bring it in to 'em. Once you know that you got a good battery, fully charged, in there, start the engine and again using dc volts check the output at 2000 rpm should be 13.5 to 14+ volts and if it is...you are in fat city.
When you aren't showing a forward charge and you've cleaned all the terminals and grounds, pull the stator plug out of the front of the case on the primary side (turn the bike off first, don’t check this with the motor running!). Make sure that the plug is making good connections then put your meter on ohms and check from one of the pins on the engine side of the plug, to a good ground should be no continuity on either pin to ground. Check pin to pin and you can get a reading of .2 to .4 ohms. Disconnect the meter. Start the motor with the regulator still unplugged. Set the meter to AC volts...read across the stator pins (be careful, the motor will be moving around/vibrating a bit...don't short anything!!)...you should read between 19 to 26 volts AC per 1000 rpm of motor speed. Note the readings then TURN OFF THE MOTOR.
If you have continuity from pin to ground your stator is grounded and needs to be replaced. If you have no reading (infinity) when checking across the pins, the stator is open and needs replacing. If your AC voltage output is lower than spec'd, there is a partial short in a winding(s) and again, the stator will need replacing. Now, turn your meter to back DC volts and check the voltage regulator side of the plug from pin to ground. These pins to ground should be very low voltage if any at all. If you get battery voltage at either pin, replace the voltage regulator.
By: 47Knuckle-Dragger on: 7-8-2011
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