skybluebird Posted May 31, 2003 Share Posted May 31, 2003 do it next to a repair van! Decided to go for a run since the sun has put in a long overdue appearence. A couple of miles from home I spotted a Ducati 851 parked up with some bodywork removed. Was about to pull over when I saw an AA repair van parked in a side street, with the mechanic chatting to the rider. Thought to myself "should have bought a Honda, mate" and carried on.... A mile or so later, I noticed the indicator repeaters not flashing, then the speedo and rev counter packed in. Decided to return home in case it got worse. The Duc and AA van were still there, so I thought, since I'm an AA member, I'll pull over and ask his advice. As I park beside the van the engine cut out and the whole electrical system is dead. AA man kindly offers to take a look, though he only had 5 minutes left for the Duc before going to his next job. Checked fuses - OK. Battery connections tight. Put jump leads on, bike starts but only showing ~11 volts, fluctuating. The bike wasn't charging at all. Either the alternator's packed in or there's a bad connection somewhere. I just had a new alarm transmitter set up a couple of days ago, which required the mechanic to cut and remake a few connections whilst programming the transmitter and alarm to each other. I'm hoping that a connection may not have been made properly (seems a coincidence) so have got the battery charger hooked up for a couple of hours so I can ride back to the dealers. The AA man stayed to get some charge in the battery then followed me to make sure it was enough to get me home. I'm a bit miffed about the bike being broke, but was bloody lucky that it packed in where it did. Another couple of hours and I'd have been in the middle of nowhere! The Duc had a loose +ve battery connection, whereas the Bird may need a new alternator? Must remember to stop knocking Italian electrics! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted May 31, 2003 Share Posted May 31, 2003 Rectifier's fucked. Time to get a new one. If the alternator was dead, you won't be getting any voltage anywhere in the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluebird Posted May 31, 2003 Author Share Posted May 31, 2003 The dealer suggested the same thing. I've got an R1 r/r fitted (2nd hand), they're going to borrow another to see if that fixes it. If that's it, for peace of mind I'm tempted to go back to the Honda one. Did I remember reading here that it was uprated recently? If so, presumably it'll still be suitable for a '99 FI model? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XX4me Posted June 1, 2003 Share Posted June 1, 2003 Rectifier I had the same thing happen on my '97. Riding home at night my lights got dimmer by the mile, bike was stuttering at low RPM. Had to keep her revved or she'd try to die. Pulled into the driveway and she quit. Did the checks in the shop manual and isolated the rectifier as the culprit. So $495 dollars for an extended warrantee and the only part I ever had to replace was the $100 rectifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluebird Posted June 2, 2003 Author Share Posted June 2, 2003 It's the generator. Either wiring (£325) or the whole unit (£600). The dealer reckons it may be caused by the R1 r/r I've got fitted, though I think it must have been damaged when the old r/r started passing 15-19V. The dealer is very helpful, they are trying to trace a 2nd hand generator from the national parts database, and have suggested a couple of local places who may be able to rewind it. Thing is, I would pay for the new wiring if I could be sure that would fix it, but how will I know in advance? If it doesn't work I'd have to pay out again for a new unit... David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted June 2, 2003 Share Posted June 2, 2003 I seriously doubt it would be the R1 r/r causing the problem unless you've stuffed up the wiring somewhere (maybe having two wires occasionally touch). Motorcycle stators can fry, I used to do one every 6 months or so on my old KR-1S. It's certainly very unusual on the XX, but that it has gone in and of itself is not a big surprise. Perhaps the bike has been sitting outside in the rain and a small amount of water has leaked into the stator area, or perhaps you just got a crappy one? You should be able to get them rewound pretty easily - ask any auto-electrician who does theirs. That's what I used to do with my other bikes. At the same time, you can get it wound for greater capacity if you are running electrics like vests etc. The 2002 model XX has a different, much larger rectifier on it. It's bigger again than the R1 unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Involute Posted June 2, 2003 Share Posted June 2, 2003 If the R/R was passing that kind of voltage would it not just fry the battery? I would think that the Gen is capable passing that kind of power would be a good thing. Is it even possible for the power to get back to the Generator and damage it? Am I up in the night? :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluebird Posted June 2, 2003 Author Share Posted June 2, 2003 Scot, thanks. I've just been chatting to a mechanic mate who asked if they'd checked the battery for warped plates? Since the r/r went, I've been charging the battery religiously to avoid giving the new r/r too much work to do. However circumstances prevented that for the last week or two, so maybe the battery's discharged to the point of not being able to run the bike. Definitely worth checking, it'd be a lot cheaper than a new generator David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Involute Posted June 2, 2003 Share Posted June 2, 2003 I hope to hell you don't have to do the generator thing. Let me know how it all turns out okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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