Ok, I'm a bit ashamed to ask this as my specialty is the electrical field. I pretty much know the answer, but want some confirmation on something I've never seen before.
'97 FXDWG, just had engine rebuilt - running like a dream with 1,600 mis. since rebuild. They noticed very burned sections on the stator so they put in a new stator. In 10 years I've never had any electrical problems at all.
A few weeks after the rebuild, my 2 1/2 year old HD battery dies - voltage but no crank amps. Typical of a dead cell or shorted cell. I maintain the battery on a Battery Minder when the bike sits, but ride all year and don't put it up.
Got a new HD battery a week ago. At some point - can't remember when - I remember reading 16v while the engine was running when I was checking voltage for some reason. Surprised me, scared me, but appeared to be intermittent, and when I checked later voltage with engine running was again 14v.
Today after a good 3+ hours of riding, I notice the battery box is hot as hell. NEVER had that happen. Temp today was 75 and we were at 45 - 55mph all day on country back roads. Then I notice a sulfer smell. Short stop, engine starts immediately. 15 miles later, I'm home and notice not only is the battery case too hot to touch, but drops of liquid are coming out of case, and a visible vapor off battery.
I go to restart the engine - get the low voltage relay clicking and put a meter on it - with engine OFF, battery voltage is 14. Not normal. During attempts to crank, voltage drops to 6v.
Another dead battery - only now I'm thinking a bad regulator is killing my batteries with overvoltage.
Then, the last confirming evidence is that BOTH elements of my headlight bulb are burned out. Overvoltage would do this and almost nothing else. Yes, I was using high beam today occasionally.
I've never heard of a Harley regulator doing this. Every regulator problem I've seen is regulator failure and failure to provide enough voltage - not too much voltage.
Has anyone else?
Could the new stator have damaged the regulator, and if so, how?
I don't want to put in a new battery and destroy a 3rd one.
I don't want to replace both the battery AND the regulator and find the problem is in the stator......
Putting a voltmeter on bike with new battery so I can monitor things closely......
Any input is appreciated........
GN
'97 FXDWG, just had engine rebuilt - running like a dream with 1,600 mis. since rebuild. They noticed very burned sections on the stator so they put in a new stator. In 10 years I've never had any electrical problems at all.
A few weeks after the rebuild, my 2 1/2 year old HD battery dies - voltage but no crank amps. Typical of a dead cell or shorted cell. I maintain the battery on a Battery Minder when the bike sits, but ride all year and don't put it up.
Got a new HD battery a week ago. At some point - can't remember when - I remember reading 16v while the engine was running when I was checking voltage for some reason. Surprised me, scared me, but appeared to be intermittent, and when I checked later voltage with engine running was again 14v.
Today after a good 3+ hours of riding, I notice the battery box is hot as hell. NEVER had that happen. Temp today was 75 and we were at 45 - 55mph all day on country back roads. Then I notice a sulfer smell. Short stop, engine starts immediately. 15 miles later, I'm home and notice not only is the battery case too hot to touch, but drops of liquid are coming out of case, and a visible vapor off battery.
I go to restart the engine - get the low voltage relay clicking and put a meter on it - with engine OFF, battery voltage is 14. Not normal. During attempts to crank, voltage drops to 6v.
Another dead battery - only now I'm thinking a bad regulator is killing my batteries with overvoltage.
Then, the last confirming evidence is that BOTH elements of my headlight bulb are burned out. Overvoltage would do this and almost nothing else. Yes, I was using high beam today occasionally.
I've never heard of a Harley regulator doing this. Every regulator problem I've seen is regulator failure and failure to provide enough voltage - not too much voltage.
Has anyone else?
Could the new stator have damaged the regulator, and if so, how?
I don't want to put in a new battery and destroy a 3rd one.
I don't want to replace both the battery AND the regulator and find the problem is in the stator......
Putting a voltmeter on bike with new battery so I can monitor things closely......
Any input is appreciated........
GN
