Heyelp, fluffy girly needs advice.

[booie2]

Hi everyone.

Right, new battery bought, posh plugs, betty my xv535 was running like a dream for two weeks, then on my 4 mile drive to work, she just stopped, battery empty, completely empty of charge,
sooooooo, i bought a trickle charger and i'm re charging battery as i type and i've ordered a multimeter to check voltage or ampage or whatever the f**k it is, from my r/r and or anything else.
but....................
aint got a scooby do how to do this.
Anyone know of any sites which explains in 'laymans' terms of said tasks. or has anyone got patience of a saint where you an explain it, or does anybody live near here, so they can teach me?


And while i'm here, when she was running ok, her lights brightened when rev'd, which in theory means that alternator is ok, can anyone please tell me, if my reg/rec was on its way out, would it have caused all the probs i've had in past with batteries, or is it more likely to be a short?

[devon-tony]

set the multimeter to voltage DC probably 0-20 range??

anyway put the red lead on the + terminal, black lead on - terminal or frame etc


look for voltage of about 14V at the battery when revving the engine

[lowrider]

Might also be worth seeing how much the voltage drops when you start the bike,have to get someone to give you a hand.
A big drop means your battery could be a dud,not likely but worth checking

[hacky]

when you connect the meter to the battery start the bike and turn on everything...ie lights..your voltage will drop then rise again as the reg will notice and compensate...
the only question i have is ...do you have an imobiliser/alarm ,if you do thats where id start lookin, did a couple of years fitting thatcham approved shite(shite being the word)
had more call outs for battery drain than anything else...
:D

[booie2]

when you connect the meter to the battery start the bike and turn on everything...ie lights..your voltage will drop then rise again as the reg will notice and compensate...
the only question i have is ...do you have an imobiliser/alarm ,if you do thats where id start lookin, did a couple of years fitting thatcham approved shite(shite being the word)
had more call outs for battery drain than anything else...
:D

No alarm,

so are you all saying that to check voltage i need to connect the stick things to the battery, - and + on correct terminals, turn on lights etc, if the voltage doesn't go up, the reg is pooped?

and Devon Tony, my battery is 12v12a, so will it go to 14? or should it level at 12v

Lowrider, i'll see if my neighbour can help, but he is the busiest person in world, and he's meant to be retired.

if i connect the stick things and the volts drop and then pick up again, this must mean reg/rec would be ok, so where would i go from there?

How would i check for alternator, and how would i check for shorts? i just dont want to stick my stick thingy's anywhere, or is a multimeter just to be used on battery terminals.


(told u i was scooby on this multimeter milarky)

[Oozee]

Booie, if your checking the charging system make sure you use an analogue multimeter, not a digital one. To check for shorts or breaks in continuity, set the meter to the resistance range (on a digital it will be a little music symbol), then put the probes (the little stick things) on each end of each wire that you want to test. If the digital meter beeps then the wire is ok. If the meter is analogue set the meter to the Ohm position and use the probes as before. The needle should flick right over to the right hand side if the wires are ok. Hopefully someone else can come up with a non technical description of how to test for shorts 'cos I can only think in technicalese for doing this, sorry.:o
Also, your charging system should go up to about 14.4 volts if its working properly. Put the red probe on the + battery terminal and the black probe on the - battery terminal to check the charging system with the engine running.

[trikerdrew]

How do there,

Seems evryone has covered the batt thing pretty well.

Something that sprang to mind is was running then stopped>??

Yeah the batt is half empty.Had you been trying to start it etc?

Reg /rect may be worth diagnosing if for nowt else to dismiss it.

I was wondering about a fuel pump issue if it has one?

Guess a short is poss?What makes you wonder about that avenue?

Testing stuff is easier than it sounds.Got some bumf somewhere on it. I'll fish it out/scan it and send it via email if that is OK?

drew

[Creature]

these models suffer badly from charging issues - check the altinator and reg/rec unit out

also check water in battery

[Grav]

Bike electrics work by Withcraft!

Tis true, bloody mystifies me it does.

[John Hopkins]

Do it step by step and then you won't make mistakes.

before you start make sure all the fuses are ok...

1. Locate the reg/rec

2. it should have at least 4 or maybe 5 wires coming from it.

3. follow them to the connectors and check them for looseness, dirt, or burnt wires.

4. If damaged replace them

5. if ok put a multimeter or voltmeter on about 20v on to the battery. red lead to + black lead to -.

6. if the meter reads 12v the battery is flat it should read about 14 or 14.5

7. with the engine running at 1500 revs it should read 14.5v.

8. connect the red lead to the + on the battery and the black lead to the frame of the bike and it should read 14.5v

9. If it reads ok on the frame and 12v on the battery run a thick wire from the frame to the - on the battery

10 if it reads 12v on both replace the reg/rec...John

[odie]

Try this, bit techy but may help.
Odie
http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/pdf/fault-finding-diagram.pdf

[booie2]

Hey all,
Still waiting on our great royal mail service to deliver the multimeter, that was supposedly meant to arrive monday.

I been out today, and followed all the wires none are burnt, or melted, i dont know what these 'grounding' wires are, and also i dont know what the connections are that i'm supposed to clean, i was told that in a 20 year old bike, there would be oxidisation and to clean it off.

Also, and please if this is stupid question, dont take mickey, but on the bottom of seat, the white plastic, its got loose blackdirt, is this common, coz a bit concern it may be carbon or soot.

While i'm here, thanks guys, all of ya.
Looking at the wires today, with the printout of this thread so far, everything looks fairly straightforward.

[Pigpen]

Sorry to go back to basics here, but when you bought your new battery was it dry charged and did the shop add the electrolite?

[northernpesant]

xv 535 has always had problems with voltage regulator. some go high voltage and nacker the ignition system. some just go low voltage dont charge the battery and the engine dies over a few miles.
Replace your regulator and possibley another new battery, if your last one wont recharge on the charger.
if you need parts i use a company called 'electrex world' they are helpfull and have a web site.:)

[Dougie]

Aye,a lot of Suzi GS owners will testify to that (and we should know......:D).

[strima]

booie,

Where in Hants are you? I'm in Southampton if you want me to take a look some time this week if you ain't too far away.

[matthewmosse]

tried removing the reg rec and giving the back of it and the frame where it sits a good scrub with a wire brush? Think I heard this can help if corrosion blocks the reg rec from earthing correctly on them bikes, not sure myself, they are too modern for me.:unsure:

[booie2]

booie,

Where in Hants are you? I'm in Southampton if you want me to take a look some time this week if you ain't too far away.


I'm in Botley Strima.

[booie2]

tried removing the reg rec and giving the back of it and the frame where it sits a good scrub with a wire brush? Think I heard this can help if corrosion blocks the reg rec from earthing correctly on them bikes, not sure myself, they are too modern for me.:unsure:

I dont really understand earthing.
I cant even get the bluddy rectifier casing off, i need a small 8 or 10 mm bolty thingy, that sits in a hole type thing, the bolt has a dome, i got 6mm and 12mm. typical huh. Think there called sockets?
I'll buy some tomorrow, getting quite a tool collection, i may have to get right into this mechanical milarky, so as not to waste money. :D

grrrrrrr, so fugging frustrating.

[strima]

I'm in Botley Strima.

I may be able to give it a look Friday afternoon if you want, only down the road in Calmore.

[booie2]

I may be able to give it a look Friday afternoon if you want, only down the road in Calmore.


That would be fantastic, i'm off friday too, I'll pm ya. thanks Strima

[northernpesant]

hope booie2 is better at makein coffee than mechanicin. Still good on ya strima. :thumbsu:

[strima]

hope booie2 is better at makein coffee than mechanicin. Still good on ya strima. :thumbsu:

I know how frustrating things can be and people have done it for me in the past, always happy to help.

That would be fantastic, i'm off friday too, I'll pm ya. thanks Strima

PM answered. :thumbu:

[strima]

Thought I'd give you all an update.

Rec/Reg blown due to a possible bad earth which Boo pointed out had come off. The back of the unit had cracked so more than likely a diode had blown. Battery has recovered nicely from its little depression and feels no need to visit the Priory.

What a pain in the arse place to fit on, looks great when you first get to it, dam you Mr Yamaha.

Boo's ordered a new part and hopefully she'll be back on the road shortly.

hope booie2 is better at makein coffee than mechanicin The answer is yes!!! :thumbsu:

[booie2]

Thought I'd give you all an update.

Rec/Reg blown due to a possible bad earth which Boo pointed out had come off. The back of the unit had cracked so more than likely a diode had blown. Battery has recovered nicely from its little depression and feels no need to visit the Priory.

What a pain in the arse place to fit on, looks great when you first get to it, dam you Mr Yamaha.

Boo's ordered a new part and hopefully she'll be back on the road shortly.

The answer is yes!!! :thumbsu:

Well i would just like to publicly say, Strima is a darn nice chappy, and i'm very grateful, he is downplaying how much he did, the reg/rec is encased and you have to take bits off frame, and get hands up behind, complete nightmare, then bless him, he had to drill it out, as screws had seized on.

I sweet talked the guy at pitstop.com, who rushed my reg/rec to post office, and emailed me to inform me that he had actually managed to catch last post.
I'm dead chuffed, I've missed betty, cant wait now till shes back on road.

[booie2]

Strima is a star,
Betty and I are back on the road

Thanks Strima, appeciate what you've done for me.

[strima]

No problems, just let me know how you both get on!!!! :D

[northernpesant]

so so so good. just love a happy ending:thumbsu::thumbu: