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Aug 25th, 2006, 09:29 PM
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#1 | | Rookie 10+ posts
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 12 Interests: Bikes, scuba diving, boating Occupation: upper management, automotive
| Intermittent charging problem
I had the stator replaced about 3 months ago on my '03 Ultra Classic along with a brand new regulator & battery. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed my volt meter was fluctuating between 10V and 14V while riding. It would do this about every 5-10 seconds, almost in a rhythym. At first, it would not do it on every ride, just once in awhile but now it seems to have gotten worse. I noticed, after watching it on the last several rides, it seems to start doing this at around 2100 RPM's. At less RPM's it reads a normal 14V but as soon as the tach hits 2100+ RPM's, it drops back to 10V, rises back to 14V continually about every 5-10 seconds. Does anyone have any clues what could cause this? I would think if the new stator was bad, it would just not charge at all. So far the battery has stayed charged but I'm afraid of going on any long trips with it doing this. Of important note: the bike was under extended warranty when the stator first went out but now, since this new problem, the warranty has ended  . Also, I really don't trust this local dealer anymore because, when I had the stator replaced, I had them put a new front tire on....I rode about 70 miles about a week later when I noticed they didn't put one of the 2 nuts back on my front axle saddle and the other was barely screwed on....I could have been killed.....not good. Thanks in advance for any help or ideas!
__________________ Email me '03 Ultra Classic | 
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Aug 28th, 2006, 06:55 PM
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#2 | | Rookie 10+ posts
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 12 Interests: Bikes, scuba diving, boating Occupation: upper management, automotive
| WOW! Thanks for all the enormous replies and help, I am absolutely overwhelmed by the response! I don't know why I'm wasting my time replying, but I will in case someone else ever has this same problem.....then again, nevermind. I solved my problem, on my own I might add. Maybe I should have started an OIL THREAD since that's powered by opinion rather than tech knowledge.......
__________________ Email me '03 Ultra Classic
Last edited by bharris; Aug 28th, 2006 at 06:58 PM.
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Aug 28th, 2006, 07:32 PM
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#3 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,709
| your welcome, i guess.....i dont live on this board and post here when i can....glad you found your problem and and was thoughtful enough to tell us how you cured it........maybe your the first on this board to encounter this problem. i for one am glad for all the laughs ya gave us.....thanks again!! 
i bet if you would have looked in the service manual.....the one that is still on the shelf at your dealer....it would have addressed the problem, step by step......or maybe that is what you did.........finally looked at the most important tool in the box.......???
chuck
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LORD, HAVE MERCY ON AMERICA, WHILE WE ARE UNDER DISTRESS
"FLAGS AND HANDLEBARS SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE GROUND"
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."  We plan to meet next week to talk about planning a strategy session to discuss the next step towards forming a consensus to start the development of the rough draft for the implementation of our intention to develop a plan.  
Last edited by chucktx; Aug 28th, 2006 at 07:34 PM.
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Aug 28th, 2006, 08:58 PM
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#4 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 841 Interests: Bikes, Boobs and Beer Occupation: Biker
| Lol,, yup, well some folks need to double up on their medications, as to not be under-whelmed by their over-expectations.
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Experience isn't what happens to you. It's what you make out of what happens to you... | |
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Aug 28th, 2006, 09:17 PM
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#5 | | Rookie 10+ posts
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 12 Interests: Bikes, scuba diving, boating Occupation: upper management, automotive
| Okay, I guess frustration was overpowering my normally sane mind. My apologies, I deserve the lashing!
Anyway, it all came down to the battery. I had bought a new one right before the stator fix since the one in my bike was the original (3 years old). This problem started soon after the bike was fixed. I checked and re-checked everything I could imagine (I have a spare regulator also) and finally decided to swap batteries (I kept the old one). I checked the new one and it showed 12.7V, not very good. The old one, even out of the bike for 3 months showed 13.2V so I charged it up, put it back in and after riding several hours this weekend, no charging prob at all. I guess the battery may have a short inside that might occur from vibration or something. Weird........
I enjoy reading the oil threads.....about as much as reading the phone book and assembly instructions on the kids' Christmas toys...... 
__________________ Email me '03 Ultra Classic | |
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Aug 28th, 2006, 09:22 PM
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#6 | | Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 841 Interests: Bikes, Boobs and Beer Occupation: Biker
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Yes sir, new parts are not always good parts…
Glad to hear you figured it all out.
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Experience isn't what happens to you. It's what you make out of what happens to you... | |
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Aug 28th, 2006, 09:33 PM
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#7 | | Administrator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wherever we park the RV
Posts: 1,636 Interests: Seeing the USA from our RV Occupation: Seeing how many places I can visit while I am kicking
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by bharris WOW! Thanks for all the enormous replies and help, I am absolutely overwhelmed by the response! I don't know why I'm wasting my time replying, but I will in case someone else ever has this same problem.....then again, nevermind. I solved my problem, on my own I might add. Maybe I should have started an OIL THREAD since that's powered by opinion rather than tech knowledge....... | Let's see here, You post your problem at 9:30 on Friday and you're upset because a tech didn't reply right away? hmm, you ever thought that I might have been on a biz trip or others may no be on the BBS? This BBS is not a paid forum, people give information, advice and help freely without expecting anything in return. You didn't exactly endear yourself to the members with that rant.
At any rate, glad you fixed your problem.
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Retired and gone fishin' and RV'ing
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Aug 29th, 2006, 05:41 AM
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#8 | | Moderator Has posted 500+
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,709
| i too am also glad ya found the problem, and shared the info!!! 
have fun and be safe
chuck
__________________
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON AMERICA, WHILE WE ARE UNDER DISTRESS
"FLAGS AND HANDLEBARS SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE GROUND"
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." We plan to meet next week to talk about planning a strategy session to discuss the next step towards forming a consensus to start the development of the rough draft for the implementation of our intention to develop a plan. | |
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Sep 8th, 2006, 12:03 PM
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#9 | | More than 100 posts!
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LAS VEGAS WITH MY WIFE OF 25 YEARS WITH NO KIDS
Posts: 192 Model: 1991 FXR-P elvis says FXR or DIE Interests: RIDING/GOLF/ WORKING ON MY HOUSE/KEEPING THE MRS. HAPPY Occupation: RETIRED FROM THE MOTION PICTURE BIZ. I BUILT SETS FOR 30 YEARS
| Go For The E.z Stuff First
I was having a problem when coming to a stop after getting to my destination. All of a sudden the bike would just shut off while i was backing into a parking spot. I thought about the last things I did to the bike and when i was putting on my badland kit they told me to take my ground strap off. 1/2 of it anyway. so i did. and thats when the problems starting happening. so i took that half off agin and got a better ground. All fixed now.
hope this helped. gumby321 peace Quote:
Originally Posted by bharris  Okay, I guess frustration was overpowering my normally sane mind. My apologies, I deserve the lashing!
Anyway, it all came down to the battery. I had bought a new one right before the stator fix since the one in my bike was the original (3 years old). This problem started soon after the bike was fixed. I checked and re-checked everything I could imagine (I have a spare regulator also) and finally decided to swap batteries (I kept the old one). I checked the new one and it showed 12.7V, not very good. The old one, even out of the bike for 3 months showed 13.2V so I charged it up, put it back in and after riding several hours this weekend, no charging prob at all. I guess the battery may have a short inside that might occur from vibration or something. Weird........
I enjoy reading the oil threads.....about as much as reading the phone book and assembly instructions on the kids' Christmas toys...... | | |
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