Charging System... AGAIN!! :(

[Rik398]

Ok, so I have fixed the throttle body problem. Now though, it appears that the charging system has gone. Again.

In the last year of owning this bike, I have had 2 new stators and a regulator done. And, potentially, here we are again.

I have a question though. When my bike broke down originally, and was making its ticking sound, by the time I got it home the battery was so dead that it would not even turn on the instruments or anything. I charged it on an optimate, and it seems to have passed all its tests. However, when I test the voltage across the terminals with battery in bike and ignition off, its 12.6 volts. all well and good. then, as soon as a turn on the ignition (no attempt to start engine) it drops to 11.4. I have been told previously that if your battery does this, then it is probably dead. It should go down a bit when you turn on the ignition, but it should not make such a harsh and instant jump.

When I turn the engine on, and measure the voltage across the battery, it sits a about 11.6/ 12 volts. This would suggest that someting in the charging system has died. Problem is though, that I replaced the entire charging system for new a few months ago. It now has a more efficient MOSFET regulator, and a new stator, and it is all connected right back to the battery. I can see no issues with any connections, no fuses are blown or old, so basically, the way I see it it comes down to two options.

A) Regulator or Stator is dead

B) Perhaps the fact that the battery is potential dead is responsible for the lack of voltage measured when bike is running.

Is it possible that a dead battery would give me readings of only 12v from the charging system? I would test from the reg directly, but the way things are wires at the moment that could be tricky.

[Guest Hodgy]

Could a faulty battery be fooling the regulator into thinking it's fully charged, thus not putting any more charge in?

Do you have another battery you could beg steal or borrow to put on and see if that solves the problem before spending any more money on it?

[Rik398]

I have no other battery available at all which is annoying. But I do think it could be the battery that is causing the issue, as for the charging system to die so quickly then there must be a very serious problem. I think my charging system was just built on a Friday or something.

I have to get it MOT'd before going for a trade in, so I may need a new battery anyway.

Thanks for the help, it is a possible option. The battery was at about 3.5/4 volts when the bike brike down originally, even with optimate saying its ok, for it to go that low I would not be suprised if it was buggered in some way.

Thanks Again,