How does a Harley-Davidson charge its battery?

The charging system consists of three main components: the battery, alternator, and the regulator/rectifier. Your motorcycle battery stores electrical energy for use and acts as a buffer for the bike’s electrical system. The alternator creates alternating currents to run the bike and charge the battery.

Where is the alternator on a Harley-Davidson?

The charging system on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle consists of the battery, the voltage regulator and the alternator. The alternator, in turn, is made up of the rotor and the stator. Located within the primary chaincase on the left side of the engine, the alternator is difficult to visually inspect.

Is a stator the same as an alternator?

Stators are inside the engine case. An automotive style alternator is a fully self-contained, externally mounted unit that creates DC current. Another difference between stators and automotive style alternators is the type of magnet uses. Stators use a permanent magnet, and automotive alternators use an electro-magnet.

What causes a stator to burn out?

A bad diode in a rectifier will dump AC current into a system. The AC current heats up the stator and the heat destroys the insulation and ultimately carbonizes it turning it into a low resistance brick.

How do I know if my motorcycle alternator is bad?

Another way to check if the alternator is working properly is to simply touch the + and – pins of the tester to the + and – terminals of the battery while the bike is running. Multimeter should be set to DC voltage with the decimal point positioned as so: 00.0.

Will I die if I get a motorcycle?

The honest answer is that if you ride a motorcycle, OF COURSE YOU’LL DIE! It just that the probability is that it WON’T be from riding a motorcycle. You’ve read what the others have written. Yeah, it’s more dangerous and so you have a higher probability of injury or death.

What is the average lifespan of a motorcycle battery?

Battery manufacturers agree that on average, a motorcycle battery should last 48 months, yet most of us are lucky to get half of that, and in most cases the battery’s premature death can be chalked up to a lack of maintenance.

How does a Harley Davidson charge its battery?

Where is the alternator located on a Harley Davidson?

How much does it cost to replace a belt on a Harley?

Harley drive belts are very strong and durable and only need replacement after thousands of miles of riding. Unless you have a warranty, a replacement will cost a few hundred dollars at your Harley dealer. Do it yourself in about 30 minutes, for less than $50.

What happens when the regulator rectifier goes bad?

If the regulator rectifier can’t moderate the voltage levels, the battery will overcharge. You can also use a voltmeter to diagnose overcharge. If you get readings over 17 volts, this generally means that the regulator rectifier is failing to convert the excess power.

How do I know if my voltage regulator is bad?

Symptoms of a bad voltage regulator may include:

High voltage output.
Low voltage output, sometimes.
No voltage output.
Lights dim or flicker.
Faulty high-beam headlamp bulbs.
Engine working erratically (weak or flickering ignition system)
Adding water to the battery frequently.

What causes a voltage regulator to fail?

They usually fail because they’re under rated for the constant current draw. Running the motor with the battery disconnected – or even a poor contact on the battery terminals – can also blow them. The voltage regulator controls the field current applied to the spinning rotor inside the alternator.

Will a bad voltage regulator drain a battery?

There are many reasons your car’s battery might be dead, and one of them happens to be a broken voltage regulator. This is because when this part burns out, the battery will no longer charge, meaning it will eventually die.

Will a voltage regulator stop a car from starting?

A bad voltage regulator may cause it to simply not work or behave erratically. You’re not likely to be able to start the car at all, but even if you could, it wouldn’t be wise to do so without knowing how fast you’re driving, how much fuel you have left, and other critical info.