Charging issues


User avatar
jt
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 269
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 9:59 pm
Location: League City, Tx
Location: League City, Texas, USA

Re: Charging issues

Post by jt »

Rick Pope wrote:
Mon Mar 06, 2023 10:13 am

Yes, yesterday was great riding in the Hill Country. We rode from Bandera to Frederickburg, to Willow, then down to Luckenbach, and back to Bandera a very nice 200 mile loop.
There has been a gem of a Vintage M/C show at Luckenbach called the Harvest Classic which sadly Oct 2022 was the last year for it.It was just as fun walking through the parking lot and looking at all the different bikes as walking through the show. It had ran for around 20 years I believe, I made alot them over the years, actually got 2nd place with my 89 Honda GB500 one year, there was a Ducati 900SS in my class that won, Hard to beat that one! Gonna miss this one for sure.

https://www.harvestclassic.org/2022/

https://youtu.be/CftCxOW4L1Q
JT In Texas

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever
have to deal with, watches you from
the mirror every mornin'.

User avatar
oroepke
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 135
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:28 pm
Location: Austin, TX
Location: Austin, TX

Re: Charging issues

Post by oroepke »

jt wrote:
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:28 am
Rick Pope wrote:
Mon Mar 06, 2023 10:13 am

Yes, yesterday was great riding in the Hill Country. We rode from Bandera to Frederickburg, to Willow, then down to Luckenbach, and back to Bandera a very nice 200 mile loop.
There has been a gem of a Vintage M/C show at Luckenbach called the Harvest Classic which sadly Oct 2022 was the last year for it.It was just as fun walking through the parking lot and looking at all the different bikes as walking through the show. It had ran for around 20 years I believe, I made alot them over the years, actually got 2nd place with my 89 Honda GB500 one year, there was a Ducati 900SS in my class that won, Hard to beat that one! Gonna miss this one for sure.

https://www.harvestclassic.org/2022/

https://youtu.be/CftCxOW4L1Q
Yes! Best show in the area, so sad they are done. There were 3 or 4 CBX's last year. I won in my class with my BMW R80 G/S!
New 1980 CBX owner as of January 2023!
Other bikes: BMW R1200GS, BMW R80 G/S, BMW R75/5
Previous bikes: Several SOHC Hondas and KZ's, a few BMWs, Honda CT, HD Fatboy, XL 500, DR 750, RD 350, CB250....

User avatar
oroepke
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 135
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:28 pm
Location: Austin, TX
Location: Austin, TX

Re: Charging issues

Post by oroepke »

Reporting back. I did some more disassembly, cleaned connectors, will have to replace a few because they were partly melted, but I am 99% sure that my problem is the regulator/rectifier. I measured resistance as per the FSM and I got 600 Ohms one way and "indefinite" the other way. So I just orderd a new one and hopefully that solves my problem! I will also put in a LED head light bulb to reduce the overall draw. Hopefully in a week or so I will be back on the road! Have a good weekend everyone!
New 1980 CBX owner as of January 2023!
Other bikes: BMW R1200GS, BMW R80 G/S, BMW R75/5
Previous bikes: Several SOHC Hondas and KZ's, a few BMWs, Honda CT, HD Fatboy, XL 500, DR 750, RD 350, CB250....

User avatar
oroepke
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 135
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:28 pm
Location: Austin, TX
Location: Austin, TX

Re: Charging issues

Post by oroepke »

I am back on the road! Dropped in a new regulator/rectifier, changed the headlight to an LED bulb, cleaned all remaining electrical connections, rigged up a new fused wired connector under the right side cover, replaced another two or three connectors that didn't look too good anymore. I have a healthy charging voltage of 14.6V now, but only above 2,200 rpm or so. I think I will be fine even at prolonged stop and go, especially if I can get above 2,500 every once in a while. The LED head light definitely helps as well.

In the meantime, the forks started leaking, well, this didn't come unexpected! I'll have to focus on some of my other bikes now, but have all the parts together to finally put the airbox in, probably in early May or so. In the meantime I will continue to ride as is (after fixixng the forks), because what can be worse than letting a bike sit!
New 1980 CBX owner as of January 2023!
Other bikes: BMW R1200GS, BMW R80 G/S, BMW R75/5
Previous bikes: Several SOHC Hondas and KZ's, a few BMWs, Honda CT, HD Fatboy, XL 500, DR 750, RD 350, CB250....

User avatar
NobleHops
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 3915
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Charging issues

Post by NobleHops »

Nice! 14.6 at 2K is being all it can be. When we get that, the idle charge voltage is normally just below 13v.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.

daves79x
ICOA Technical Director
ICOA Technical Director
Posts: 4876
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:05 am
Location: Knox, PA
Location: Knox, PA

Re: Charging issues

Post by daves79x »

What LED bulb did you find to fit the headlight bucket?

Dave

hondaman160mph
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 309
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 12:27 pm
Location: Elk River Minnesota
Location: Elk River Minnesota

Re: Charging issues

Post by hondaman160mph »

I have a led similar to this in my headlight
https://www.auxito.com/products/9003-le ... CEEALw_wcB

JoeInTUS
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 139
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2020 4:01 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Charging issues

Post by JoeInTUS »

I really like those Auxito bulbs. I have used them in both CBXs and cars in different sizes and they seem well made. Amazon is a good source.
Joe S
Tucson, AZ

Larry Zimmer
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
Posts: 2295
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Brighton, MI
Location: Brighton, Mich
Contact:

Re: Charging issues

Post by Larry Zimmer »

Great! While you are about doing the fork job, consider investing in RaceTech gold valve. Excellent suspension upgrade.
Larry Zimmer
cbxlarry@sbcglobal.net

User avatar
oroepke
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 135
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:28 pm
Location: Austin, TX
Location: Austin, TX

Re: Charging issues

Post by oroepke »

Dave, the bulb I used is similar to the one that Hondaman shows under his link. Light output is not much better than the original H4, but it definitely draws fewer Amps. I have a Cyclops in my R80 G/S, holy moly, I can light the desert on my way to Dakar with it! It comes with it's own little fan built into the bulb. expensive at $120.

Larry, I have the Racetech springs and gold valves in my G/S, I can attest that the transformation is incredible!
New 1980 CBX owner as of January 2023!
Other bikes: BMW R1200GS, BMW R80 G/S, BMW R75/5
Previous bikes: Several SOHC Hondas and KZ's, a few BMWs, Honda CT, HD Fatboy, XL 500, DR 750, RD 350, CB250....

Arundel2
New Member & Happy To Be Here
New Member & Happy To Be Here
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:37 am
Location: New Zealand
Location: New Zealand

Re: Charging issues

Post by Arundel2 »

Have 1979 CBX.
New brushes, new stator, reconded rotor, new voltage regulator/rectifier , new battery.
All purchased from Ricks Motorsport Electrics.
Issue is at idle only reading 10/11 volts and above idle goes to 13.5 volts. Everything is going great should i worry about it?
You talk on the Forum of a grounded regulator? Does it need a physical earth to it ??
If anyone can enlighten me as to what i have done wrong or forgotten to do that would awesome.
Cheers
Mike Seelen
New Zealand

daves79x
ICOA Technical Director
ICOA Technical Director
Posts: 4876
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:05 am
Location: Knox, PA
Location: Knox, PA

Re: Charging issues

Post by daves79x »

Are you reading voltage with a good multimeter at the battery? Do not trust the Honda voltmeter. You should get close to 12 volts at a low idle, but should jump to close to 14 volts at 3000-plus rpm. Your battery must have a good charge to show these voltages. A discharged battery will take quite a while to show normal voltage. No, the regulator does not have to be grounded.

Dave

Larry Zimmer
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
Posts: 2295
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Brighton, MI
Location: Brighton, Mich
Contact:

Re: Charging issues

Post by Larry Zimmer »

Be CERTAIN that all you connections between alternator, etc. are CLEAN and without any corrosion. Doesn't take much to reduce the voltage. Clean means VERY clean. I assume you are measuring voltage at the battery. Should get 14+ there as Dave said above 3000.
Larry Zimmer
cbxlarry@sbcglobal.net

Arundel2
New Member & Happy To Be Here
New Member & Happy To Be Here
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:37 am
Location: New Zealand
Location: New Zealand

Re: Charging issues

Post by Arundel2 »

Thanks for your advice .Will clean connectors again and take readings from battery.
Will report back after doing those things.
Mike

daves79x
ICOA Technical Director
ICOA Technical Director
Posts: 4876
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:05 am
Location: Knox, PA
Location: Knox, PA

Re: Charging issues

Post by daves79x »

Sounds like you were trusting the Honda voltmeter. Checking at the battery will likely give you correct readings.

Dave

Post Reply

Return to “ELECTRICAL: Alternator, Batteries, Headlights, Switches, Tailights, Wiring....”