550 charging system

[Nicky Dodds]

What are the signs that it's fecked?
Am crap with electrics and don't own any sort of meter (not that i'd be able to use one)
Suffice to say that after about half an hours riding it wants to cut out and you have to keep on top of the throttle to keep it running if you get my drift

[callyboy]

You need to get a meter Nicky mate. I aint got a clue either about electricery but at a minimum you could measure the voltage at the battery when its running. This will tell you if you are charging at all or maybe not enough. That would be just putting the meters probes on both terminals and seeing what the reading is.

Good luck

Pete

[pookie]

What condition is the battery in? a couple of weeks ago my kwak kr-1 tried to cut out at low revs, when i took the battery out it was red hot and half the electrolyte had boiled away, problem was that the regulator/rectifier was fooked, you can test this by using a voltmeter (£4.99 on e-bag) just place the red and black probes on the corresponding battery terminals, when revving the motor the meter should read between 12 and 14 volts, but mine was reading 17/18 volts, after changing the regulator and battery its running like a good 'un, and of course all this happened a week before its mot

[johnr]

get a cheap multimeter from ebay for under a tenner. theyre invaluable and when you get one, tell us and we will show you how to check your charging system.

[Nicky Dodds]

When I went to view the bike the guy said it might want a new battery as this one only lasts half an hour so half expected it to have a mullered charging system. I stuck a brand new battery on it anyway as the one that was on it was that tall the previous owner had cut away the top of the side panel so it would go in.
It started up and ran ok on the three mile run to the mot station. Short trips buzzin round town and it was ok. On a 10 mile each way run it started to misbehave on the way back.

[Nicky Dodds]

Meter duly ordered....be patient with me

[callyboy]

Its worth it just to do that test Nicky you have to make sure you have it set for less than 20Volts as well on the dial. Good for continuity testing as well helps find a break in wires etc or wires shorting out on each other. also test earths

Pete

[Nicky Dodds]

I'd like to re-wire a bike at some point pete....some cases you look at the state of the loom where it's been chopped about and you want to search out all the previous owners and give em all a good kicking just to make sure you get the right one

[callyboy]

Wiring always gives me a headache. if its not how to route it its the state of it. Connectors etc. Have used a few "proper" connectors recently instead of usual crimped bullet connectors etc. looks better but bit fiddly. Think i need a proper crimp tool next to get the wires crimped properly.

Pete

[Nicky Dodds]

Yeah that's another thing to add to my shopping list!