05 Ultra not charging

Sportglide57 · Sep 6th, 2007, 08:45 PM

If I start the bike cold it is charging at 14.5 volts. Rev the bike even slightly and volts drop to 12. Return to idle, still 12. I found an archived page on google (php-714) ohms test on stator is ok, and the test to ground is also ok, however output in AC volts never goes above 6 volts. Regulator test was bad as voltage on one pin was 11 volts dc.
I don't know if these tests apply to my Ultra or not as this link did not show the original question asked. I hate to replace the stator if it is not bad, but I don't want to fry a new regulator either.

glider · Sep 6th, 2007, 09:39 PM

Stators can be deceiving, they can put out the voltage expected and not do it under load.

Use this procedure and test it again and come back with the results.

http://www.hdtalking.com/electrical_...ng_system.html

One other thing to check is the harness coming out of the regulator where it goes under the frame. They have been known to rub against the frame , wear through the insulation and short to ground with movement of the bike.

Sportglide57 · Sep 6th, 2007, 10:10 PM

Thanks for the reply. Your thread was the one I found on google. Those are the tests I performed. Other than low AC output the stator checked OK. The regulator checked bad. The plug and wiring don't show any wear/rubbing. Do you think I should just try the regulator first?

glider · Sep 7th, 2007, 09:48 AM

The regulator is the lesser of two evils, besides you said that you had 11 volts I believe on the plug from the regulator. That is an indication that the bridge rectifier in the regulator is bad.
Generally it's a good idea when replacing the stator to do the regulator also in any event so it's not wasted money.

You mention that output never goes above 6 volts, is this measured on the stator pins on the case and with additional RPM's too?

Sportglide57 · Sep 7th, 2007, 02:48 PM

well, I tore it down this morning and stator is really fried! 3 coils are melted. Got new stator and reg. getting ready to put it back together now. Thanks for the help Glider. Can't believe that Harley makes you buy a separate manual now for electric troubleshooting. Well, yes I guess I can after all,
H D = Hundred Dollar. Ha!

glider · Sep 9th, 2007, 08:53 AM

Glad you got to the base of the problem.
One thing I forgot to mention is that you can usually smell the primary oil and if it is a bad stator, the oil will smell really bad and burnt. Not much help now for you but maybe it will help someone else out.

I've noticed that Harley has a way of parting you from your dollars. They must have a "seperation" department that researches how to do this.

jdawg · Oct 7th, 2007, 06:08 PM

Interesting to read your comments on the charging issue. I have a 99 FLHTCUI bored & stroked to 120". In addition I replaced the factory stereo with a high end alpine during the rebuild. The problem I am having is the volts drop below 8 at idle. This occurs now even when the radio, accessory switch, running lights etc are turned off.

It seems the battery isnt charging, and that there is only about 10volts output even @ 3000 RPMs but I cant tell because of the additional cranking amps the big inch motor draws. Any thoughts?

Should a heavy duty or 3 phase 40amp chargins system be added with the big inch and stereo upgrade?

Sportglide57 · Oct 8th, 2007, 07:12 PM

The big inch conversion will not draw any extra amperage once the motor is running. Only when you are cranking it. If you didn't have to change the wiring going to the Alpine unit then I doubt that it is drawing a lot more amps than the stock unit. I think you just have a stator or regulator gone bad. Did you do the tests that Glider suggested in his post? Here is the link for that page
http://www.hdtalking.com/electrical_...ng_system.html
You don't have to have to battery load tested first but it is a good idea. You can just charge the battery fully and see if you have 12 volts at the battery after it is charged with the bike not running. If you do then do the checks outlined in the link. Let me know what you find.

jdawg · Oct 11th, 2007, 07:01 PM

looking at it this weekend. Will update. Thanks for the help

Sep 6th, 2007, 08:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sportglide57 New Family Ride: 2005 FLHTCUI Join Date: Sep 6th, 2007 Location: Tipton, Iowa USA Posts: 6	05 Ultra not charging If I start the bike cold it is charging at 14.5 volts. Rev the bike even slightly and volts drop to 12. Return to idle, still 12. I found an archived page on google (php-714) ohms test on stator is ok, and the test to ground is also ok, however output in AC volts never goes above 6 volts. Regulator test was bad as voltage on one pin was 11 volts dc. I don't know if these tests apply to my Ultra or not as this link did not show the original question asked. I hate to replace the stator if it is not bad, but I don't want to fry a new regulator either.

Sep 6th, 2007, 09:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,627 My Mood:	Re: 05 Ultra not charging Stators can be deceiving, they can put out the voltage expected and not do it under load. Use this procedure and test it again and come back with the results. http://www.hdtalking.com/electrical_...ng_system.html One other thing to check is the harness coming out of the regulator where it goes under the frame. They have been known to rub against the frame , wear through the insulation and short to ground with movement of the bike. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me! Last edited by glider : Sep 6th, 2007 at 09:43 PM.

Sep 6th, 2007, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sportglide57 New Family Ride: 2005 FLHTCUI Join Date: Sep 6th, 2007 Location: Tipton, Iowa USA Posts: 6	Re: 05 Ultra not charging Thanks for the reply. Your thread was the one I found on google. Those are the tests I performed. Other than low AC output the stator checked OK. The regulator checked bad. The plug and wiring don't show any wear/rubbing. Do you think I should just try the regulator first?

Sep 7th, 2007, 09:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,627 My Mood:	Re: 05 Ultra not charging The regulator is the lesser of two evils, besides you said that you had 11 volts I believe on the plug from the regulator. That is an indication that the bridge rectifier in the regulator is bad. Generally it's a good idea when replacing the stator to do the regulator also in any event so it's not wasted money. You mention that output never goes above 6 volts, is this measured on the stator pins on the case and with additional RPM's too? __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Sep 7th, 2007, 02:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sportglide57 New Family Ride: 2005 FLHTCUI Join Date: Sep 6th, 2007 Location: Tipton, Iowa USA Posts: 6	Re: 05 Ultra not charging well, I tore it down this morning and stator is really fried! 3 coils are melted. Got new stator and reg. getting ready to put it back together now. Thanks for the help Glider. Can't believe that Harley makes you buy a separate manual now for electric troubleshooting. Well, yes I guess I can after all, H D = Hundred Dollar. Ha!

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Sep 9th, 2007, 08:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,627 My Mood:	Re: 05 Ultra not charging Glad you got to the base of the problem. One thing I forgot to mention is that you can usually smell the primary oil and if it is a bad stator, the oil will smell really bad and burnt. Not much help now for you but maybe it will help someone else out. I've noticed that Harley has a way of parting you from your dollars. They must have a "seperation" department that researches how to do this. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Oct 7th, 2007, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
jdawg New Family Ride: 99 FLHTCUI Bored & Stroked 120" Join Date: Oct 7th, 2007 Location: IN Posts: 3	Re: 05 Ultra not charging Interesting to read your comments on the charging issue. I have a 99 FLHTCUI bored & stroked to 120". In addition I replaced the factory stereo with a high end alpine during the rebuild. The problem I am having is the volts drop below 8 at idle. This occurs now even when the radio, accessory switch, running lights etc are turned off. It seems the battery isnt charging, and that there is only about 10volts output even @ 3000 RPMs but I cant tell because of the additional cranking amps the big inch motor draws. Any thoughts? Should a heavy duty or 3 phase 40amp chargins system be added with the big inch and stereo upgrade?

Oct 8th, 2007, 07:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sportglide57 New Family Ride: 2005 FLHTCUI Join Date: Sep 6th, 2007 Location: Tipton, Iowa USA Posts: 6	Re: 05 Ultra not charging The big inch conversion will not draw any extra amperage once the motor is running. Only when you are cranking it. If you didn't have to change the wiring going to the Alpine unit then I doubt that it is drawing a lot more amps than the stock unit. I think you just have a stator or regulator gone bad. Did you do the tests that Glider suggested in his post? Here is the link for that page http://www.hdtalking.com/electrical_...ng_system.html You don't have to have to battery load tested first but it is a good idea. You can just charge the battery fully and see if you have 12 volts at the battery after it is charged with the bike not running. If you do then do the checks outlined in the link. Let me know what you find.

Oct 11th, 2007, 07:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
jdawg New Family Ride: 99 FLHTCUI Bored & Stroked 120" Join Date: Oct 7th, 2007 Location: IN Posts: 3	Re: 05 Ultra not charging looking at it this weekend. Will update. Thanks for the help

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05 Ultra not charging

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