Some help needed...

[Raverez]

Hi all, I posted on tech board also but here's my problem.

 I have a "99 Interstate. Probably original battery. Bought her three years ago.
Last week she seemed to be running a little rough. Starts up fine every morning. I've noticed a slight drop in gas mileage, approx 15-20 per tank. Today, while running  on local super slab. Instruments  started flashing, then went dead. Radio was still working. Turned off radio, instruments came back to life.
But went dead with in a minute. I pulled off the road at next exit , she died altogether.  I tried to troubleshoot. After about 30 minutes, she started up. I disconnected the negative lead from the battery and she cut off again. I'm guessing she needs an alternator. I don't have a voltmeter and only some basic tools (ratchet set, pliers, box wrenches). Is there anything else that could cause the bike to act this way?

Thanks in advance for the help

Raul

[John Schmidt]

If you've had it three years and it's the same battery, that's the first thing I'd look at. You need to put a voltmeter across the battery and see what it reads, should be slightly over 12v if the battery is good and charged.  Get it started again....if only for a few seconds, that should tell you if the alternator is putting out by reading the voltage when running. I'd look for a good 14-15 volts when charging if the battery is low. If you're not getting a high reading like that, then you probably have an alternator problem. How many miles on the bike? It's possible with a mileage of 50-60k that you might need nothing more than new brushes. In any case, you definitely need a battery, I never run mine more than three years even if it seems to working fine.

[Raverez]

The bike has 35113 miles. I think I need to replace the alternator. Doing a rebuild myself is beyond what I think I can do. (A man has to know his limitations!  ).
I'm sure I can replace the part when I get a new one.

[MP]

A bad battery "can" also limit the volts. At three years old, I would sure either replace the battery, or get the one you have tested at a good place.  It needs to be charged first.  Do the simple, easy, cheap things first.  Alternator would be after battery. 
MP

[Raverez]

Ok, so the battery has two dead cells. Heading to wally world to price a new one and maybe pick up a voltmeter so I can check if the Alternator is charging properly.
Auto Zzone said they will price match if the warranty is identical.....