bike quit running on freeway yesterday

[blackvalkyrie]

It would not crank at all...pretty sure alternator died.. charged battery last night..it fired right up, removed negative cable while bike was running..it died immediately.. dealer wants $700 for new alternator.. is it easy/wort it to rebuild ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

You have several options. There are some on eBay, Amazon, etc. for $150 or so. (I recommend against these) You can buy a Honda Goldwing alternator for about $350. This need to be “clocked”, but it’s very easy to do. You might have a reputable alternator shop rebuild it. It also only need the brushes replaced for about $20.

[blackvalkyrie]

thanks meathead! not sure what clocked means but I'll learn.. .. maybe a wing alternator is the way to go..way cheaper..but you agree that it sounds like my alternator is bad?

[Chrisj CMA]

How many miles on that alternator?  If 70-80k it could be just brushes. Very easy to replace

[The emperor has no clothes]

thanks meathead! not sure what clocked means but I'll learn.. .. maybe a wing alternator is the way to go..way cheaper..but you agree that it sounds like my alternator is bad?

It sounds like it’s bad. But it could be something as simple as worn brushes. The clocking is very easy. You just unscrew the bolts holding the body of the alternator together, then rotate one side of the body 120* and bolt back together. It will be more apparent when comparing the 2 alternators. The hardest part of the job is getting the alternator out and back in. It’s very tight and there is only one way it will go.

[blackvalkyrie]

thanks I will try that.. is it on the left side of the bike?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Have you checked the 55 amp main fuse?  It is a metal strip and some guys call it the "dog bone". That fuse is  between the alternator and the battery.  If the fuse fails, the bike may run on a charger, as the charger takes the place of the alternator.  It is easy to check.  Failure means it has broken into two pieces.  

If you haven't checked it already, that's the first thing, before you spend money.

Checking the dog bone fuse is a good idea. But I don’t think the bike will start if it’s blown.

[blackvalkyrie]

update: I found it..sadly it's in one piece

thanks I will try that.. is it on the left side of the bike?

[blackvalkyrie]

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

[blackvalkyrie]

bike has close to 115K on it

How many miles on that alternator?  If 70-80k it could be just brushes. Very easy to replace

[The emperor has no clothes]

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

Just take your time, and don’t get frustrated. It will come out, even if it seems impossible. I think at 115k it’s very possible it’s just wore out brushes. Could be a cheap (but frustrating) job. If so, I’d order a new O-ring along with the brushes. 

[blackvalkyrie]

ok thanks for the help.. i will do my best..frustration comes very easily and strongly to me when working on a project

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

Just take your time, and don’t get frustrated. It will come out, even if it seems impossible. I think at 115k it’s very possible it’s just wore out brushes. Could be a cheap (but frustrating) job. If so, I’d order a new O-ring along with the brushes. 

[Chrisj CMA]

Have you checked the 55 amp main fuse?  It is a metal strip and some guys call it the "dog bone". That fuse is  between the alternator and the battery.  If the fuse fails, the bike may run on a charger, as the charger takes the place of the alternator.  It is easy to check.  Failure means it has broken into two pieces.  

If you haven't checked it already, that's the first thing, before you spend money.

Checking the dog bone fuse is a good idea. But I don’t think the bike will start if it’s blown.

Yes the bike will start with a blown 55A dogbone there just will be no charging

[Chrisj CMA]

Charge the battery or jump it to start the bike and warm it up before cracking loose those alternator bolts. Also put the socket on the bolt and tap on it with a small hammer a few times also helps break it loose without breaking it

[Chrisj CMA]

ok thanks for the help.. i will do my best..frustration comes very easily and strongly to me when working on a project

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

Just take your time, and don’t get frustrated. It will come out, even if it seems impossible. I think at 115k it’s very possible it’s just wore out brushes. Could be a cheap (but frustrating) job. If so, I’d order a new O-ring along with the brushes. 

Where are you located? Maybe someone is close by to lend a hand.

[The emperor has no clothes]

ok thanks for the help.. i will do my best..frustration comes very easily and strongly to me when working on a project

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

Just take your time, and don’t get frustrated. It will come out, even if it seems impossible. I think at 115k it’s very possible it’s just wore out brushes. Could be a cheap (but frustrating) job. If so, I’d order a new O-ring along with the brushes. 

Where are you located? Maybe someone is close by to lend a hand.

I agree with Jeff. Replacing alternators is without a doubt the most vexing and frustrating job I done on a Valkyrie. After doing it a few times it’s not near as bad. But the first time, it just seems almost impossible. Just having someone who has done it before looking over your shoulder could be immensely helpful. 

[Bighead]

Not that bad of a job you can do it. It wil fall out on you get it turned  correctly. Just remeber how it came out and get the new one in same position when putting back in. I Only did it once but took it out and put it back in 2-3 times in Under an hour.  
Remove both side panels and center cover 1st.

[Chrisj CMA]

Not that bad of a job you can do it. It wil fall out on you get it turned  correctly. Just remeber how it came out and get the new one in same position when putting back in. I Only did it once but took it out and put it back in 2-3 times in Under an hour.  
Remove both side panels and center cover 1st.

You don’t really need to remove the center cover but it does help to unbolt the sides of the center cover and pop it up out of its grommet. That will give you just as much extra room as if you removed it

[blackvalkyrie]

 

Charge the battery or jump it to start the bike and warm it up before cracking loose those alternator bolts. Also put the socket on the bolt and tap on it with a small hammer a few times also helps break it loose without breaking it

[blackvalkyrie]

Corona CA near Riverside

ok thanks for the help.. i will do my best..frustration comes very easily and strongly to me when working on a project

i guess next step is to pull the alternator.. I remember reading someone's post awhile ago where it was a real bear to put it back in..not looking forward to this

Just take your time, and don’t get frustrated. It will come out, even if it seems impossible. I think at 115k it’s very possible it’s just wore out brushes. Could be a cheap (but frustrating) job. If so, I’d order a new O-ring along with the brushes. 

Where are you located? Maybe someone is close by to lend a hand.

[blackvalkyrie]

I saw a youtube video of that..thanks for the tip! wonder why the wing alternator is so much less..although i haven't called the dealer yet bout a wing alternator so that may not be true.. I'll find out!

thanks meathead! not sure what clocked means but I'll learn.. .. maybe a wing alternator is the way to go..way cheaper..but you agree that it sounds like my alternator is bad?

It sounds like it’s bad. But it could be something as simple as worn brushes. The clocking is very easy. You just unscrew the bolts holding the body of the alternator together, then rotate one side of the body 120* and bolt back together. It will be more apparent when comparing the 2 alternators. The hardest part of the job is getting the alternator out and back in. It’s very tight and there is only one way it will go.

[blackvalkyrie]

Great tip! Thanks!! I appreciate it!

Charge the battery or jump it to start the bike and warm it up before cracking loose those alternator bolts. Also put the socket on the bolt and tap on it with a small hammer a few times also helps break it loose without breaking it

[gordonv]

The same alternator. One clocked for Valk & the other GW.



You checked the fuse, but I like to check the alternator output first.

Here is my post on changing/fixing my alternator.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107156.0.html

and the replacement with one of the cheap ones off amazon.

[Bighead]

I saw a youtube video of that..thanks for the tip! wonder why the wing alternator is so much less..although i haven't called the dealer yet bout a wing alternator so that may not be true.. I'll find out!

thanks meathead! not sure what clocked means but I'll learn.. .. maybe a wing alternator is the way to go..way cheaper..but you agree that it sounds like my alternator is bad?

It sounds like it’s bad. But it could be something as simple as worn brushes. The clocking is very easy. You just unscrew the bolts holding the body of the alternator together, then rotate one side of the body 120* and bolt back together. It will be more apparent when comparing the 2 alternators. The hardest part of the job is getting the alternator out and back in. It’s very tight and there is only one way it will go.

100% true on the price. The wing alternator is a out half the price.  When I replace mine the Valk alternator was over $600 and got the wing alternator for like $329.

[blackvalkyrie]

that's for sure..just haven't had the time today to do that

The same alternator. One clocked for Valk & the other GW.



You checked the fuse, but I like to check the alternator output first.

Here is my post on changing/fixing my alternator.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107156.0.html

and the replacement with one of the cheap ones off amazon.

[blackvalkyrie]

volttage stays in the 12 range running or not so alternator is bad.. just picked up my wing alternator.. now I gotta clock it!

that's for sure..just haven't had the time today to do that

The same alternator. One clocked for Valk & the other GW.



You checked the fuse, but I like to check the alternator output first.

Here is my post on changing/fixing my alternator.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107156.0.html

and the replacement with one of the cheap ones off amazon.

[gordonv]

volttage stays in the 12 range running or not so alternator is bad.. just picked up my wing alternator.. now I gotta clock it!

Where did you check your voltage at?

[blackvalkyrie]

At the battery

volttage stays in the 12 range running or not so alternator is bad.. just picked up my wing alternator.. now I gotta clock it!

Where did you check your voltage at?

[gordonv]

You want to check it at the alternator. The alt could be putting out power, but it's not making it into the system.

[blackvalkyrie]

replaced alternator. putting out 14+ now.. alternator is original bike has close to 120 k miles on it.. i feel lucky it lasted so long..thanks for your help

You want to check it at the alternator. The alt could be putting out power, but it's not making it into the system.