Charging Problem - Help!!!

[John J]

2001 Standard with 20k. After a long trouble free trip the alternator stopped charging 30 miles from home and ran on just the battery until home. At the same time that it stopped charging there was a intermittent clattering sound coming from the alternator. I thought it was just a bust alternator and took it out and sent it off to be professionally re-built.
I re-fitted it and exactly the same fault has happened - not charging and an intermittent clatter coming from that area. I tested with a volt meter and no charge was coming from the alternator. The shop who re-built say it definitely tested ok both when it came into their shop and again after the re-build and I tend to believe them.
The rubbers in the mount look perfect and the drive seemed to spin freely and quitely when the engine was run with the alternator out.
Has anyone got any ideas what this could be? I've looked in Clymer and wondered whether the alternator clutch could be the culprit of the noise and fault but I do admit that I know nothing at all about that bit and how it works! Any advice at all welcome. Thanks

[R J]

I'd go buy a Gold Wing alt, for a few $$$$ more than you paid to have it gone through.

It is listed on JeffK's site.

Here is the link.

http://www.jkozloski.com/generic_parts.htm

It is about 9 or 10 pages down on the right side.

Is for a 97 Gold Wing.

[Thunderbolt]

Did you check the 55A charge fuse that is inline between the alt. and the battery?  Also check all cable connection points on the battery and where it connects to the frame.

[Robert]

I agree with RJ  about the 55 amp fuse but also check that the other wire that connects to the alternator also has power with key key on. If it doesn't then there's a connection that may be bad. Basically both wires are to have power with the key on. As for the alternator clutch I really dont think that's the problem but I could be wrong, try with a pair of pliers carefully of course to feel if you can get the springs to flex this would verify that the coupler is at least strong enough to spin the alternator. Of course with a flashlight and the thing started you should be able to see the armature on the alternator spinning though. I also doubt if the gears are stripped and without actually turning the engine with at load on the output to the alternator there is no way.
#3 Just found this on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-GL1500-ALTERNATOR-DRIVE-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e598b3485QQitemZ130351314053QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[John J]

Thanks a lot for those suggestions. I did check the in line fuse which was ok but I haven't checked the power to the other alternator wire, I'll do that today. It was reassuring to hear you don't think it's the alternator clutch, fixing that would be way beyond my skills, but I can't think what would be making the clattering sound - do you think it could be the alternator not being able to discharge it's volts in the proper way?

[John J]

I managed to persuade another Valk owner to try his alternator on mine and it worked fine. The re-build shop now think that their junior did the work on mine and they are taking it back to start again! Thanks a lot for your advice with this, much appreciated.

[fuzzy2bucks]

As I saw another poster mention in a long ago post that it is a good idea to keep a spare alternator on hand along with other parts that seem to fail sooner than others.