alternator, test

[fantsybikr]

To save me from searching, can anyone tell me what readings I should get on digital meter when checking alternator and battery for that matter. All the post on here about dead charging systems has me concerned about road trip.
Bike is at 30K and everything else I've looked at seems close to new. Is there a number, that stands out when alternators are failing? 40K, 70K, 100K, and of course some last forever, right..lol

[olddog1946]

Don't know about failures, mine has 49K at the moment and reads 13.8+_ when running down the road. Or it did until I changed from a digital to an LED set up. I do have a spare wing alternator if I ever need it.

[pancho]

                               " To save me from searching," 


I think you might as well bite the bullet and do some searching.....   There is all the information you could want,, already been discussed and posted. 

I guess the question is why would you be thinking about a failure??  If there are no symptoms, forget it at 30K..   

                                      Put the fear far from you

[Gryphon Rider]

New, fully charged battery with no load: 12.9-13.2V
Voltage with alternator working at 1500RPM engine speed: 13.8-14.3V
The service manual specifies that with a fully charged battery, start the engine and warm it up, turn it off and measure the battery voltage, then start the engine and hold it at 5000 RPM, put the headlight on high beam, then measure voltage.  It should be greater than battery voltage and less than 15.5V.

I think that there was a model year cutoff where before that year, alternators failed more often than after. IIRC, 1997-2000 alternator failure is more likely, 2001-2003 failure is less likely.  I can't be bothered to research this, so others better informed can correct me.  The common problem is with the rotor; the wires connecting the coils to the slip rings are not as securely held as they should be and eventually fatigue and break.

[Relax]

To save me from searching, can anyone tell me what readings I should get on digital meter when checking alternator and battery for that matter. All the post on here about dead charging systems has me concerned about road trip.
Bike is at 30K and everything else I've looked at seems close to new. Is there a number, that stands out when alternators are failing? 40K, 70K, 100K, and of course some last forever, right..lol

I just checked my alternator on my 2001, valk standard.
It has about 115 000 km ( 71 k miles).
The brushes was not even half way worn, so good for at least 30-40 k miles more, maybe 70k more.

Battery readings are 12,6 V , egine off, and about 13,8- 14,2 V when running.

For reasons like this I have a voltmeter installed on my bike and keep en eye on it all the time

[Hoser]

To save me from searching, can anyone tell me what readings I should get on digital meter when checking alternator and battery for that matter. All the post on here about dead charging systems has me concerned about road trip.
Bike is at 30K and everything else I've looked at seems close to new. Is there a number, that stands out when alternators are failing? 40K, 70K, 100K, and of course some last forever, right..lol

It seems they do.  Mine has the original.  119,000 miles and 12 years.  I too carry a rebuilt one on trips, and plan to rebuild the original if needed.    Hoser 

[john]

" For reasons like this I have a voltmeter installed on my bike and keep en eye on it all the time  "     

[fantsybikr]

Thanks Everyone..very helpful