What can cause your valk not to charge

[stevenphillips42]

Well still trying to pin down my charging issue. Checked the grounds they are fine. Checked the main fuse it seems fine. Priced alternator at honda shop and am looking for new ideas. Found alternator on amazon just want to exhaust all other possibilities. It is a 2001 interstate.

[Daniel Meyer]

How many miles? If over 60,000 it could simply be brushes in the alternator.

If less than that, and you are sure the fuses, connections, and grounds are good, then it's probably a bad voltage regulator (in alternator) or alternator itself.

Have you tested the battery?

[stevenphillips42]

Lets see 58000 , miles . New battery just put in.

[hubcapsc]

Found alternator on amazon

There's some $144 alternators on amazon and some $286 alternators on amazon...
I sure would like to know the diff between them and the OEMs... if you have to go
that route please let us know what you think of the amazon alternator...

-Mike

[Ricky-D]

With the battery charged and with the bike running

place a volt meter across the terminals of the battery

And observe the reading while raising the rpm's

no faster than 2,000 rpm's.

You should be seeing voltage in the 14's range.

if less you can safely assume the alternator is bad.

Cheapest solution for a bad alternator is M.A.R.S.

He warranties his work and is well thought of by

this Forum.

Plus, it will save you money.

***

[stevenphillips42]

Well tested the voltage on the battery while it was running and it was around 12 .... So Im thinking it is the alternator new one should be here in a few days. Thanks for everyones help

[Daniel Meyer]

Well tested the voltage on the battery while it was running and it was around 12 .... So Im thinking it is the alternator new one should be here in a few days. Thanks for everyones help

At that mileage it's worth checking the brushes...you may be able to repair that one and have it as a spare. While you have it open you can check the windings/etc as well...

[olddog1946]

Just a note:  When Chiko got his bike, it came with two batteries. The owner said she'd been having some problems starting it and just replaced the battery.  On the second trip we took his bike wouldn't start. While checking it out I found no Charge, went to remove the alternator and found the output lead was loose on the alt.  Tightened it up and all has been fine for the last 3 years.

[jimmytee]

Cut up it's credit cards!!!!

[Bad-dragon]

Just replaced the alternator on mine at 73k. 

Take the power wire off the battery while the bike is running. A good alternator will be able to keep the bike running; a bad one, the bike will die immediately.

[Bad-dragon]

PS local shop charged me 180 bucks to "rebuild" mine. pretty sure they just gave me new one they bought online...

[Cruiserman]

Had the same problem with mine this past summer.Check main wire to alt. for being loose.Mine was and life is good again 

[Daniel Meyer]

Take the power wire off the battery while the bike is running. A good alternator will be able to keep the bike running; a bad one, the bike will die immediately.

DO NOT DO THIS.

While this worked fine on generators, or mechanically regulated alternators, this stands better than a 50/50 chance of pranging (Texas technical term) the regulator on any modern alternator. Basically, the battery is a significant dampening load and disconnecting it allows the voltage to spike as the field coils take a small bit of time to unload.

Bang, dead diodes in the regulator (not always, but better than 50/50 chance).

And...on the valk...the regulator part of the alternator is the most expensive piece..

[John Schmidt]

Cut up it's credit cards!!!!

Aaaww...you beat me to it. I was going to say take away its CC. 

Sorry about that, he's got enough good answers already so doesn't need anymore.