Another charging question

[superp]

Hey guys, I have been reading about other folk's charging issues but haven't found an answer for mine. My brand new battery will test at 12.8 as it sits.
When I test the Voltage output at the battery with the bike running, I am getting 12.5-12.6. It does not change when I rev up the bike. I also tested it at the regulator output wire, same thing. When I get home today I will disconnect the regulator and test the gennie. I got back from a 3 hr ride last weekend and the battery was at 10.8....slow draw. Lucky I made it home.
What would make it put out only 12.5 CONSTANT volts? I figured if the regulator was bad it would be very low, nothing, or spiked?

[superp]

Ok, so I disconnected the regulator. Connected the volt meter to the A post and a ground. It read -1.5 to -1.6 revved up, -.99 at idle. I polarized the gennie, same reading. Then I grounded the Field coil to get the max output reading and got -0.15. Now for some reason my voltmeter always reads negatives, but I don't know what the readings are telling me. Is the generator bad or is something else happening?

[john HD]

yup it needs to come out and get serviced.

the best test is to see if the headlight gets brighter when you rev it up!

john

[superp]

I took the generator off and will take it to someone for tests. It appears OK, not excessively dirty or greasy. All of my charge system components are about 18 months old. None of it makes sense to me.

[steve_wood]

You'll need to find somebody with a growler to check for shorts.

Cotten: Show 'em a picture of your growler!

[superp]

OK, so I ran out of contacts to find someone with a growler. I will bench test it tonight, maybe make a growler by holding it against the bench grinder wire wheel.

[Cotten]

You'll need to find somebody with a growler to check for shorts.

Cotten: Show 'em a picture of your growler!

Steve!

Which one?

GRWLRS.jpg (63.07 KiB) Viewed 1204 times

My most important and beloved growler is off to her day job, supporting me.

Photo taken long before I met her....

ajean49.jpg (46.64 KiB) Viewed 1204 times

Folks, the Service Manual has excellent pics and directions for its use.
SuperP!
A growler only inspect the armature, removed from the rest of the assembly. Testing the assembly is a different procedure, also explicit in the Service Manual.

....Cotten

[superp]

SuperP!
A growler only inspect the armature, removed from the rest of the assembly. Testing the assembly is a different procedure, also explicit in the Service Manual.

....Cotten

Got it, thanks. Will continue mission...