Hey guys,

Need a little help here. My bike is dying when I turn the headlight on. Runs okay with it off but as soon as I turn it on it dies. Seems to me to be some sort of a charging problem. Any way to test the charging system?

I just put a brand new battery in...
I'm running Tyga headlights and tail lights
Has run okay in the past so this seems to have crept up recently
'93 MC 21

Thanks,
Kyon

Why did you replace the battery? I'd say your generator was not doing too good.

It sounds like the regulator/rectifier has packed it in.

Start the bike, at idle, the voltage should be around 12V. When at normal cruising revs, you should see the voltage around 13V.

I replaced the battery because I thought it was the problem but I don't think it is now.

I'll run it today and check the voltage. Thanks for yhe info.

Kyon

Sounds more like a short circuit to me!
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MC21SP Plaything
BMW F800GS Bumblebee
Triumph 9551 Daytona Big boys toy
FJ1100 Sporting relic
GTS1000 oddball

As Dave says, with a new headlight unit, best check the connections, but I would personally suspect the reg/rec too.

Mine did the same thing when the charging system started to fail due to a short in one of the stator coils.
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Andy.
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Well, I got a chance to throw a multimeter on it and while it's running the voltage just steadily drops so there isn't a charge getting back to the battery. I have tested the rectifier and it seems to be out although I'm not absolutely sure what the readings should be but there isn't a big difference when switching the leads around in the diode test mode on the multimeter.

Is there a way to test the stator to see if it is working as it should be?

Kyon

is the battery losing charge while the bike is off?