| Author | Message | ||
     Brimfldboy |
Right when I think that I'm ready to roll in the nice weather something just had to go wrong... I recently updated my rear shock with a new kit that I found on ebay on my 2000 x1. The next time that I took 'er on a ride I noticed that the engine light was on, and after a short stop the battery had discharged to the point where it would not turn the motor over. I made the mistake of buying a brand new battery (blaming the cold/warm weather changes and it being 5 years old) but that did not fix the problem. I dont know if it is the voltage reg., as it is less than a year old also. The code flashed a 16 (battery volts) and one for each of the fuel injectors. I've been through all the checks that i can do without a multimeter, and checked all over for damaged wiring and proper grounding to no avail. I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems after replacing a rear shock (which seems like a completely non-related issue besides close proximity to the VR)? My VR went bad not too long ago and the bike is definitely not behaving like it did when that happened because it actually runs just fine for short rides. Basically with my limited electrical experiences I am kind of at the end of my line of things I can do. I will find a multimeter and do all the tests from the manual soon, but everything so far seems like it should be an easy thing to root out. I appreciate any help! Bryan | ||
| Brentmiller |
Did you update the hanger thereby disturbing the VR? Check it. Make sure it didn't get disconnected while messing around near it. Tap on it. Shake it. Do something to it. It sounds simple and related. Brent | ||
| Doncasto |
You may want to check the grounding of the VR. There have been problems with the new painted bracket not grounding. Some have used star washers between parts . . .I ran a separate wire from the VR to the case. The service manual describes how to check the alternator output at a plug on the right side of the engine (bottom) . . .I seem to recall that in some cases a bad ground has lead to charging system failures. I hope that is not the case with yours . . . Don Casto Boulder, Colorado | ||
| Chasespeed |
you aint the only one, my charging system in on the fritz...hopefully tonight, i will get around to checking it... Chase | ||
| Brimfldboy |
I actually tried to ground it with a wire and still ended up with the same situation. I was sure that it was the grounding as I installed a new painted bracket with the shock kit, but apparently it didnt turn off the engine light. It also seems like there is a short somewhere in the system which drains my battery when sitting over a day or so. Does anyone know what the small black wire is on the VR? There is a big main bundle of wires coming from it, and a small one with a star washer running from the base of the VR to up by what looks like the oil pressure switch or something. Just bringing it up since it looks kind of like a ground wire for something. Hopefully i can get a multimeter soon to actually test the ground. Bryan | ||
| Reepicheep |
The stator is really easy to completely disconnect and test with a DVM that can measure Ohms and AC Volts. I have a fairly comprehensive procedure in the knowledge vault, and the manual gives good procedures as well. The factory manual procedure is probably better for not really caring about understanding what you are testing but getting the right answer, my procedure is more geared towards self education (even if it means you reach the wrong conclusion  ). | ||
| Djkaplan |
The first time I went through checking the electrical system on my bike, I had to struggle with a faulty mulit-meter and battery charger. I still can't believe I had a stator failure, multi-meter failure (a brand new one, too!) and a battery charger failure all at the same time. It wasn't until I borrowed someone elses multi-meter that I was able to get through the procedure outlined in the manual. I was one confused puppy for a long time, though. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
The single wire is the +14V (or there abouts) going back to the battery. Theo other lead with two wires is the AC from the alternator. Make sure both of these are still plugged in properly. The lead with two wires should be tie wraped so it cannot come appart. Don't ask how I know.... Brad | ||
| Koz5150 |
I had a similar problem for over a year. Final solution was that the washer between the grounding strap (from the swingarm) and the frame had rusted. I replaced it with a stainless one and have been good ever since. | ||
| Iamike |
Make sure you charge your battery to a full charge right away. Discharged batteries start growing a glaze on their plates very quickly. | ||
| Chasespeed |
Finally got around to testing MY electrical today... 48 volts at 2000rpm.... stator is good, checked everything else...etc... Anyway, on the 1 year anniversary of purchasing the battery, it has been promounced dead..... I am sick of the batteries in these things.. I WANT KICK START AGAIN!!!! Chase | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Narrowed it down to the VR I think for sure...proper power is coming from the stator, VR is grounded OK, but no power coming from the charging wire. I'm just befuddled as to how this thing has gone bad after about a year from being new exactly. Could there be any other problems in the charging system which could have caused the VR to go south before usual? I also wondered if any one has used a evolution sportster of comparaple year VR on their X1? Seems like I could get one closer and cheaper if I used a harley VR. I also set the bike down the other night (cold tires let out on me in a low speed corner at about 25mph) the bike crashed unbelievable well leaving the only replacement part needed as the gear shifter. I see alot of M2 and S series shifter arms on ebay for pretty cheap, but are they the same shape for the X1? What are you guys' opinions on the updated shifter kit too? (the backwards on thats about 100 bucks) Its been a pretty slow start of season for me here as you can probabally tell!! Bryan | ||
| Chasespeed |
Well, the boomerang will work, as long as you have the rod that goes from the selector, to the boomerang... I tried the updated linkage, and, well...didnt like it..never felt right.. BTW, the electrical on my bike be damned... Getting the lowvoltage problem, AGAIN, checked stator, and it checked out.. So, I guess it would be reasonable to say the VR is gone, its grounded good...but, aparently, not doing its job.. Chase | ||
| Reepicheep |
There was some unconfirmed (but plausible) speculation that a flaky ground on the voltage regulator could stress the regulator. Highly inductive loads (i.e. your stator) and intermittent connections creates what is effectively a spark plug... and those voltage spikes could kill your regulator. The speculation came from a rash of VR failures after tuber owners were updating to the new front exhaust mount (which required relocating the voltage regulator). I don't remember all the details, but I remember going out of my way to make sure I had a good ground (including running an additional wire). Sporty and Buell VR's are probably the same electrically, but might have different wire lengths. It would depend if you are the long one or the short one to know if it would be a problem. The stator changed between the XB and the tubers as well (and between the old and new sportsters). So you would have get the right VR for the stator in your engine as well. | ||
| Koz5150 |
FYI - The VR in a Sporty and a Tuber will have different plugs completely. I learned that when I was going to steal the VR off my dad's bike. | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Good to know...looks like theyre going for around 50-70 bucks on ebay so I'm going to try to get one o' dem. Now that I think about it the damn thing failed VERY shortly after (but still after a little bit of riding) I replaced that front shock mount, and it was only after it failed that I found out about the proper grounding issue. I can see that could be the cause of the VR failure now. Looks like I'm going to be doing some shopping the next few days to get the injured beast back on the road. If I didn't love this bike so much I would be thinking about getting rid of it at this point, but why when I know my way around it so well now? Bryan | ||
| Reepicheep |
Been there on my tuber... but it only takes one ride to feel the love again (Didja do update primary chain tensioner yet? And run your belt scary loose. Those will both save you significant future headaches). | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Well, I ended up getting a new sporty VR from the dealer in my town. It has the same plug and wire length except the charging wire had to be spliced and a new connector crimped on. I rode the bike to my garage after the wreck with the voltage problem and it seemed to run quite well despite only being able to run in first gear (shifter lever sacrificed in crash). I repaired this, installed the harley VR with proper grounding, and started her up only to find that she started and idled just fine but tapered off and died quickly. When trying to give a little gas like i usually do on the warm up, the engine just immediately dies when i touched the throttle. This is very confusing for me as the bike still ran fine with the old VR and a charged battery. I also unplugged the new VR and it did the same thing as when it was plugged in. Now THIS is weird because even with the old VR unplugged, the bike ran fine and i was able to work the throttle. The engine now throws an ET sensor code along with low voltage and 23/32 for the injectors (which it has done all along). I am almost at a loss of things to replace/repair and it seems like these problems all pop up after I fix a totally unrelated thing. I dont think the harley VR could have fried the ET sensor, but has anyone had experience with them? Like I said before, the plugs and the VR were pretty much the same thing and i would assume would be the same for both motors. Any help would be appreciated...I've been down for over a month here after replacing that rear shoch with the kit...everything was hunky dory until I did that, then it seems an unfortunate chain of events has kept my thread alive here for way too long! Bryan | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wonder if there is some sort of regulated output that got cooked. Maybe the injectors and engine temp sensor all require the same regulated 12v source or something, and that is blown. No idea where that would be, maybe it's part of the ECM. I know the firebolt speedo sensor fix moved the voltage tap to an ecm output. Still sounds like a grounding problem though. Any other hints? People have had problems with the grounding strap (braided stainless steel) and have had internal breakages on the battery wires (so they look intact but are actually intermittent). | ||
| Chasespeed |
I just replaced my VR with I a new one, had to splice the Buell connector on, instead of the bolt though on the charge wire... anyway, all is well... NO CEL.... BUT, out of the blue, the oil light comes on now.. which, there is NO reason fro it to come on... anyway.... The bike runs great now, .. I would suggest checking your ground, like Reep said... Chase | ||
| Brimfldboy |
I'm just going to give in and buy a multimeter today to check everything out for sure. The weird thing is that with the VR totally disconnected the bike does the same thing...when i got the new harley VR i fully hooked it up and started the bike and it immediately behaved that way, dying with throttle input and barely staying alive at idle...hopefully something didnt fry immediately upon me turning the motor over. When i play with the idle screw i can get er to idle well for a half minute or so...its almost like the bike doesnt have enough power to rev the motor at all when you hit the throttle. I will try to eliminate the grounding as a problem today and see if i cant root anything out. |
