The charging system on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle consists of the battery, the voltage regulator and the alternator. The alternator, in turn, is made up of the rotor and the stator.
Located within the primary chaincase on the left side of the engine
, the alternator is difficult to visually inspect.
Where is motorcycle alternator located?
Locate the alternator cover on your motorcycle. In general, most motorcycle's place the alternator
on the left side of the motor
, although some cruiser and touring models have their alternators on the right side. Remove any body or exhaust components from the motorcycle to gain access to the motor's alternator cover.
How do I know if my stator is bad on my Harley?
What are the symptoms of a bad motorcycle stator? The most obvious symptoms of a bad motorcycle stator include no spark, weak spark, or intermittent spark (also known as misfiring).
Hard starts and a poorly running engine
can also be clues that your stator needs to be rebuilt or replaced.
How does a Harley charge its battery?
The charging system consists of three main components: the battery,
alternator
, and the regulator/rectifier. Your motorcycle battery stores electrical energy for use and acts as a buffer for the bike's electrical system. The alternator creates alternating currents to run the bike and charge the battery.
How can I tell if my alternator is bad on my motorcycle?
- Motorcycle won't start. This one's the big, obvious one. …
- Spluttering as you drive. When voltage is low, it's hard to keep the motorcycle running.
- Lights light up and dim as you rev. …
- Battery warning light comes on.
What is the smallest alternator?
LONG BEACH, CA —
Denso Corporation
has developed alternators that provide output currents of 165, 180, 200 and 220 amps; higher than the company's traditional alternators, which supply up to 150 amps. These new products, and all of Denso alternators, are the smallest and lightest in the world for their output.
What does a motorcycle have instead of an alternator?
What Is A
Motorcycle Stator
, and What Does a Stator Do on a Motorcycle? Simply put, a stator works together with a rectifier regulator to accomplish the same outcome as an alternator—to generate the DC power required to operate the motorcycle, ATV, side-by-side, etc.
How do I know if my voltage regulator is bad on my Harley?
You'll note signs right away like poor starts,
fluctuating meter readings, and dimmed headlights
. around 13 volts, the bike will start to drain the battery. When this happens, it's only a matter of time before the engine stops completely.
What happens when voltage regulator goes bad?
A damaged or failed voltage regulator can
rapidly diminish the alternator's ability to cycle power from the battery
. This may cause the vehicle to experience dimming or pulsating external systems, such as headlights and dashboard elements.
Why do Harley stators go bad?
Stator Failure:
Often times,
a short can happen in the windings around the stator
. The insulation on the wires can wear down over time or a wire can break. If the copper inside the insulation rubs against the flywheel as an example, you could have the windings short to ground.
How do I know if my stator is working?
Insert
each probe into a stator socket. You should read around 0.2 to 0.5 ohms. If you show an open circuit with the “Open” or infinity reading or have higher resistance, then the stator is bad and you must replace it. If these tests all produce positive results, then the stator itself is good.
Does riding a motorcycle charge the battery?
The relationship between your motorcycle battery and engine
functions much in the same way as a car battery
. The alternator is fitted with a regulator that charges the battery while you ride. In this case, you may need to connect your battery to an external charger/maintainer. …
Does a Harley recharge its battery?
The mechanism of
a motorcycle does charge it's own battery while the motorcycle is running
. There is a device inside a motorcycle engine, usually referred to as a stator, that charges the motorcycle battery while the motorcycle is on.
Will a motorcycle start with a bad alternator?
A bad rectifier or an alternator means the battery won't get charged up. And a battery with no charge equates to a motorcycle not able to start. Since battery itself is charged up with the help of alternator and rectifier, a bad rectifier
will invariably cause starting problems
.
What are the symptoms of a faulty starter?
- Something sounds off. …
- You've got lights but no action. …
- Your engine won't crank. …
- Smoke is coming from your car. …
- Oil has soaked the starter. …
- Look under the hood. …
- Tap the starter. …
- Adjust the transmission.
What causes stator failure?
When a stator fails, it is largely due to
the degradation or aging of its insulation through external occurrences and materials being introduced into its system
.
