- Joined
- Jan 4, 2014
- Messages
- 612
Just like my oil pressure gauge helped identify a split conical seal before it caused a problem my voltage monitor in place of the nearly useless red light identified a charging problem.
I've got a 3 phase Sparks alternator and normally, with the headlight on, anything above about 2300 RPM will keep the monitor green. Suddenly it needed 3500 RPM for the same so I suspected that I lost one leg of the alternator.
I pulled the oil tank to get at the bullet connectors hiding under there. They were good but I was able to confirm one leg open. I suspected the failure might be right at the stator so pulled the primary but it looked OK. Pulled the stator and found the broken wire where vibration had cut through the plastic split sleeve I had put around the alternator leads. Repaired, heat shrinked, sleeved, re-positioned, etc.
The clutch was getting a little draggy so it was time to clean the plates anyway. It occurred to me that I've done more oil changes due to issues than to oil change intervals!
Whole lot O' shakin' goin' on.
I've got a 3 phase Sparks alternator and normally, with the headlight on, anything above about 2300 RPM will keep the monitor green. Suddenly it needed 3500 RPM for the same so I suspected that I lost one leg of the alternator.
I pulled the oil tank to get at the bullet connectors hiding under there. They were good but I was able to confirm one leg open. I suspected the failure might be right at the stator so pulled the primary but it looked OK. Pulled the stator and found the broken wire where vibration had cut through the plastic split sleeve I had put around the alternator leads. Repaired, heat shrinked, sleeved, re-positioned, etc.
The clutch was getting a little draggy so it was time to clean the plates anyway. It occurred to me that I've done more oil changes due to issues than to oil change intervals!
Whole lot O' shakin' goin' on.