Another charging system problem

eclynn1 · 11-09-2012, 11:35 PM

I have'nt been around for a while, but my grandsons bike has a charging problem and I'm not sure
where to start. The battery is dead and will not take a charge. The previous went through similar
problems. Would'nt hold a charge so we figured it was the battery and replaced it. Now the new
battery is doing the same thing. I think the battery has been cooked, I checked the water in it
today and it was almost completely dry.
The bike is a 2000 model GZ-250 with about 6000 miles on it. I've checked all the fuses I can find
and all checked good. How do I check the leads from the stator and the rectifier or voltage regulator? I have a VOM and test light, but not sure what reading I should be getting on the VOM.
Also, I'm assuming the bike should be running to check the stator output.
Any help will be deeply appreciated.

Water Warrior 2 · 11-09-2012, 11:44 PM

Alantf will be by later to instill some knowledge. Our resident electrician is pretty smart. Not to disregard or insult others on the forum but Alantf is probably our best.

alantf · 11-10-2012, 04:48 AM

I answered your question on your other post. (You don't need to put it on several posts

) To reiterate - download the manuals from this site. They'll tell you Exactly how to test the charging system. If you still can't figure it out, come back to us (in this post) & we'll take you step by step. BTW, it appears (though not 100% certain yet) that the problem MAY be the voltage regulator. The alternator puts out 3 phase ac, which is changed to single phase dc (by rectifiers) and this is kept within voltage limits by the regulator. The manuals show you where the components are, how to test them, and what the results of healthy components should be.

alantf · 11-10-2012, 09:12 AM

Been thinking some more about this, and a couple of things spring to mind.

Firstly, if you have to get a new battery, get a sealed type, not one that you can open up. Then, before installing, charge it overnight. Suzuki recommend 0.75 amps, but certainly no more than 2 amps.

Secondly, carry out this test. First - Get the bike running, then set your meter to dc volts. With the bike idling, put your meter across the battery terminals, and record the voltage. Then, with the bike reving at 4000 to 5000 RPM repeat the test, and let us know both results. The second test, if everything's ok, should be around 13.8 volts or slightly higher.

mrlmd1 · 11-10-2012, 09:47 AM

Like alantf said, any new battery, and it is most likely an AGM for these bikes, needs to be fully charged first before first use or it will never hold a full charge and you will be replacing it weekly. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you when you get the new one that it is all set to go. YOU must charge it up first, it's even in the directions that come with the battery,

eclynn1 · 11-11-2012, 06:39 PM

Okay, I checked the battery voltage before starting the bike, started and reved the bike up and had no change in voltage. Next I checked the 3 yellow wires from the stator and had good voltage
readings on all three leads. Plugged it back to the regulator and checked from the regulator. That seems to be the problem, little or no power from the regulator.
I used a good 12v battery with a good charge to start the bike and run it while doing the checks. I do have a good battery tender for getting a new battery up to a full charge. I have a new regulator
ordered and will be heading out to get a new battery soon.
Thanks for all the advice and help, it is appreciated.
Thanks to all the Veterans for your service, and have a Happy Veterans Day. :2tup:

alantf · 11-12-2012, 05:51 AM

Glad you've found the problem. Keep us posted when you get it up & running.

eclynn · 11-26-2012, 09:48 PM

Okay, replaced the battery and regulator. She's up and running like a top. The charging system seems to be working great, I've ran it quiet a bit and the battery is staying up good and strong. I checked voltage on the battery after it was fully charged with the battery tender, and checked it again later after running the bike a while with the engine running. The system was charging just under 14v. I tried to drain the battery a little to make sure the regulator would need to be charging instead of starting a test with a fully charged battery. Everything seems to be working great. Thanks for all the advice and the on line manual, it made the job very easy.

11-09-2012, 11:35 PM	#1
eclynn1 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 6	Another charging system problem I have'nt been around for a while, but my grandsons bike has a charging problem and I'm not sure where to start. The battery is dead and will not take a charge. The previous went through similar problems. Would'nt hold a charge so we figured it was the battery and replaced it. Now the new battery is doing the same thing. I think the battery has been cooked, I checked the water in it today and it was almost completely dry. The bike is a 2000 model GZ-250 with about 6000 miles on it. I've checked all the fuses I can find and all checked good. How do I check the leads from the stator and the rectifier or voltage regulator? I have a VOM and test light, but not sure what reading I should be getting on the VOM. Also, I'm assuming the bike should be running to check the stator output. Any help will be deeply appreciated. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-09-2012, 11:44 PM	#2
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Another charging system problem Alantf will be by later to instill some knowledge. Our resident electrician is pretty smart. Not to disregard or insult others on the forum but Alantf is probably our best.
	0

11-10-2012, 04:48 AM	#3
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Another charging system problem I answered your question on your other post. (You don't need to put it on several posts ) To reiterate - download the manuals from this site. They'll tell you Exactly how to test the charging system. If you still can't figure it out, come back to us (in this post) & we'll take you step by step. BTW, it appears (though not 100% certain yet) that the problem MAY be the voltage regulator. The alternator puts out 3 phase ac, which is changed to single phase dc (by rectifiers) and this is kept within voltage limits by the regulator. The manuals show you where the components are, how to test them, and what the results of healthy components should be. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-10-2012, 09:12 AM	#4
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Another charging system problem Been thinking some more about this, and a couple of things spring to mind. Firstly, if you have to get a new battery, get a sealed type, not one that you can open up. Then, before installing, charge it overnight. Suzuki recommend 0.75 amps, but certainly no more than 2 amps. Secondly, carry out this test. First - Get the bike running, then set your meter to dc volts. With the bike idling, put your meter across the battery terminals, and record the voltage. Then, with the bike reving at 4000 to 5000 RPM repeat the test, and let us know both results. The second test, if everything's ok, should be around 13.8 volts or slightly higher. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
	0

11-10-2012, 09:47 AM	#5
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Another charging system problem Like alantf said, any new battery, and it is most likely an AGM for these bikes, needs to be fully charged first before first use or it will never hold a full charge and you will be replacing it weekly. Do not rely on the guy in the battery store telling you when you get the new one that it is all set to go. YOU must charge it up first, it's even in the directions that come with the battery, Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-11-2012, 06:39 PM	#6
eclynn1 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 6	Re: Another charging system problem Okay, I checked the battery voltage before starting the bike, started and reved the bike up and had no change in voltage. Next I checked the 3 yellow wires from the stator and had good voltage readings on all three leads. Plugged it back to the regulator and checked from the regulator. That seems to be the problem, little or no power from the regulator. I used a good 12v battery with a good charge to start the bike and run it while doing the checks. I do have a good battery tender for getting a new battery up to a full charge. I have a new regulator ordered and will be heading out to get a new battery soon. Thanks for all the advice and help, it is appreciated. Thanks to all the Veterans for your service, and have a Happy Veterans Day. :2tup:
	0

11-12-2012, 05:51 AM	#7
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Another charging system problem Glad you've found the problem. Keep us posted when you get it up & running. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
	0

11-26-2012, 09:48 PM	#8
eclynn Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 1	Re: Another charging system problem Okay, replaced the battery and regulator. She's up and running like a top. The charging system seems to be working great, I've ran it quiet a bit and the battery is staying up good and strong. I checked voltage on the battery after it was fully charged with the battery tender, and checked it again later after running the bike a while with the engine running. The system was charging just under 14v. I tried to drain the battery a little to make sure the regulator would need to be charging instead of starting a test with a fully charged battery. Everything seems to be working great. Thanks for all the advice and the on line manual, it made the job very easy.
	0