Generator test

[Snapey]

So you need to look on your meter for a setting that has a diode symbol, it's a triangle with a bar on one end. If your meter doesn't have that you can pick them up dirt cheap on Amazon or eBay these days.

I haven't looked it up in the manual but if it's specifying 1.4V then maybe that's 2 diodes in series, hence 2 lots of 0.7V.

Hope that helps.

My multimeter has the diode symbol but I'm hot getting a start reading of 1.4 so from what I understand there's no point continuing with the test. I'm going to an electronic shop today to see if they have meters that can do the job ... or tell me where I'm going wrong.

[Irish in Oz]

Just use ohms, you should get a reading one way and none when you reverse the polarity. It's very simple.

[Snapey]

Just use ohms, you should get a reading one way and none when you reverse the polarity. It's very simple.

Thank you Jeffrey, I'll try that tomorrow.

[Mister Fishfinger]

Just use ohms, you should get a reading one way and none when you reverse the polarity. It's very simple.

Except if one of the diodes has gone short circuit you won't be able to tell. You'll still get the same result.

I guess that's why Suzuki tells you to put it on a diode tester and look for 1.4V.

[Snapey]

A trip to Jaycar today resulted in me buying a decent multimeter. Tell me if I'm wrong, but all diodes tested were in tolerance, so does that mean the reg/rec is OK and I need to look at the stator. I'll put the bike back together and test the generator voltage with the new meter.

[Snapey]

I'm beginning to hate this bike more every time I look at it. I'm presuming the regulator is OK because the diodes are within tolerance so is it the stator.

So I now have a new multimeter but two settings for ohms ... one has the ohms logo with an M above it & auto in the top LH corner. The other is the ohms logo on it's own but a sound logo at the top of the screen & an alarm goes off when I touch wires. I've been using the auto one but when do I take the reading? At first touch the meter reads 0000 but if I leave the probes connected for maybe 5 seconds I get a reading of .4 - .5 ohms which is in tolerance. When do I take the reading?

The 5000rpm voltage check should read 60 volts. It's reading 45 volts @5000rpm. Is the stator stuffed or am I bloody stupid?

[KiwiCol]

This is all a bit out of my league Snapey, however, I've found a link to sorting stator / charging probs which may be of use.

http://www.vn750.com/forum/19-electrical/8555-goof-proof-stator-test.html

Best of luck with it,  I'm off to read it completely.

Right, read through it completely, good general info there.  Sounds like you have 1 phase going or gone bad.   

[Snapey]

Thanks for that Col. I can now do the voltage test knowing it's to be done in AC & on all 3 phases.

I still need to know when to take the ohms reading though ... when the probes first touch the wires or when the meter has stopped calculating?

[KiwiCol]

Hmmm, I'd be going with when it stops calculating. When first contacted, maybe a bit of a 'surge' or something going on there, but after a while you get a 'constant' reading, that's the one I'd plump for.

[Andre]

On auto it takes a while for the meter to compute what to display, so you take the top reading. Resistance test passed, but it doesn't matter, as the no-load test failed. You should get more than 60 volts at 5000 rpm when engine is cold. 45 volts means your generator is stuffed.

[Snapey]

Many thanks Andre. Not the answer I wanted to hear but you've explained it perfectly. Thanks for your input too Col ... looks like you were spot on with taking the second reading.

[grog]

Snapey, maybe these blokes can help. i know nothing about them but not too far from you. https://dropbears.com/motorcycles/dealers/stator-rewinds.htm

[Sweaty]

Sounds like you now have an answer Pete. Hope you get it sorted mate.

[Snapey]

New stator ordered ... here's hoping.

[Snapey]

I now have a bike with a working generator although not without drama's. The cost of a new stator from a Suzuki dealer is $587 but an Electrex from Wemoto is $165. Needless to say that I didn't pay the dealer price especially when I wasn't certain that the stator was the problem.

Now for the drama mentioned earlier. The rubber seal where the wires come out of the cover is moulded around the wires but the new stator doesn't come with that part. It comes with the correct connecting plug but no provision for the rubber seal. I'm lucky that I've got the gear & experience to make a new rubber seal but if you don't then be warned that this after market stator doesn't have the part & you'll have to make something.

Photo's show the original seal and the one I made saving me about $400 in the process.