RVF charging problem
Forum rules
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
-
- Settled in member
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 11:00 am
- Bike owned: Aprilia RS125 Tuono, NC29 race
- Location: Denmark
RVF charging problem
Hi
My RVF has a charging problem. It occured a day when I had done 200 miles. Suddenly wouldn't go over 7k rpm until it died on me. Conclusion was no power on the battery.
It charges around 12,4V when lights are on. Disconnecting the two front and one rear bulb results in 13,3V charging. The bike rides ok with this charge, so no riding in the dark
I have tried changing the rectifier to another (that I know work). Still the same. Measured the winding resistance in the generator, seens ok.
Any suggestions? Could it be a battery that need changing?
Kind regards
Martin
Now, if generator is ok, rectifier is ok, then why the hell won't it charge more.
My RVF has a charging problem. It occured a day when I had done 200 miles. Suddenly wouldn't go over 7k rpm until it died on me. Conclusion was no power on the battery.
It charges around 12,4V when lights are on. Disconnecting the two front and one rear bulb results in 13,3V charging. The bike rides ok with this charge, so no riding in the dark

I have tried changing the rectifier to another (that I know work). Still the same. Measured the winding resistance in the generator, seens ok.
Any suggestions? Could it be a battery that need changing?
Kind regards
Martin
Now, if generator is ok, rectifier is ok, then why the hell won't it charge more.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1916
- Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:55 pm
- Bike owned: VFR400
- Location: Blue Mountain NSW Australia
Re: RVF charging problem
At what rpm did you measure the voltages. 12.4V with lights on at idle is typical, you need about 3000 rpm to get 14V with lights on. What battery voltage do you get at 5000 rpm. Check the wiring from alternator to rect/reg for bad connections. Would the engine crank over using its own battery after it stopped. How old is the battery.
-
- Settled in member
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 11:00 am
- Bike owned: Aprilia RS125 Tuono, NC29 race
- Location: Denmark
Re: RVF charging problem
12,4 is at 5000rpm 
When it stopped it wouldn't crank over. Not even lights were on. Don't know how old the bat is?
When I drive with the lights on I can ride for almost an hour, then it starts sputtering over 7k rpm. Then unplug the bulbs and it rides ok again.

When it stopped it wouldn't crank over. Not even lights were on. Don't know how old the bat is?
When I drive with the lights on I can ride for almost an hour, then it starts sputtering over 7k rpm. Then unplug the bulbs and it rides ok again.
-
- Moderators
- Posts: 8172
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:01 pm
- Bike owned: CBR954
Re: RVF charging problem
put a new battery on to rule it out but did you test the generator output?
its AC voltage, disconnect it from the reg rec and measure between the 3 yellow wires.
even then it could be breaking down under load but see what ac output you get first
its AC voltage, disconnect it from the reg rec and measure between the 3 yellow wires.
even then it could be breaking down under load but see what ac output you get first
xivlia wrote:i dont go fast on this bike so really do not need a rear brake.. /
vic-vtrvfr wrote:Ask xivlia for help, he's tackled just about every problem u could think of...
- speedy231278
- NWAA Supporter
- Posts: 1549
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:58 am
- Bike owned: RVF400, TZR125, ZXR750R
Re: RVF charging problem
What state are the connectors for the reg/rec and the alternator in? If it's still got the original ones fitted, they've probably become full of road grime and the wires tend to corrode. Output from the charging system gets lost due to extra resistance in the circuit, and it has the handy side effect of damaging the connectors, and making everything worse!

-
- Settled in member
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 11:00 am
- Bike owned: Aprilia RS125 Tuono, NC29 race
- Location: Denmark
Re: RVF charging problem
So...
Changed the battery. With all bulbsplugged in it now is up to 13.3V and 13,7V with only one head light bulb.
Connections to the reg are checked and all good. Wirering from altanator plug to reg show under 1 ohm resistance, so they're good.
AC voltage between the 3 yellow wires from the altanator. At idle they're showing 14V. At 5000rpm they show 38-40V.
The Haynes manual doesn't state what voltage the altanator should have, anyone who knows?
Kind regards
Martin
Changed the battery. With all bulbsplugged in it now is up to 13.3V and 13,7V with only one head light bulb.
Connections to the reg are checked and all good. Wirering from altanator plug to reg show under 1 ohm resistance, so they're good.
AC voltage between the 3 yellow wires from the altanator. At idle they're showing 14V. At 5000rpm they show 38-40V.
The Haynes manual doesn't state what voltage the altanator should have, anyone who knows?
Kind regards
Martin