NC30 running problem... ideas anyone?

[votejc]

Hello All,

I have not posted in a while as all has been well, until last night. Coming out of a 30 winding the power on she started to bog down, felt exactly like fuel starvation but there was a full tank of gas in there and the tap in the on position, had not touched the kill switch, pulled in and clutched in to change down and she died. Very dim lights and no juice to even get the starter relay clicking.

Had to hire a van and go rescue it this morning from a top bloke who let me leave it under cover on his drive last night. Fired OK when I got it home, a little grumble like the battery was nearly flat but did fire so I left it to idle and it just cut out after a couple of minutes.

I am thinking charging system possibly the reg/rec not delivering the right amount of voltage back to the battery so it gradually dies over time? The battery is on charge now so the bike will fire later when I hook it back up but can anyone give me a run through of what I should be checking values wise on a multi-meter and where so I can track down the issue? Or if you think I am way off the mark can you hazard a guess what else it could be?

Thanks guys.

[CMSMJ1]

you are right to be looking at the reg/rec and charging circuits. check for DC volts when running and also AC volts direct from the genny.

there are loads of threads on here, a sneaky search and you'll find one of Neo's posts with the full monty of checks listed.

If you are lucky, I'll post my fried generator picture which caused the same issues you've got.

[oldgreyandslow]

The OP sounds oh so familiar! Many sympathies mate, new reg/rec connector block did mine, but that was just part 1 of the problems, but I won't go on...........

[hardnutdvd]

follow this step by step guide
http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/pdfs/Tro ... G-&-RR.pdf

[votejc]

Guys thanks for the posts and the suggestions. As I thought, the bike fired fine once I had recharged the battery and lobbed it back on. That means that it has taken about three months of riding 3/4 times a week with most journeys being at least 20-30 minutes for it to run itself down.

I have a multi-meter and will run through the checks listed starting with the reg/rec (just a hunch ) and continuing down the chain. Given that I have just ticked over 32,000 miles and need to do my valve clearances I may as well get everything else sorted for the rest of the summer, i.e fitting braided rear brake hose and rebuilding/refreshing calipers all round, new rear tyre etc.

David Silver Spares here we come...

Ill post up my resolution and progress on this electrical gremlin so that the next poor bastard can hopefully read through my story and get theirs sorted as well! Wish me luck!

[votejc]

Well, I went through the first few checks from the checklist that was posted up (thanks) and everything is within tolerance. Reg Rec seems to be delivering the right voltage to the battery across the rev range to keep it charging adequately. The only anomaly was the amount of voltage drop when turning Ignition ON and Headlights ON but but not turning the engine over. It drops down way more than expected from the checksheet - the resolution that it gives is that the battery is dead and should be replaced but its only three months old?

Also, when trying to disconnect the block connector from the reg/rec it is lodged in there good and tight. Have tried levering it gently, pushing the clip whilst wiggling with molgrips and it didn't shift at all. Any bright ideas of anything that would free it up?

[viper61]

Can never go wrong with WD40, but perhaps the connector has been to hot in the past and melted together slightly.

My advice to be totally honest is that if you end up changing the reg/rec then it's worth changing the whole system at once. This happened to me years ago and I replaced the reg for an R1 unit, then that failed, then realised the genrator failed, so it's easier now in my opinion to change reg, generator and battery all in one go. It's a bit of expense initially but I have had no elec problems (touch wood!) in about 5-6 years after doing all that. Just one battery change.

Also when I fitted a new genny there are 3 wires that run from this to a connector plug near the engine, I bypassed this plug and wired them directly into the plug for the reg/rec and never had a problem. Just helps to remove another (potentially weak) link from the chain.

You will find with the charging system that even if you have a new bat with a dud reg then one will ruin the other and vice versa. My experience anyway.

Hope that helps mate? Sorry for the essay!

[votejc]

Thanks for the reply buddy and don't worry about the essay, that's the kind of detail I am looking for. I am slowly working my way through the whole system whilst doing other bits and pieces so I may well change the reg/rec for an upgraded one and look at changing the whole system. Ultimately I will be keeping the bike for another year before upgrading so it's worth sorting. I don't want to have to ride only within a 50 mile radius of home for a year!

[viper61]

Yes if you do change the reg, personally I would get an uprated one like you say. They usually have cooling fins on them to act as heat sinks which make it run cooler. Electrex world is where I got mine and no problems in the last 6 odd years (touch wood )