Oh No! First Problem.

I took the bike out for a longer ride today.

Everything was fine. When I got back I shut it off and then tried to restart it. It cranked really slowly. :grumpy:

Wouldn't start. Battery drained down in a few seconds.

Put the charger on it and it started in a few minutes.

I'm familiar with RR problems on Honda's so I took out the VOM and it showed 13.9 Volts when running and 12.5 when off.

Thinking this is just a bad battery but thought I would throw it out there and see what you all think.

 

Charge your battery fully first then retest.

But yes, look for a thread called "the drill" and my "electrical loads" thread.

 

Yeah it's on the charger now.

 

Let us know the retest results ...

 

and... you might do a load test. Being you're one that's very able, just not sure if you have that tester in your stash.

 

I will.

I may only get the voltage tests done because I need to move the bike to it's winter home before I start tearing things apart.

I found "The Drill" and those are the same tests I do on CBR's so familiar to me.

The wiring issues on the VFR's are a little more severe tho. These are common problems with pretty much all Honda's...funny they haven't fixed them. Maybe they have stock in the Rectifier companies.

Are the replacement R/R's recommended in the thread Mosfet type? That's what I have changed all my CBR's to.

 

Yep, you're on track, most and I've used http://roadstercycle.com/

 

Dennis ... look here for what I did ...

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/50566-Electrical-Loads

I've helped a few forum members now with their 6th gen charging systems, and always with great results.

 

Yes I found your wiring thread and saved it in my folder already.

I'm actually a bit surprised that the wiring is so weak. On the CBR's usually just the R/R is changed unless there is a wiring problem. If the R/R smokes we usually have to replace the stator. These situations are preventable if the system is checked out for issues right away. I usually do that to each CBR when I get them. I only list a couple of them here but I actually have 7 CBR's. They are all early ones. Crazily I restore them. Kind of screwy because they aren't worth much yet.

 

It's more the connectors rather than the wiring ... although there are a few weak points in the wiring, specifically at the main fuse next to the starter relay.

 

Oh boy! That's sounds like fun. I'm a pretty good cook...Ha!

 

Wow! That's a pretty heavy duty connector on the CBR's...never had anything but corrosion give problems there. The fuse blocks and connectors I have seen in the pictures in the threads look just like the CBR's. They must have bumped up the amps on the VFR and didn't make the connector and wires bigger.

 

Not sure what the differences are, I just know how to fix em on the VFR. Lol

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

Yeah and you do nice work too. I'll likely be copying what you did.

 

Thanks! I appreciate that!!

I've made a harness for one other member on here and installed it for them as well. It was a big improvement on their charging voltages.

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Thanks for the link. :smile:

 

Was able to run a few tests today.

The battery charged overnight. Charger showed full charge. Battery measured 13.6 Volts static.

With engine running it registered 14.1 Volts. At 5K RPM it showed 14.2 Volts...not much change.

When engine was shut off the battery slowly dropped down to 12.7 Volts.

Battery load test showed the battery is weak.

Inspection of the main fuse and plugs at the relay show no signs of heat at all. Everything looks good there.

I'm going to get a new battery and will look at changing the R/R and wiring over the winter. Also will check the stator coils. Just to verify everything is okay.

Given the issues here it seems that a preventive approach makes the most sense. We all know that the stock Honda R/R's fail at some point, much easier to change it now rather than wait for a failure and the subsequent additional problems that come with a failure.

 

Yep, sounds like you have a battery on the way out. Those numbers are good for the charging, so would you be going to get one of the new lithium type? I've heard nothing but good things, and they are way lighter.

 

I've had pretty good luck with good quality lead acid batteries. I take them out in the winter, charge them and keep them in heated storage. Recharge before installing in the bikes. They last for 3 or more years this way. I'm not sure about the lithium batteries. Some of my Norton buddies have had problems with them so I'm a little gun shy.