Alternator Light On After Carb Remove/replace

Discussion in 'Supersport (1974-2007)' started by Rob in Oz, May 1, 2015.

  1. Following on from my previous thread re carby o-rings, all back together and not leaking fuel and running "OK" (more work to be done there), the bike decided to surprise me by illuminating its alternator light when the engine was running... I've checked all the connections made during carby removal/replacement and can find nothing amiss, but I'm probably missing something obvious. Any ideas?
     
  2. Firstly I'm surprised that after carb removal and replacement it has happened as there is no need to disconnect anything other than battery and battery to frame earth (at the left side / back of the airbox)

    Stating the bleeding obvious..........It means the battery isn't being charged or the alternator isn't working; or a connection is faulty or wrong; or the reg/rec has packed up.

    Can you say which reg/rec you have? The OEM Ducati ones can be a problem. However you have a replacement reg/rec like the Electrex RR51 which has a separate earth direct to the battery maybe you left if off??

    Also check the 30Amp fuse by the side of the battery......if that has blown (or you forgot to put it in again) the reg/rec won't work.

    Check the two yellow wires from the alternator and make sure they are connected properly.....the connections are usually on the left side of the frame near the headstock.
     
    #2 Ghost Rider, May 1, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: May 1, 2015
  3. Al, nothing wrong with the bulb - the problem being that it remains lit...
    Checked the 30 amp fuse - OK.
    Will follow up on the other items tomorrow am, when the water stops flowing through the shed. (It's been raining quite a lot in Brisbane for the last 24 hours.)
    Thanks
    Rob
     
  4. Sorry...wasn't thinking about the bulb as such........I started off trying to describe why the light was on, and got distracted by Madam...........I then resumed, thinking the bulb was off.........

    I've amended what I said..........
     
  5. Raining in Oz, that doesn't happen dose it??;)
     
  6. We have two types of rainfall here - Drought or Flood. We don't muck around with half-measures...
     
  7. Fixed! Al gets the prize - it was a poor connection in the two yellow wires from the alternator, up near the headstock. Separated, cleaned and re-insulated and all is good. Don't much like the bullet connectors used on these bikes - anyone using something better?

    Now to get back to chasing richness, but need to ride first... Thanks Al!
    Connector.jpg
     
  8. I would completely re-do those connections.....I used the large diameter yellow crimp connectors, once crimped I soldered the wire in the connector.

    I also made sure they were damn tight and pushed in well tight.......then sealed with silicone.......I would have used heat shrink but didn't have any at the time.

    However.....I don't like the look of your wires............are they just dirty and squashed or have they been overheating?

    Chasing richness? Is that money or fuelling?
     
  9. Dirty and squashed, cleaned up now, but not as good as I want. Richness, chasing both, but being retired makes the money part a bit hard. Fuelling I can do, just takes time and perseverance, of which I have lots...
     
  10. I know the feeling........in the same boat more or less...........
     
  11. Greetings, if you want to stick with bullet connectors then I suggest visiting your local model shop, the model car boys use Gold Connectors like these:
    Gold Connector 6.0mm W/h.shrink 1 Pair
    My lad used these on his cars and they will take anything your alternator is likely to produce, have them on my 900....no corrosion in 8 years....
    Mike
     
  12. They look good............worth a go at that price........

    The best way of course is that the wires should be continuous with no joins, but as that would mean the reg/rec would be connected permanently to the generator........so, the only alternative to that is to solder the connection............which can be unsoldered every time the wires need to be disconnected...........have to be unsoldered, because cutting eventually means the wires would be too short.
     
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