Electrical query

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nortonbda
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Nortonbda

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Ok guys you helped me out last time so I'm back.
just to recap I have been abroad for the last 12+yrs and am now just finishing reviving the old Jota.
My question is how to check if the generator is charging and also how to check the rect/reg
The bike starts as sweet as but the Gen light now comes on when running at tick over and dims slightly as the revs increase. Reading older posts there is much said about the gen light and it not working which is fine but i am not getting any increase volts wise at the battery when the bike is running (shouldn't it increase?)
I know it would be a good upgrade to change to new system but that will have to wait for now.

Keith
 
Gen light?  Looxury!  :D Should be charging at about 14.5V at 3000 rpm IIRC- easily checked.  If it's less, summats up.  Fit a whole new system: ignition, upgraded alternator and reg/rec from Keith or Red.  You won't regret a penny of it.
 
G'day Keith

Charging problems are often something simple like a boken wire, bad earth connection, blown fuse, etc. As long as the basic components are OK you should be able to get it working again. Get a multi-meter and go through the system logically. Start at the beginning and see if you're getting an AC output from the alternator (yellow wires) which should be somewhere around 30V depending on revs. If that's OK, check for a DC output from the rectifier. If you get a problem at any point, check connections, wire conductivity, earths, etc ...

Not knowing how old your bike is, or what type of ignition or modifications are installed, it's a bit difficult to give specific advice. Most of these old bikes have revised ignition and charging systems on them by now. If it's an un-molested original bike, it may not have a regulator. Most of the 180's only had a rectifier because the alternator output was quite low and didn't need to be regulated.

Cheers,
Cam.

PS: Let us know where you are in UK. There may be someone on this forum close to you who can help you out.
 
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