Bad Start to my Biking

[Dazzle]

Well all was going well i got my bike MOT'd, taxed and insured and was itching to go out so.... I nipped down to the petrol station to top up and on my way back the bike cut out flat battery? After pushing it a mile home and sweating like fook i got out the multimeter. When i rev the bike upto 4k and check across the battery and am only getting about 12.9v, so i checked the stator connector and no volts across any of the 3 wires. However when i do the ohms test i am getting 0.9 across all 3 which is right. The manual says the magnet is at fault and needs replacing. Does this sound right and has anyone else had to do this? Thanks and please help me get this sorted as i really wanna get out on it

[RedexRobB]

I have a feeling theres a connector block that wires into the loom down by the alternator, check the pins are nice n clean. If thats not what you have already done?

[Dazzle]

yeah i've checked the voltage coming out of the stator itself and got no reading although checking the resistance says theres nothing wrong with the wiring?

[RedexRobB]

oh ok, nothing at the regulator/rectifier either?

[Dazzle]

No although the voltage does rise slightly with reving but only to about 12.9 but i don't know if this is the battery replacing charge after starting? i have no voltage coming from the windings but the resistance is correct.

[RedexRobB]

very strange. You did check the voltage on the stator with reference to ground didnt you? And you did set the meter to measure AC not DC?

[Dazzle]

Think i may be confused lol the manual says to test the stator with the - on one black lead and + on another although thinking about it i may have had my meter set on dc do i want it on ac then?

[Dazzle]

after reading the manual again i think i'l try it again tomorrow and make sure i've got it on ac think i may have made a boo boo

[RedexRobB]

lol, you want DC for measuring the battery, which by the sound of it you have done. To measure the voltage at the alternator you want the AC setting because the rectifier hasnt done the rectifying bit yet of converting AC current to DC. There should be two voltage reading scales on your meter; AC and DC then the rest is for continuity, resistance etc..... refer to the meters manual for it to find out whats what

quick tip - I dont what sort of voltage your meant to expect straight out of the alternator, but start reading the AC on the highest setting which will be like 200V or something like that, then work your way down, prob 20V range will do it. If you try and measure too high of a voltage on the uV (microvolt) scale you'll ruin your meter

edit - just had a looksie at the manual you should be reading 'about 43V' with the meter range set at ' 250V AC '

page 15-13 of the manual

[Dazzle]

Yeah thanks rob i realised that after you said have i got it set to ac then the penny dropped lol gonna have a check in a few minutes then i'll post up my results. Cheers

[Dazzle]

Right i've checked the voltage at the stator again and i have 42acv so thats all good i then pulled out the rectifier and two of the yellow wires fell out in my hand so i rewired the connector and put back into the rectifier. i struck the bike up but am still getting no charge going into the battery. new rectifier??? i noticed on ebay there are new ones for sale my bikes an l2/3 not really sure as imported it says SH658-12 on it and 3.0 221 does this mean anything? Thanks

[masterofinsanity]

all zxr400 rectifiers are interchangeable, think you will find kwak used them on many bikes.

well just got one - £10 buy it now ! turns out there very interchangeable - for future reference if anyone needs it :

RECTIFIER MODEL NUMBER: KAWASAKI - 21066-1101, SH658-12

80MM L X 90MM W X 28MM H; HOLE DISTANCE 66.8MM; 3 PHASE, W/SENSOR
USED ON;
GPZ 600 R
VN 700 A1 VULCAN (85)
VN 750 A2-A9 VULCAN (86-93)
VN 1500 VULCAN 88 A1-A5 (87-91)
VN 1500 VULCAN 88 SE B1-B4 (87-90)
VN 1500 VULCAN (87-01)
ZL 600 A1-A2 ELIMINATOR (86-87)
ZN 700 A1-A2 LTD (84-85)
ZN 1100 B1-B2 LTD (84-85)
ZR 750 C1-C3 (91-93)
ZX 600 A1-A3 NINJA 600R (85-87)
ZX 600 C1-C6 NINJA 600R (88-93)
ZX 600 D1 NINJA ZX-6 (90)
ZXR 400
ZR 550 ZEPHYR (00-01)
ZR 750 ZEPHYR (91)
ZR 1100 ZEPHYR (93)

[Dazzle]

Right i've got another rectifier from fallofslowly good bloke and recommended for parts. i put it on and struck her up, holding the revs at 4k i'm getting just over 13v across the battery does this sound right or still not enough? Thanks Daz

[masterofinsanity]

sounds ok but what happens when you turn the lights on?

[Dazzle]

Thats with them on its an import so there on from ignition. I think i'm gonna take it out for a try tomorrow. Cheers