1981 xj550 seca charging system tests

New to the site ....This is my first question,

How do I test my charging system? I believe it is not charging because when I start it the volts read 10 volts and when I installed a new fully charged battery and drove the bike for the first time it ran fine till it stalled and it would not restart. I recharged the battery when I got home and it started right up again. Please note it started when I push started it.

How do I test what is at fault...example the stator, rectifier, regulator? I am new to bikes. I thought I would have to unplug the regulator rectifier and test across the pins while she is running, but I don't want to probe with my multimeter and cook something. Please help.

I bought the bike from ebay, a recovery yard had posted it and I won it. It is a 1981 yamaha seca xj550 white with the fairing. I don't know if it is a xj550r or xj550rh any info would be appreciated including explaination of how the charging system works. I am trying to determine if it is worth throwing money at.

 

You push started it? Is the starter dead? Otherwise the battery is dead.
To learn more about batteries:
Battery Voltages go to: State of Charge
If the battery is good, rev the engine up to 2500 rpm, measure the voltage on the battery, should be around 14,5V. If it shows 12V or even less you got a charging problem.

 

The starter is not dead, what I meant is when the battery was dead she would still start if I push started it.

 

Check as pirok suggests. 10 volt while cranking is normal. Voltage at idle will be around 12volts. That is not enough to charge a battery, You need to take it off idle to see 14.5 volts. If you don't get those numbers, check alt. brushes and regulator.

 

The bike is an XJ550RH. "R" means Seca; "H" means model year 1981.

Do NOT run the bike with stuff UNPLUGGED you can cook things.

Do not run it with the battery DISCONNECTED you can cook things.

The alternator uses brushes (located in the cover) which can wear out or their wires can become corroded, rendering them about useless.

The fusebox on these bikes will crystallize over time and the clips begin to break all on their own.

There is a specific charging-system diagnostic procedure; if you PM me with your email address I will send you a scan from the factory book.

YOU NEED A SERVICE MANUAL. The Clymer is OK, the factory book better; best is a combination of both.

And once you do get it running, don't ride it until you've at the very least checked the rear brake for delamination. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

Welcome aboard; the 550 Secas are neat bikes. Once properly recommissioned, you'll truly enjoy it.

 

hey bigfitz52 what do you mean pm you. sorry to be stupid,,,new to this.
I checked the ohms between the three white wires and they where over 10 ohms. I took the cover off and there was metal shavings. How do you remove the stator and rotor? I hear special tools are needed.

You seem to know what is up. I have another question...even if I replace these parts could there still be an unresolved problem with the shaft that the rotor bolts to be worn?

Please don't give up on me I really need help

 

rockfish - where are you located. There may be somebody close by that can offer some help. Would you happen to be the same rockfish from practical machinist?

 

"PM" means "private message" there is a little "PM" button at the bottom of each post. Click the one on my posting to send me a 'PM.'

Pulling the rotor requres a "special tool" which is nothing more than a properly-sized bolt; the stator just slides out of the housing.

But let's don't start ripping stuff apart just yet. What condition are the brushes in? What kind of "metal shavings?"

YOU NEED A SERVICE MANUAL before you inadvertently cause yourself a problem.