cb360 electrical faults

[xwolfkvltx]

Hi guys, I recently had my 75 cb360 rewired with a new regulator/rectifier unit aswell as all new wiring, I'm running a small 4 cell antigravity lithium battery and on the weekend I took it for its first ride. After only about 15 minutes I turned the bike off, when I tried to start it again there was nothing at all, lifted up the seat and the battery had melted and leaked out all in the tray. I managed to get it home by push starting (with the battery disconnected) and grabbed my old acid battery and started the bike up, now as soon as I disconnect the terminals the bike just dies. I have previously started the bike with the acid battery and disconnected it without the bike cutting out so I'm not really sure what has changed. Could it possibly be that my stator is shot? Or maybe the regulator/rectifier isn't working properly? Is my bike overcharging for some reason and that's why the battery melted? I'm going insane so any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I have previously started the bike with the acid battery and disconnected it without the bike cutting out so I'm not really sure what has changed.

Uh, what do you mean you don't know what has changed? You just said the regulator/rectifier was changed. Sheesh! <G>

All kidding aside, you need to do the basic charging system troubleshooting. Melted battery certainly suggests overcharging. I say "suggests" because troubleshooting seldom has absolutes. The battery could have been defective, for instance.

Here is an article that I wrote on diagnosing charging systems. It is Harley specific, but is useful for diagnosing almost any permanent magnet type charging system. A big difference is that Harley stators are generally single phase, (except for certain aftermarket systems,) and most metric bikes are 3-phase systems. That means you will have 3 wires coming out of the stator, and you should get the expected reading from any two wire combinations with the three wires.

http://alphadogchoppers.com/wrenching/2005/chargingsystem/

 

[crazypj]

You wired something wrong to start with and let battery get overcharged and melted
Disconnecting battery has probably fried new reg/rect, the volts and amps from generator have to go somewhere
I have no idea why people find really basic electrical systems so damn difficult to work with
IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE
You could spend about 57weeks + and around $25,000+ going to school to learn all about motorcycles, or, as your doing, learn 'on the job' and break some stuff which is still a lot cheaper than schooling ;D

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I have no idea why people find really basic electrical systems so damn difficult to work with
IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE

It kinda is.
I studied electronics theory for two years, so motorcycle systems seem dead simple to me, but to someone who doesn't know his Ohm from his ass, it seems totally mysterious.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-Arthur C. Clarke

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

+1 on the Arthur Clark quote.

I am not surprised how many people don't know about electrical systems, but I am always surprised how bold they are at trouble shooting without any knowledge. Even in my job, I am surprised at "I didn't know that would happen" when they should of asked for some advice up front.

I still think those little batteries are not the best solution for a permanent magnet type alternator. I seen lead acid batteries dried up, but never melted o caught on fire due to faulty charging systems.

 

[Sonreir]

I still think those little batteries are not the best solution for a permanent magnet type alternator. I seen lead acid batteries dried up, but never melted o caught on fire due to faulty charging systems.

Even more so on a stock regulator... Anything over 14.5V and the Lithium Ion batteries start cooking.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

As a kid, I was always doing things with electricity. "A Boy and a Battery," by Raymond F. Yates, was a favorite book, as were all the Alfred F. Morgan books Like "The Boy Electrician."

The Boy Electrician is public domain, and can be freely downloaded:
http://danielwebb.us/projects/pd_tech_books/the_boy_electrician.pdf

 

[crazypj]

360 will easily charge at 17v if there is the slightest problem with regulator (only around 0.5amps though)
It may be a good idea to fit a 14.5v zener diode with Li/Ion battery?

 

[xwolfkvltx]

Thanks PJ, might hunt down a Zener diode and try that, Saves me frying another battery. Now back to the lab to try some more of that rocket science.