does a motorcycle have a charging system?

Question

i can jump start my bike (1985 kawasaki gpz 550), but as soon as i take the jumper cables off, the bike dies. does it just need a new battery, or is the problem deeper?

Answer 1

I don't know what the problem is.
Yes, motorcycles have a charging system.

On my motorcycle, the generation system is a rotor & stator under the left crankcase cover. Wires come from this out of the engine, and plug into the regulator rectifier.

You may want to take your battery out, and get it load-tested. If it seems good, then you may want to bring your motorcycle in, and have them diagnose it.

If you want to diagnose it yourself, you're going to need:
A Clymer manual for your motorcycle
A nice digital multimeter (mine was about $25).

Generally, you can check if your stator seems in spec and not shorted; and you can check to see that the rectifier diodes are all working. While you're down in there, make sure that your regulator/rectifier has a proper connection to ground (or frame, if your frame is the ground); sometimes corrosion can exacerbate things.

Answer 2

Yes, your bike has a charging system. The primary shaft that is connected to your transmission via a chain or belt has a big magnet on it. When the engine is running, that a coil of wires will rotate within the magnet. This is your alternator. It will send current to your regulator/rectifier which will sent current to the rest of the bike and will charge your battery. It sounds like you need a new alternator. Sometimes you can get some life out of a bike with a bad regulator but you risk frying something. What I would do is get a $20 multimeter from Home Depot and make sure your alternator is giving you some power. A repair manual would help but you can probably find that stuff on the internet. If you are not electrically inclined, take it to a shop. An alternator or a regulator should be a pretty easy fix.

Answer 3

Could be a bad battery or a bad voltage regulator, anything really. Take the battery off and run it down to your local Auto Zone or PEP Boys, somewhere that has a tester and have them check it to see if it will hold a charge. Eliminate the battery first as the problem, since it's the easiest to replace, and go from there. Good luck!
BTW, bikes do have a charging system, it's not like an alternator on a car, but it does recharge the battery. I would suggest you get a Haynes or Chiltons manual for your bike if you're going to work on it yourself.

Answer 4

Your system sounds fine. It's when the voltage goes above 14 you have to start worrying. As said before all the electrical equipment is a drain on the battery. Different bikes have different load capabilities even though they all use a 12V system. Also, different bikes start charging the battery at different RPM's. That is possibly why your did not show a change at 2500 RPMS. For example, My V-Star (Cruiser), which redlines at 6500 RPM's starts charging at approximately 3,00 - 3,500 RPM's A crotch rocket (Sorry...sport bike) with a redline around 13,000 or 14,000 probably doesn't start charging until around 6,000 + RPM. Here's a couple of things to help save your battery: 1. Use your electrical accessories as little as needed around town when the RPM's are consistently low. 2. Plug your battery into a trickle charger every night. This will keep the battery at maximum charge without hurting the battery by overcharging.

Answer 5

Yes, they have charging systems (alternator).
Yes, you need a new battery.
You probably have a deeper problem as well.
Many people will say "stator", but it's usually the regulator/rectifer that dies. If you are handy, get a Clymer's manual (about $15-25). It will tell you how to check the different components in your charging system.

I've got a CB650Custom in the yard that has a Wells voltage regulator (same as Ford car/truck) and a diode trio from a Mitsubishi alternator from a Dodge Dakota. $9.99+free+knowledge=indestructible set-up. Or I could have paid well over $100 for a plug-in replacement of what died(again).

Answer 6

Yes they have a charging system. You may have a bad battery, or maybe its low on electrolyte, or bad charging system. There is also a solenoid diode on older bikes that switches it from running off the battery to the Alt. That can be stuck and not allowing the system to charge

Answer 7

it does have a charger. its the crankshaft. it has a metal plate inside that slides around this thing (in lack of better terms) and that is what charges your battery and powers your light and all that when the bike is running. the plate or thing might be gunked up or a wire might have been disconnected. i would have the battery tested and then start troubleshooting wires if the batt does check good.

Answer 8

yes, most likely its your regulator, usually a little silver box with vents under the seat. if not in the left side of the engine holds the rest of the system. there should be a round plate [should say kawasaki on it]with about 6 Philips screws, remove that and you will see it. use an impact driver though cause you will strip the screws if you don't

Answer 9

yes they do, and your battery has a dead cell, I can almost guarantee you. pull it and take it to an auto parts store they can test for you and sell you a new one

You probably DON'T have a deeper problem... batteries only have a service life of 3-5 years, and your bike is really old, I'm willing to bet it has probably also sat unused for some time, which really hurts a battery.

Answer 10

It sounds to me the battery is dead take it out and have it checked I am not sure about the charging system but check the wires where they run to and if it has a charging system you will find it