Lights on ...engine dies?

[muskrat]

An instant fiw would be to see if you can fit a larger amperage AGM battery in there and as I suggested earlier hook her up to a dribble charger when you get home.
http://www.energymatters.com.au/fullriver-sealed-lead-acid-agm-battery-6volt-5ah-hgl-p-186.html?zenid=irgec405h9reh4pj9k70gum933
http://store.energymatters.com.au/xc800
Cheers

[AndyDenmark]

Thanks to all for the helpful replies. The battery is on trickle charge now and the bike is going to have the dynamo output checked and a new regulator fitted when I go back to sea in a fortnight to earn the next installment :)

[bsa-bill]

bike is going to have the dynamo output checked

Didn't want to comment before as their are many causes as has been stated but there is a similarity to my one episode with battery/electronic ignition and it did not involve using lights.
My bike started just fine but ran terrible for the seven miles outward, coming back home it again started fine but ran terrible but was able to nurse it home.
Turned out the battery was down to 7 volts (12 volt system), before charging it up I checked output from the dynamo, there was none, cause was nothing more than green grunge dirty terminals in the dynamo, how long it had been not charging I don't know as ammeter never did show much deflection, so low battery - Pazon goes onto full advance yet can't say it kicked back at all (maybe need to check the timing again).
Also have since fitted DVR2 in place of Vreg and changed polarity to neg earth, ammeter showing about much better deflection now,
So dynamo terminals would be a good check Andy

[AndyDenmark]

Little update....had the battery on charge all day and just taken it off the charger and getting 6.5 v on the multimeter so I would assume a knackered battery can be crossed of the list..:)

[muskrat]

Check it again in an hour. It takes a while to settle after a charge.
Cheers

[warmshed]

Though you may have a good terminal voltage, you need to see if it has capacity to sustain a load without dropping down too quickly before you can say its OKay.

Did you check the voltage the dynamo gives out without the lights on? and also what revs before it exceeds 6.5 volts?

[AndyDenmark]

I will check that later and it did not seem to require very high revs to get over the 6.5 v :)

[AndyDenmark]

Just checked the battery after it has been standing overnight and got 6.4 v

[RichardL]

For me, the bit missing is this: Does it die when you turn on the lights immediately after startup on a freshly charged battery indicating more than 6 VDC? Another way of looking at it is whether or not it will start with the lights on (but that can be hard on the leg). The battery won't drop below the voltage required for ignition in 10 seconds, or so. If it does die, I gotta believe it's the voltage regulator or (much more remotely) some low-grade short circuit. If you are using a electro-mechanical regulator, you can't be hurt by going to a DVR2. Hopefully, one of our regulator specialists will chime in to tell me that I am not off my rocker.

Richard L.

[AndyDenmark]

I have just fully charged the battery and popped it back in and she fires up fine and will tick over with the lights on with a fully charged battery :)

[RichardL]

Yahoo! Now to see if the charge holds while riding around.

Richard L.

[warmshed]

If the dynamo wont balance the charge until high revs then either the Dynamo or regulator is suspect, as is their wiring.

[AndyDenmark]

I have seen a good diagram on how to check the dynano output but just have to be sure if my bike is Positive or Negative earthed before I do that.

[muskrat]

Easy, use the multimeter in continuity mode. One lead to a battery pole the other to engine or frame earth. Whichever pole shows continuity is the earth. Make sure the dynamo is flashed to the correct polarity. Disconnect the F and D wires at the dynamo, take a wire from the POWER side of the battery and strike it at the F terminal of the dynamo. You should see a small flash, job done.
Cheers

[trevinoz]

Make that in D.C. voltage mode.
In continuity you may cook the meter.