Yamaha XJ400 electric problem

[jp14]

I had problems with my XJ not starting, I had to keep bump starting it and this guy from the AA (off duty) helped me bump start it.

He told me he thought it was the regulator because I'd only just got a new battery.

I bought a new (secondhand) regulator and it was a different model, so I was hesitant to use it but I tried it and as the battery was completely dead I used my dad's battery to jump it. It was running oddly and the battery was not charging itself, I left it running for about 10 mins. The lights were flickering when I revved it and when I turned it off the battery went completely dead again.

Has anyone got any ideas to what it could be?

Cheers

[TUG]

How recent is the battery, and when it went flat did you put on charge asap or leave it.

Sounds like you need to put an altimeter on the battery and take some readings, if it is the charging system it could need a new stator or the wires leading to it checking for breaks and repairing.
All this is on a Could be basis, without seeing the bike its hard to say.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[jp14]

[TUG]

With all the lights flickering i would think theres something seriously wrong, get yourself a multimeter and measure up the feeds from the battery, should read 13v at idle and then something like 15v at 4-5k? Cant remember the exacts those are with the lights on btw.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[serlant]

If you get a haynes manual it will say the exact values in the haynes manual for my 1990 xj600 it is
charging voltage 14 to 15 volts.
nominal output 14 volts, 21 amps at 5000rpm.
non load regulated voltage 14.3 to 15.3 volts

[Stalk]

An alternator will not charge a dead battery, needs something to excite the field windings in the aternator to produce a charge. Maybe charge the battery off the bike and try again?

Hope it helps
Stalk

[Raffles]

[jp14]

I charged my battery but there wasn't enough power to start it still, I tried my old rectifier and it still didn't start, I haven't had a chance to jump lead it yet.

Thanks for your suggestions

[TUG]

I think you killed your battery by running it flat and letting it discharge. Jump it, a car battery is fine just dont jump it from a started car. If the bike starts but then dies after the starter cables are removed you have yourself a dead battery. If not get some reading via multimeter and let us know of the results.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[jp14]

[P.addy]

possibly one of the fuses? My GS refused to charge the battery.
Brand new one, the bloody thing just kept clicking.
Could even be starter motor...that was the 2nd fault with my bike
What my dad did was take the starter motors earth and put the ground wire directly on the negative battery terminal, started everytime since!!

[jp14]

[TUG]

[jp14]

Ok, I got the multimeter and tested the battery, it says around the 12-12.5 mark not running and running at 3-4000 revs, I tested the plug that goes into the rectifier (for resistance in ohms) and that all appears to be correct, I also tested the rectifiers for resistance and on the old one there was resistance but on the new one there wasn't any resistance (I'm not sure what this means). I then put the old rectifier back on, but the bike wouldn't start by its own power so I jump(lead)ed it then turned it off and tried the button, it worked a few times but getting weaker and weaker until it didn't start.

I would try the stator but I don't know how to get to it or where it is (or what it looks like ).

Any ideas?

Cheers

[TUG]

It should be on the left hand side IIRC, the casing is quite round and bulbus.
Theres a nice black coated set of wires going upwards aswell, unfortunaly i have never tested one so i'm no use to you at this stage.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[serlant]

if the battery voltage is the same not running, as it is when its at say 5k revs, then its not charging, should go up to 13-14v at about 5k rpms.