Starting problem

Jigger · May 06, 2011, 06:15:14 PM

Last week I had a problem with my bike. Figured the battery was bad. So I picked up a new battery and put it into the bike. It started right up with no problems. It has started every morning and night when I go to come home from work. But tonight I had to push start it to get it going. Made it home and all it did was growel a little like the battery was low. Before I hooked up the charger to it. I turned the key on so I could see the head light. When I plugged the charger in the head light came on bright. The bike is a 1999 Magna that has 12,500 miles on it. Does this sound like the recitfyer is shot ?

TLRam1 · May 06, 2011, 06:34:09 PM

Could be, hook up a volt meter and note your voltage from the battery terminals at 3000 plus RPM. Another helpful indicator, does your headlight get brighter as you rev up the bike, if not, that can give you a seat of the pants indication.

Jigger · May 06, 2011, 07:50:49 PM

Terry no i oes not get brighter when I rev it up. I turned n a directional and hit the brake at the same time. The head light got a little dimmer. When the directional would go off.

Jerry G Turner · May 06, 2011, 07:54:05 PM

Sounds very much like the rectifer thar would be my first quess. You can get one off of eBay for around a 100 dollars.

Jigger · May 06, 2011, 08:39:32 PM

Thank you will give it a try.

Jerry G Turner · May 06, 2011, 09:18:31 PM

Just in case you don't know it is located under the battery box kind of a pain to get to.

Jigger · May 07, 2011, 02:12:41 AM

If I'm not mistaken. The rectifyer is a plug and play type once you get to it. Very simular to a 250 scooter I had. If I pull the positive cable off the bike once I get it running. The bike should die if it is the chargeing system.

Jigger · May 07, 2011, 12:09:18 PM

Well I got the bike running and pulled the possitive cable off. Sure enough it died instantly.