alternator

Ok I've been having trouble with my charging system on an 82 kaw 440 LTD and have been looking through some forums on how to test everything in the charging system. To test the voltage output of the alternator I'm supposed to put my positive lead on one of the two yellow wires and the negitive lead on the battery correct? When I do this and turn on the bike there is no voltage at all on either yellow wire. Am I doing it wrong or is the stator bad?

Nope, not exactly. :laugh:

The bike must be running. BE CAREFULL not to accidentaly touch the meter leads to anything else.

BIKE RUNNING:
The output of the stator/aternator itself is in AC, therefore you put your meter on AC Volts, and stick the connectors into any combination of the three yellow wires.
1-2, 1-3, 2-3. The output voltage at all combinations should be above 50V AC when you rev the bike over 3500rpm.

BIKE OFF:
With the meter set to OHMS/RESISTSNCE, connect meter to ground, and touch the other connector to each of the three yellow stator wires. The meter should not move/do nothing at all. This is good, it means the windings arent grounding/burnt out.

BIKE RUNNING:
With everthing connected and running, put your meter on DC Volts, and connect it to the battery.
@ Idle should be 12.6-13.2 ish Volts.
When revving bike past 3500rpm, should be about 14.5 Volts.
At no time should the Voltage ever be over 15 Volts. This means either your voltage regulator/rectifier is dead, or its/or battery ground is poor.

MAKE SURE TO HAVE GOOD CLEAN GROUNDS.

GL!

Thanks I'm gonna go test it again now. I only 2 wires coming from alternator case.

Right, a 440. Only two wires to touch.

Make sure that all the connections are REALLY clean and tight, and that the ground from the regulator/rectifier is excellent.

GL.