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Old 03-04-2011, 10:49 AM   #1
azoomm
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Default 1994 Ducati m900

Ugh. Electrical. I hate electrical.

This bike has been sitting. Like, for YEARS sitting while it gets redone. It's been one ridiculous thing after another. I'm a little over it.

Then, I rode it last weekend. Charged up the relatively new battery and went for a ride. Damn but I love this bike. It's angry, it's strange, it's LOUD... damn but I love this bike.

But, it has a problem, and I'm hoping y'all have another idea of what is wrong rather than what I suspect is wrong.

Symptom: Battery light stays on the entire ride. If I don't put the Battery Tender on the bike overnight the battery was dead the next morning.

My solution: Get a new battery.

Charged it. Went for a long ride. Battery light still stayed on the entire ride. Put the bike on the Tender after the ride [now a habit, as I don't know when I'm going to get back on it again] - light on Tender is red... takes a while [hours] to go to green.

Problem not fixed.

VERY simple bike on an electrical scale. No turn signals, no fancy schmancy computer, just a simple harness with 1993 Ducati technology.

Ideas?
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Old 03-04-2011, 10:51 AM   #2
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Seems like the generator/alternator is bad. My batt light stayed on, on my car when my crank pulley flew off and the belt that was supposed to run my alternator wasn't there anymore..

Easy way to check would be get a volt meter on the battery and start the bike.. give it some revs and see if the volts jump up within spec.
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Old 03-04-2011, 10:54 AM   #3
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Dying stator. Blade has the same thing going on. Always an adventure when I take her to work
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Old 03-04-2011, 10:54 AM   #4
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charging system or a short in the wiring
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Old 03-04-2011, 10:55 AM   #5
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Return it and get something not ducati?


Are there any broken wires? Positive wires that are being grounded? Something is sucking power somewhere
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:08 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by derf View Post
Return it and get something not ducati?


Are there any broken wires? Positive wires that are being grounded? Something is sucking power somewhere


I already have others. This is my red-headed step-child. She's the one I love to hate. We've tried selling, and no offer is ever good enough for my husband so I won't sell it.

I've traced, wiring is clean. Unfortunately.

I first thought rectifier, this model requires more than just a parts swap with that, so I was hoping someone had more ideas.

Boo.
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:10 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azoomm View Post


I already have others. This is my red-headed step-child. She's the one I love to hate. We've tried selling, and no offer is ever good enough for my husband so I won't sell it.

I've traced, wiring is clean. Unfortunately.

I first thought rectifier, this model requires more than just a parts swap with that, so I was hoping someone had more ideas.

Boo.
Have you pulled all the grounds and given them a once over with a dremel/wire brush? Can have some miraculous effects at times
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Old 03-04-2011, 01:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azoomm View Post
I first thought rectifier, this model requires more than just a parts swap with that, so I was hoping someone had more ideas.
That was my first thought too.

If the wiring is good, then look at RR or stator. 99% chance it is one of the two.
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Old 03-04-2011, 02:44 PM   #9
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My first thought was rectifier too, I'd replace that first.
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Old 03-04-2011, 03:37 PM   #10
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As said before with cars. If the alt isnt putting out enough juicet then the alt light will stay on. I think itll also come on if its overcharging.

I wouldnt think its the rec since its connected after the stator.
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