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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  • 1 Post By Grant Johnson
  • 1 Post By Jay_Benson
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  #1  
Old 3 Feb 2019
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Thanks for that - I will first visually inspect the board to see if there is anything obvious then test the board and check the charging voltage.

Changing the rear bulbs makes sense. I should have thought of that myself.

I knew that I had to disconnect the battery when removing the front engine case - I cant remember where I picked it up from though, quite possibly this good place.

I am gradually fettling the bike ready for a trip in a few years and I will want to charge various items so having some head room on the charging side makes sense to me.
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  #2  
Old 3 Feb 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Benson View Post
I will want to charge various items so having some head room on the charging side makes sense to me.
The problem with going 'non standard' is it reduces the chance of finding replacements if you breakdown. The voltage regulator was fitted to many older vehicles ... including trucks and tractors... and old motoguzzies. Should be able to get one at any auto-electrician, or any automotive spare parts place.
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Old 3 Feb 2019
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I know that but the Endurolast has a good reputation for reliability. Also I won’t be against the clock (maybe against a monthly calendar but not much more) on my trip so I can wait for spares to be shipped out to me - I wasn’t planning on getting rid of the original but leaving it at home. What that would mean is that I would have to get the shed organised for other people, I can find things but no-one else could be expected to easily.

On the plus side it would mean that I would get a chance to explore a specific area better.
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Old 4 Feb 2019
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Well I have started the testing process but got driven in by the cold - it is about 2C here and as I don’t “need” to get the bike ready in a hurry I retired inside.

I am pretty convinced that a voltage cross the battery of 16V when I rev the engine up to 3,000 rpm is not normal. So the voltage regulator is fried. I suspect that whilst stripping things off to get that changed I might as well replace the diode board as well.

And then comes the crunch decision - the cost of replacing the diode board and the voltage regulator is £112 but the cost of the 400W Enduralast complete kit is £270 though Snowbum seems to like the 600W Emerald Isle system more (I think that is about £420)...... decision, decisions.
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Old 21 Feb 2019
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An uneventful afternoon spent changing the diode board, voltage regulator ad battery seems to have done the job. Instead of 17V+ at 3,000 rpm it is limited to 14.2V even when running at 4,000rpm. I need new bulbs all round except indicators (they will be changed anyway as a precaution) including the instrument console. The actual changing was a doddle with the exception of the battery that is a little taller and narrower than the previous one so I am going to have to find a better way of strapping it down than it is currently.
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Old 22 Feb 2019
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Well done Jay! BUT I'd be careful of that battery - make sure the toolbox doesn't interfere or sit on it - that could cause you all kinds of trouble down the road. Stock there is only a tiny bit of clearance.

I'm personally a fan of ANY QUALITY aftermarket electrical bits for those bikes. When new and unmodified they're fine, but 30 or 40 years later not so fine, and adding anything stresses them.

I had an Motorrad Elektik on my R80G/S and it worked great. I hear good things about the Endurolast unit too, dunno about the other.

Be sure to give the wiring harness and all connections a REALLY good going over, cleaning everything to sparkling clean, check the insulation for hardening and potential cracking. Make the grounds perfect!

Good luck, they're wonderful bikes if looked after, and you know their weaknesses and deal with them in advance.
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Old 22 Feb 2019
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Thanks Grant. I am probably going to drop the tool tray as it currently is as I am after a location for a couple of USB power packs that are out of the way and some associated electronics.

I did a check over the rest of the system and cleaned various components that looked like they needed some love and a better grounding. Considering it is almost certainly the first time they have been touched in 32 years I think that they have stood the test of time pretty well.
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