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[St] [ST]alternator troubles



Hi everyone,

I need collective knowledge and help.

-short story-
I have alternator/regulator problems. For people that have a 02 engine
or similar (955i) with the alternator at the end of the crankshaft on the left hand side:
- I would appreciate a lot if you could spend some time measuring the battery voltage while idling, and then at around 2000 rpm.
- can any one confirm it's not an alternator without excitation input but instead a magnetic wheel (only a stator is wired and
a permanent magnet as rotor)?
- who has already experiment charging problem on a 955i (from 2002 on 955 engine). What was the problem, the cause and the cure?


-long story-
One week ago, we went for a day trip. I noticed after one stop that the odometer stopped working. I was still thinking that the sensor was playing tricks.
One hour or so after the bike stalled. Impossible to crank up. Turn out the battery was 11.5v. I was in the
middle of nowhere. The first thing I was thinking about was: alternator shot. I managed finally to find some good soul with a battery charger.
Pushed the bike to this nice guy yard. Took of the battery off. It needed some water. Not normal for a maintenance free one. Added some
water and charged up the battery for one hour or so. Got back the battery on the bike and jumped started the bike for the sake of the
battery.
At that time I was convinced the battery was the only one to blame. We headed back home directly 'cause it was late already. Me and my wife
were pretty concerned about being able to do the 200 kms back. Half the way back we stopped for a technical pit stop and I made the huge mistake
to stop the engine. Here again, unable to start up. hopfully we were in a small village. Obliged to wander form home to an other to get jump started.
Finally I found the guy, pushed the bike again jump started and on the read again.
Arriving finally near home I was obliged to rev up while idling to prevent the engine to stall at idle.


The day after I changed the battery think: This one was really crap, only two years. Checking the voltage while idling, it was between 13.5 and 14V.
At this time I just charged the battery all the night long with 0.8Amperes.


The we-end after was a 4 days one. We planed a long trip to Burgundy area.
On our way we stopped for lunch. At the time to restart the engine I noticed some hesitation. I didn't worried too much. I was wrong.
2 hours later, we stopped for gas. Impossible to start the engine up after that. Again. I was desperate. End of the week-end for sure.
This time I add a voltmeter and wires for jump starting. Fortunately one guy in a pretty Mercedes was washing his car nearby. He was reluctant
to jump start, concerned about damaging electronic, but finally he accepted to help the poor motorcyclist. Once running the voltmeter indicated no sign
of charging and again the voltage was around 11.5V.
The Mercedes driver indicated us a (the) bike dealer, and an hotel. We managed to get to the bike dealer w/o stopping the engine or stalling.
I planed to buy a battery charger, charge the battery the night long and get back home straight w/o stop (400km) except for gas.


The dealer had no more battery charger, but offer to sell us one that he used in the work shop. We accepted the deal. So glad to have a solution. Jump started
again to go to the hotel.
We charged the battery during the night, and get back straight. We had no problem on our way back.
The big surprise was to discover once arrived that the battery was not discharged. Now I am pretty puzzled.


But when the engine is running the voltage is below 13V even at 2000rpm. I read on the web that for such an alternator w/ magnetic whell it's normal to
have less than 13V when idling, but surely not at 200rpm. I cleaned the connector between the regulator and the alternator (three yellow wires). Those three wires
tends to show that it's a triangle triphase mounting. I didn't dig much up to now.


That is two trips wrecked because of an alternator. Damn it. The one in burgundy was so promising. We stopped 50 kms from it.

Any input very welcome.

Fred ST 02 BRG not charging and tired of pushing the bike.










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