voltage regulator question

[jimmyjimbo]

Last year i was on a river when my motor went to half throttle then died. Motor would turn over but I the battery was close to dead. I came home and took a couple of readings with my meter and found i have a short between my positive lead and the negative lead when i disconnect the red leads on the voltage regulator the short goes away does this mean i need a new voltage regulator

 

[Jiggz]

Re: voltage regulator question

There's a good way to check for a faulty rectifier/regulator, i.e. take voltage output reading while engine is at least idling. The output voltage should be at least above battery voltage. So read battery before starting and then read rectifier output while idling.

If the rectifier voltage is the same as battery voltage try revving the engine to about 2000 RPM and if the rectifier output reads the same as battery voltage still, then rectifier is dead.

Others do the hi-lo ohms reading while engine is off and rectifier disconnected. Unless you know how to do it requires a good interpretation of the readings before you can conclude the diagnosis. So voltage output reading is easier and more accurate.

 

[Deferred]

Re: voltage regulator question

What if its your stator is not putting out AC volts to the regulator?

 

[Jiggz]

Re: voltage regulator question

If there is no AC from the two yellow wires from the stator, then the stator is either bad or there is a disconnect in wiring in the stator. Check for continuity between the yellow wires and there should at least be a small resistance if there is continuity. Sometimes the cause is due to scaled connectors or rubbed out loose wire under the flywheel.