1948 chief generator

[Lyle Manheimer]

Jerry, there are all kinds of test procedures as per the manuals carbon piles and the like. Real life testing has always worked for me. You will need a decent digital voltmeter. With the motorcycle stopped take a baseline voltage reading from your GOOD battery. It should read somewhere around 6.3-6.5 volts. Start the bike and let it warm for a couple of minutes. After warming let it idle the voltage may be slightly less than your baseline. Rev the engine and you should see the voltage come up above the baseline. Back to idle, now load the system lights on. Again the voltage at idle may be less than base line rev the engine and it should come back up. Now really load the system, high beam, brake light and again rev the motor and observe you are coming above baseline voltage. You should not see any voltage much higher than say 7.2 volts. Grab your cell phone and take a couple mile ride with the lights on. When you return home and shut the bike down you should be somewhere around baseline, it may be slightly higher but the battery voltage will decay slightly. If the voltage is significantly higher or lower you probably have a faulty regulator. Remember also you need to start these tests with a fully charged GOOD battery.