Hello Everyone.. I am new to the forum.. just got a 1982 KZ1000-K LTD 23,000 miles, very well kept.. a slight oil leak..

question.. the battery wont charge.. it has been tested good.. stupid question for most but... what charges the battery?.. It will take a charge and do good for a day.. then the battery dies..

any ideas?? will be apppreciated..
thanks and be safe

 

Welcome to the forums.

The generator charges the battery. Could be as simple as a cell going bad in the battery, a bad cable, fuse, generator.

Hook a voltmeter to the battery with the bike running at idle and take that reading, then idle her up to 2500rpm and take that reading. Get those two readings and we'll go from there.

Have you found the fuse panel yet?

 

Clean the terminals on the gal, the frickin gal is a die hard. Replace battery as needed.

 

It's the generator (that buldge on the left side of the motor) or the voltage regulator & rectifier (usually under the seat or near the fuses).
The Test:
Hook a multimeter to the battery terminals and set it for DC volts. Should read 11.5 to 12.4.
Start the bike and let idle. Should read anything higher than 13.6
You should notice that the number goes down while it cranks over then comes back up once it runs. But, if it doesn't go above 13.6, then step 2.
Step 2:
Rev it up to 2000 rpm. if the number goes up slightly, that's a bad rectifier. ($175)
If the number stays the same or slowly drops, bad generator ($275 to $400)

 

Three websites for stators(the windings around the rotor which spins on the crankshaft)
www.rmstator.com, www.elecrosport.com, and www.ricksmotorsportselectrics.com

I've got a 82 GPZ1100 B2 I'm getting ready to ride again.

 

The second website should read www.electrosport.com

 

I have a 1982 1000 LTD and it did the same thing. What (my problem) turned out to be was the "Stator" was bad. Changed it out and no more problem.

Good luck w/yours,

brakallie1