Charging system

I have a 86 xj700 and I've replaced the stator and rectifier and tested continuity on all the wires and everything seems good but I'm still not getting it to charge. Should I replace the rotor too? I feel like that's the only thing left unless I'm missing something. This is my first motorcycle btw and it had been sitting for quite some time. It starts right up and runs pretty good I just can't figure out this charging issue.

 

Did you check the rotor for continuity & resistance and are the brushes making contact with clean slip rings?

 

I don't know how to check the rotor for continuity and I'm not sure if the brushes are touching the slip rings, I work out of town so I won't be able to check till this weekend. Is that something I can adjust if they aren't?

 

If the brushes are not in contact with the slip rings they are worn and need replaced. If they are touching the rotor it should be shiny unless the bike has not been used for a long time. There are wear lines on the brushes.

 

Ok so my buddy just took the cover off and sent me some pictures, are the two brushes supposed to be the same length? One of them is significantly shorter than the other one

 

The one looks a little short so what I would do is replace them and dress the slip rings.

 

Do you know where I can get them? And sorry for being ignorant but are the slip rings basically just the face of the rotor where the brushes make contact?

 

Use crocus cloth for the slip rings as they are soft. If you look at the rotor there are two concentric rings the larger one will have the shorter brush because it is travelling a greater distance. Chacal aka Len should have them, he supplies lots of parts for XJ owners here. You can contact him on info@xj4ever.com might have the crocus cloth too. There are lines on the brushes to indicate when they are worn out but better to replace them as they are old.

 

The brushes run on the dotted rings which should be clean and shiny. If the brushes are not touching the rings then there is no input voltage so the alternator cannot produce any current to power the bike. If the rings are dull the bike has not been used for a long time or the brushes are not contacting it.

 

You are not being ignorant you are learning, I am still learning.

 

Haha well I appreciate that, and I appreciate all the advice and info everyone has shared with me so far. I'll give y'all an update after I work on it this weekend and hopefully have good news!

 

You can check the condition of the rotor with an ohmeter, for your bike it should be:

Checking alternator rotors or field coil: the resistance across the two lead wires (usually brown and green) at the white plastic connector should be as follows. Note that worn or damaged alternator brushes can affect these readings, as can "dirty" copper commutator rings on the rotor face (where the brushes contact the rotor):

http://xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/27387

4.0 ohms +/- 10% for all XJ650, all XJ700, all XJ750, XJ900RK, and XJ1100 models.


I would recommend checking the resistance (ohms) both directly at the commutator rings (the copper "faces" on the rotor) and at the wire end connectors (the brown and green wires); if you get a higher reading (more than 0.1 - 0.2 ohms) at the wire ends, there is probably corrosion on the terminals or the wires that should be remedied.

We do have the brushes available, you can contact us via this website or at: info@xj4ever.com

 

We're all learning, I've been at this learning thing 56 years now... started learning the 2-wheel thing around the 3rd grade and still have a long ways to go.

 

Yes it's great fun especially when we keep another old XJ on the road where they belong.

 

I dig the old bikes and what really stands out is the love that keeps them going.