I need to pick your brains..
I have a 64FL with shovelheads and a 12V conversion. I was having some charging issues with the old genny, so I bought a new one. I still have the old Electric Franks regulator on the end. When testing the the battery, I am getting about 12.2V at 3500rpm, much less at idle. The lights do brighten up when I rev it. I replaced much of the old wire with 12gauge and soldered everything. The bike has not left me stranded but I always use a trickle charger when I park it. I always thought if the reg was bad I would be getting too much volts or nothing.
ANy ideas why I would not be getting 13V or more?

 

Yes you should be getting over 14 volts when revved. The only way to go if running a modern generator, is a Cycle Electric with built in electronic regulator. Bulletproof!

 

sho sounds like a bad reg??????????

 

Dang, I was hoping to keep the cool old school Electric Franks. Looks like I may have to upgrade.

 

Get yourself a mechanical reg like Bosch or Accel I've run them all ( Franks etc ) 7 years on the mechanicals and still ticking If you can pull into a dark garage and see the lights get brighter as you rev it I don't think there is a problem !!

 

The lights definately get brighter when I rev but you don't think 12.2 volts is too low??

 

Superp you should be getting 13 to 14v at the battery. Disconnect your regulator at the generator and check the voltage at the A terminal, should be 2 to 4v at idle. You have 2 circuits in the regulator one to charge and and the other to keep it from overcharging. Generally I've seen them fail charging. They could be set up that way because if it fails at the overcharge where more voltage comes back to the gen it would turn it into a motor and fry. Any of the regulators mentioned by sqdealgeorge are good. Good luck. Let us know if it works.

 

48 pan I like your bike ! nice job

 

Thanks 48Pan, I will try that this weekend, your bike is awesome. The only thing I have left to do is get a new regulator, I will try to hunt one down.

 

Thanks for the comments guys. I appreciate it.