1999 VFR Charging System Problem

According to Honda the voltage at the battery with the Highbeams on @ 5000 RPMs should be 14.0 - 14.8v. I get 14.0v @ idle and @ 5000 RPMs it drops to 13.4v. I have replaced the battery and the regulator to no avail. I checked the 3 yellow leads from the stator for proper resistance A-B .6 ohms, B-C .7 ohms, & A-C .6 ohms all good readings. I check each lead to ground, no shorts. I've disconnected and reconnected all sorts of plugs and checked various fuses all good. The new stator is from Honda it looks like it's been upgraded from the original.I did a load test on the new battery and it's good, too. I've looked at the wiring harness and don't see any burns or damage... short of unwrapping the whole thing. Additionally, I 've experienced and infrequent starting issue where the bike doesn't start and the clock/ trip meter reset to zero. Any ideas?????

 

^ +1. It's likely a high current connection, as indicated from the tripmeter resetting itself. Check the battery ground cable connection to the frame/engine, etc. When you say it doesn't start, does that mean that the starter motor is turning the engine and the engine doesn't start, or that the starter motor isn't spinning the engine period?

Either way, it would also be worth checking the positive battery cable connection to wherever it goes, too.

 

Check the plug and the connections atop the starter relay.

 

Has anyone devised a meter or idiot light

I just bought a 96 VFR and the first thing that I read and found failing was, you guessed it, the RR. With all this talk of ele. problems in the charging circuits on these models, have any of you found an aftermarket ammeter that can be mounted with either a meter or idiot light to let me know when I'm going to need to tow the bike, like I did the first day I owned it?
Thanks,
Varooom

 

For a 4th gen, to me this thread is the gold standard for installing a Datel voltmeter. I spent considerable time trying to figure out how to replicate this on my 6th gen but finally gave up and took a different path. All but the most skilled eye might well think this is a factory installation.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/gear-accessories/14549-i-got-power-digital-volt-meter.html

 

Major surgery but Oooo so worth it, from the sounds of things. I may try just putting it in the top of the left or right fairing stuff when I mount the internal radar detector and it's speaker can.
Thanks for the lead to the item,
Varooom

 

I'm no tout for the PLA, but for $5 this is my setup from Harbor Freight.

 

Alternate Solution to monitoring a 1996 VFR voltage

I found a fantastic solution to this voltage regulator monitoring problem: Cobra sells a $130 radar detector that hangs under the windshield with rubber suction cups. (model XRS9945) It has a mini jack port for an ear bud but, MOST IMPORTANT, it monitors and displays the voltage running to and from the battery, when off or running AND, it shouts a warning when the battery isn't being charged right or is internally below spec! I've had it out using the unit and it also picks up all radar and lasers that the police are pointing at us this year.
Varooom