Can an alternator be tested out of the bike?

[Quick Cal]

I just got this 96 1500 this spring. I'm not having any charging issue's. Alt is putting out 14.11v @ 3000mrpm.

But I just realized it is a DB electronics alt. I've read bad things about them. I hope it lasts.

The bike also came with a spare OEM alt. But I can't remember what the guy told be about it. Not sure if it's good or not. It does have the green band and say made in Japan. But that doesn't tell me if it's the original or earlier does it?

Is there anyway I can test this spare alt with out it being in the bike and running? O' Reilly's said they couldn't do it as it needed a pulley for their belt to drive it.

[MikeB]

I just got this 96 1500 this spring. I'm not having any charging issue's. Alt is putting out 14.11v @ 3000mrpm.

But I just realized it is a DB electronics alt. I've read bad things about them. I hope it lasts.

The bike also came with a spare OEM alt. But I can't remember what the guy told be about it. Not sure if it's good or not. It does have the green band and say made in Japan. But that doesn't tell me if it's the original or earlier does it?

Is there anyway I can test this spare alt with out it being in the bike and running? O' Reilly's said they couldn't do it as it needed a pulley for their belt to drive it.

You could remove the drive flange and install a pulley. The guys at O"Reilly's are not technicians. They can check a light bulb as long as they have a socket to put it in but give them a bulb they do not have a socket for and they are lost. An alternator shop would be your best bet if you can find one. Other than that, you would have to install it on the bike and test it.

[Rambozo]

If you have a way to spin it, you can test it.
Cobble up a wooden disc that fits over the cross drive and drive it with a flat belt, is one way. Four jaw chuck in a lathe, is another. Rubber cone on a drill, get creative.

The Made in Japan ones are the good ones. They can be rebuilt and last the life of the bike. Usually brushes and bearings are all they ever need.

[WingAdmin]

I demonstrate how to test an alternator using a drill starting at the 16:03 point this video:



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[Quick Cal]

Thanks for all the replies.

I took it to an alternator shop. He hooked it up with a light inline, and the light would not light up. He said that means a bad rotor. Do you guys agree?

[gipsy42]

Not really; AFIK if the light does'n light up it could be thevoltage regulator. There is no direct connection to the rotor, but thru the regulator.

[MikeB]

It may also be due to the brushes not contacting the commutator. The only way to positively check the rotor is to remove it and do a continuity check of the commutator segments. Not a difficult task at all.

[Ravyn]

I just got this 96 1500 this spring. I'm not having any charging issue's. Alt is putting out 14.11v @ 3000mrpm.

But I just realized it is a DB electronics alt. I've read bad things about them. I hope it lasts.

The bike also came with a spare OEM alt. But I can't remember what the guy told be about it. Not sure if it's good or not. It does have the green band and say made in Japan. But that doesn't tell me if it's the original or earlier does it?

Is there anyway I can test this spare alt with out it being in the bike and running? O' Reilly's said they couldn't do it as it needed a pulley for their belt to drive it.

I had the oem alt. fail on me out in the middle of the desert. Had my bike towed to the nearest independent shop that let me use there tools to remove the alt. I over nighted an expensive alt from compufire. It lasted two months....400 bucks wasted. I took a chance on DB electronics 95 amp. alt. Been on the bike now for 6 years and still works perfect .

[diecast collector]

My alternator repair shop has a adaptor to to test 1500 Gold Wing alternators. I suppose everything man made is subject to failure. My experience is the Compufire alternator being THE most reliable alternator available for a 1500 Gold Wing, Not so for a 1800 Gold Wing. Very easily fixed by any competent starter/ alternator rebuilder. Hope you did not throw the Compufire away. (The O.E.M. alternators that say Made In Japan on the I.D. sticker are the most reliable stock ones made for the 1500 series. I used one for many years.)
Diecast collector