Replaced 2 Alternators on GL1500I both only lasted less than 100 miles.

[gman2264]

Replaced 2 Alternators on GL1500I both only lasted less than 100 miles each. After each installation, I tested the alternators. Both alternators gave me readings of 14.24 volts at alternator. Tested battery it had 13.89v. With new DB Electrical 90amp alternator I took bike on evening ride last night with every light, and all accessories on that I could get on. My Goldwing made it for 65 miles and luckily when it quit charging and drain all the energy from my new battery, I was in the driveway at friend's home. Bike would not start back my new AGM Battery dead. Left bike there last night and got ride home. This is the 2nd alternator to do this in the last 2 weeks from Amazon, both 90amps. Is there something on my bike that might be causing these alternators to fry the internal voltage regulator? If I had too much amperage on bike from all the original accessories and the added on ones, it looks as if the bike would blow the fuse first, because of over amperage, instead of frying the alternator's internal voltage regulator. When I recharged the battery and retested the alternator it is now only putting out 10.50. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MikeB]

From all that I have read and learned from friends that have had the DB alternators, they have a bad reputation for early failures.
I doubt that the motorcycle or your lights or anything else is contributing to the premature failures of these suspect DB alternators.

I would suggest this alternator that is listed on Ebay at the moment. I have had superior luck with the Compufire alternators. It is listed at $199 with free shipping. It is eBay item number:385496442784.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385496442784?f ... BMirS0yuJh

[blupupher]

I bought a LActrical 95 amp unit off amazon.
I only had it for ~4 months, but put several thousand miles on it before I got rid of the bike (4th gear shift fork failure). Even at idle it was putting out just under 14 volts

Compufire units seem to be well built too.

I have heard a lot of negative about the DB units as well.
Seem to either die quickly or last forever, but seems to be a 3 to 1 ratio of bad ones to good ones.

[Snowmoer]

If you still have the factory alternator, and have a repair shop close by, take it in and see what the problem is. The original on my 88 stopped charging. I took it in to an alternator shop and they said that the dust had built up on the brushes. They stopped making contact. They cleaned everything up and it was working like new. At 60K miles, the brushes were not even half worn yet. I sold the bike with a 75K miles on it and the factory unit was still going strong. Just something else to try.

[gman2264]

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping that it was just faulty /low quality alternator and not my Goldwing. I am going to check on purchasing the Compufire or the LActrical. I also still do have the original one, and as soon as I find a repair shop I am having it fixed (if affordable) for a spare. Again thank you for your help and suggestions.

[diecast collector]

I have had great luck with the Compufire in the 1500 that I owned. A friend of mine had good luck with the Compufire alternator also. They are easily rebuilt by any alternator repair shop, and rarely suffer seious winding failures like other alternators mentioned here. Compufire is the ONLY way i would go if I still had a 1500. Voltmeters are necessary also.
If you can find one of the early stock 1500 alternators that say "Made in Japan" on the I.D. sticker, they are the best stock alternator. I used a stock alterrnator from a 1989 Gold Wing for many years in my other 1500s before it finally wore out and getting the Compufire.
diecast collector

[hugger-4641]

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping that it was just faulty /low quality alternator and not my Goldwing. I am going to check on purchasing the Compufire or the LActrical. I also still do have the original one, and as soon as I find a repair shop I am having it fixed (if affordable) for a spare. Again thank you for your help and suggestions.

If the orginal you refer to is the DB unit, it may be fixable. If it is the original Hitachi unit that came on your 91, it may be fixable. If it is a circa 1995 or later Hitachi that someone put on the bike, it likely has a bad rotor and few shops can fix this. Cheaper to just buy another alternator for a spare. I've used LA lectric and Compufire with good success. Two things that hurt a GL 1500 alternator: Heat and oil. Make sure the o-ring seals are not letting oil into or around the alternator. The heat problem is partially a design flaw. Because of where they put it, airflow to cool the alternator is not the greatest. This makes it important to keep that area of the engine clean and thus keep oil and dust from collecting on the alternator.

[wingpilot08]

Was working on my brothers 1988 Wing and he had requested to add a seat heater for his wife...my concern was the draw on the battery may exceed what the stock alternator could handle. So he bought the LActrical 95 amp alternator to replace the stock alternator. Installation was very easy and we also replaced the battery with a new AGM battery. After installing is appeared that all was working well...I remember seeing 13.1 VDC on the voltmeter installed. Took out for a test drive and all seemed fine. Returned the Wing to my brother and told him to take it for some rides once the weather warmed (returned the bike late February). In early March, he called saying the bike was having hesitation, lights flickering, but that would clear up overnight....until it seemed to get much worse. Apparently, the alternator was not charging the battery and as we all know...low voltage is NOT good for the Wing. Got the bike back to my house and did testing and confirmed the alternator is not providing any charge. Just yesterday i packed up the alternator and shipped it off to LActrical for warranty replacement. Will see what the new unit does upon its arrival is a week or two...will update everyone once we have the replacement and test it on the bike.

By the way, most lights on the Wing have been replaces with LED with the exception of the headlights. so the two biggest draws would be the headlights and the seat heater(if used).

He went with the LActrical because of good reviews and the cost of a new Compufire is now $550 . I had a Compufire on my 96' SE and it was a great unit. Saw the link above for the used Compufire for $199...

[luftkoph]

Buying those aftermarket alternators is a crap shoot, I just looked on alibaba and you can buy a minimum of 10 gl 1500 alternators for $49 each, of course the more you buy the cheaper they get. Maybe I should open up Luftkophs Electrical sell them for $115 a pop, heck even if I have a 25% failure I’ll still make bank.
Buyer beware

[GLRT]

I did a full tear down comparison on the DB electric and Mitsubishi units and found they are identical in all respects. I have used them without any issues. Most reviews are positive. And on the gl1800 replacement time is about 1/2 hour

[norcu]

Estimado gman2264
Alternadores de 90 A tienen que ser de buena calidad, yo instale un Compufire, hecho en Estados Unidos y no he tenido problemas, cuando instales el nuevo alternador enviar un cable de uno de los tornillos de enganche del alternador directamente al negativo de la batería. Como son motos de muchos años puede ser que no haga buena tierra, te sugiero esto ya que en dos motos de amigos les paso lo mismo que a ti y esa fue la solución. Lo que se quema es el regulador de voltaje. Otra posibilidad es que una vez revisado el alternador que no tenga ningún cable cortado interno, coloques un regulador de voltaje externo. Suerte

[GLRT]

Thats good advice one more thing to consider

[hugger-4641]

I did a full tear down comparison on the DB electric and Mitsubishi units and found they are identical in all respects. I have used them without any issues. Most reviews are positive. And on the gl1800 replacement time is about 1/2 hour

No, I am afraid you are mistaken. Mitsubishi didn't make an alternator for the GL1500, Hitachi did. They are also not identical in two ways;

1. Hitachi moved their manufacture of these alternators to China in the mid 1990's. The units made in China had a flaw in the wire used or the mfg process that causes the rotor winding to break or burn out where the winding leaves the spool and connects to the leads for the slip ring. Most of the pre-1995 units are long gone, the ones you find on E-bay or other sites are the later models. It is hit or miss with them. Some last 30-40k miles, some last a day.

2. The 90amp Compufire and Lalactric units have heavy diodes and transistors in the regulator assembly to accommodate the higher current. This is the major difference. The windings in any of these alternators are actually capable of producing 200 or more amps, but the electronics and brushes can't handle that much.


There is another option if you are mechanically inclined enough: Some of the mid 1990's Saturn automobiles had the same Hitachi alternator, but the front housing was different to accomodate belt drive. If you are so inclined, you can get one of these and swap the front housing from the Goldwing. But this is still a 40amp alternator.

[GLRT]

I was referring to the 1800. Sorry

[landisr]

My understanding (?) Is that these alternators need 12v at the 'feed' line in. There seems to be a pattern here that is common across a number of alts, some brand new. Have you checked this line for consistant voltage?

Probably unrelated, but my '94A stopped charging (no voltmeter ) and left me stranded out of town. It turned out my dogbone fuse had blown. I still don't know why once the battery was replaced it would start and run for a while and the lights worked but the alternator wasn't getting 12 volts. I replaced the fuse and all was good.

Ron in AZ

[DenverWinger]

The 55 amp "Dogbone" fuse is the link between the alternator and the battery, if it's compromised the alternator cannot charge the battery or help power the bike. Dogbone fuse main purpose is to protect the bike in case of catastrophic failure (short) of rectifier diodes in the alternator.

Bike main power is the 30 amp fuse at starter relay "A" by the battery. If "Dogbone" fails the bike will continue to run powered thru main 30 amp fuse until the battery is depleted.

[landisr]

Thanks for that. It certainly makes sense.

I hope our comments help the OP.

Happy Easter everyone.

[Swagonmaster]

While this admittedly a long shot remember that if there is an intermittent short in the wire right off of the alternator before any fuse it could let the magic smoke out also.

[detdrbuzzard]

i'm not sure if the quality of DB Electrical alternators has gone down or not, mine is at least 10 years old. i was worried about it when i got bought it so i picked up a used compufire a few months later then had the Honda alternator rebuilt, its my loaner alternator

[MaineStreet]

So as someone who is presently experiencing a bad alternator on my '99 gl1500 and wanting to keep the cost in the reasonable range, is the LAlactric alternator a decent choice. I've read the reviews on Amazon but so many don't have a long history. Thoughts/recommendations?

[MikeB]

How much will the Lactrical unit set you back?

[MaineStreet]

LAlectric is about $200. However, I took off my alternator this evening and saw that while it is the original Hiatachi from 1999, it stamped "Made in Japan". So I am going to bring it to a shop tomorrow to have it evaluated and rebuilt.

[MaineStreet]

Quick update - I paid $130 to have the original alternator rebuilt at Bukos in Lewiston, ME (local for me). Reinstalled the rebuilt alternator tonight and am measuring 14.45 V at idle. With engine off, measuring 13.45 V. A good outcome!