2008 charging circuit have a fuse?

[newday777]

Happy New Year..... Well at least until yesterday anyhow....
I'm away from my service manual by 5 hrs visiting my kids and grandkids and I noticed after I headed to the store my volt meter was reading 8.14 volts just after getting on the road.... So I made a Uturn and headed back and hooked up a charger. Got the battery fully charged and then did a load test(with a load tester), which the battery tested good on this 4 yr old Yuasa. Fired up the bike and volt meter reads 11.6 on my bike and dropping..... Not charging......ugggh....
All cables are still tight.

Is there a dogbone fuse link or maybe a relay in the charging circuit that could have failed, liked the 1500 has the dogbone fuse? I'm hoping it has as I can't afford the $618 plus shipping for a new Honda alternator.....

[DenverWinger]

No 1800 experience here, but if you can measure power on the back of the alternator at the main terminal whatever fuse link the 1800 has is good. Then measure power on the small (excite) lead to the alternator, that should have power with key "on".

I can't imagine an 1800 alternator not being repairable. Might be something as simple as a stuck brush. Local automotive alternator rebuilder ought to be able to test the internal voltage regulator, and maybe even source a replacement. This would be far cheaper than $618....

[newday777]

No 1800 experience here, but if you can measure power on the back of the alternator at the main terminal whatever fuse link the 1800 has is good. Then measure power on the small (excite) lead to the alternator, that should have power with key "on".

I can't imagine an 1800 alternator not being repairable. Might be something as simple as a stuck brush. Local automotive alternator rebuilder ought to be able to test the internal voltage regulator, and maybe even source a replacement. This would be far cheaper than $618....

No 1800 experience...... you are not answering my question..... Keep on subject of posts.
I'm out 90 miles from any rebuilders in the Nevada desert.....

[Andy Cote]

So you are definitely looking at pulling that alternator. Others have rebuilt them, usually new brushes are sufficient.

They are a PITA to get out. Sorry (not sorry) to say I have never done it myself so I can't offer specific steps myself. Some guys have made wrenches or used a ratcheting wrench with a swivel head. You will need to read up on the GL1800riders page even if you have a manual available just to gat all the tricks straight. Going back in is also tricky to make sure all aligns correctly as doing damage is a possibility. Based on what I have read. I also saw a post where a guy replaced the stock bolt with a longer bolt that allows you to reach it better with typical wrenches.

I can ship a manual or the DVDs to you if you are desperate. If you decide to go to a Honda dealer, I'd ask the service manager how many they have actually done.

BTW, I saw that Ken Hemming recently passed away. He was the go to guy for rebuilds.

[Andy Cote]

There are a couple youtube videos.

Next person that does an alternator change on a GL1800, please post it in the How-to articles section. Thank you in advance.

[dtcad]

If the cruise control fuse is blown, it will not charge. Check the cruise light on the dash, if it is not on with the cruise switch on, you may have a short in the harness running up the handle bar risers or around the headstock. If the fuse is blown, turn off the cruise, replace the fuse, then see if it will charge. If it does, you will need to find the short before using the cruise control. HTH

[newday777]

I saw last night a couple YouTube on removing but nothing on testing them. I don't have $650 to throw away if it is something else...

I hadn't heard that Ken H had passed. Bummer. I've recommended him many times over the years.

There was a rebuilder here in Pahrump, but the shop he worked at closed up and I haven't found out if he is still around or not.

[newday777]

If the cruise control fuse is blown, it will not charge. Check the cruise light on the dash, if it is not on with the cruise switch on, you may have a short in the harness running up the handle bar risers or around the headstock. If the fuse is blown, turn off the cruise, replace the fuse, then see if it will charge. If it does, you will need to find the short before using the cruise control. HTH

I'll check it out. I leave the cruise button on all the time.

[newday777]

Update!

I started checking things, fuses, wires, blew out all the dust under the seat and then around the alternator... Then the old thought came to mind.....tap on the alternator...sure enough...It is a sticking brush(es) in the alternator. Back to charging again for now. I have a call in to an alternator repair guy(if he is still doing it) locally otherwise I'll be doing the open heart surgery...

[dtcad]

I live 3 miles down a dirt/gravel road. Every time I go out for a ride I get 6 miles of dust. The Wing is a dust vacuum under all the plastic. With that, I usually do a dusting of the alternator, wheels, underneath and the dash/switch buttons with compressed air at days end back at the house. When I blow out the alternator, I have the motor running so the stator gets dusted all the way around. There's always a dust cloud exiting the alternator internals. I blow air from all accessible angles and openings. HTH

[newday777]

I live 3 miles down a dirt/gravel road. Every time I go out for a ride I get 6 miles of dust. The Wing is a dust vacuum under all the plastic. With that, I usually do a dusting of the alternator, wheels, underneath and the dash/switch buttons with compressed air at days end back at the house. When I blow out the alternator, I have the motor running so the stator gets dusted all the way around. There's always a dust cloud exiting the alternator internals. I blow air from all accessible angles and openings. HTH

Good plan

[GoldWingrGreg]

Most any alternator repair shop can repair these alternators. I always carry in OEM parts, because the guy who runs the shop says he can get rear bearings for as cheap as $5.50. My reply is always ... "I need a $35 bearing," and he gets what I mean. If it only needs brushes, be sure to get 2, and a front bearing, a rear bearing, a front seal, and an o-ring. Parts #4, 5, 6, 7, and 11(2).

https://www.mrcycles.com/oemparts/a/hon ... alternator

FYI ... because of its splined rotor shaft, most shops have no way to test bench the alternator assembly. However, they do have the ability to test the components separately. A final test can be done once the alternator is mounted back in the Wing.

To test the charging system, the battery needs tested first, and the posts and the connection must be clean. Then with the Wing on its center stand, running, high beams on, and at 2,000 rpms, the alternator must put out more than battery voltage and less than 15.5v. Be sure to take that reading at the battery posts. Most will put out something like 14.2-14.6v.

Beware ... if installing a replacement alternator, be sure to only install one that comes in Honda packaging. That means to only buy an OEM one.

[newday777]

Greg
Yes I have a local guy I talked with on Monday that has worked on these and knows the alternator is the same as the Civic and has brushes and bearings on hand.
And yes I won't use an aftermarket alternator because of the post you were involved with(?) on an 06 that destroyed the ADG. But at this point I'll go with a rebuild of my alternator to save a few bucks.....

[Asphaltmaniac]

I live 3 miles down a dirt/gravel road. Every time I go out for a ride I get 6 miles of dust. The Wing is a dust vacuum under all the plastic. With that, I usually do a dusting of the alternator, wheels, underneath and the dash/switch buttons with compressed air at days end back at the house. When I blow out the alternator, I have the motor running so the stator gets dusted all the way around. There's always a dust cloud exiting the alternator internals. I blow air from all accessible angles and openings. HTH

Taken compressed air many times to my wing. Never thought to do the alternator.
Thank you!

[dtcad]

You're welcome!

I had a GW mechanic recommend that I dust the alternator frequently because I live in a dusty area. An 02 I had was in the shop for one of the early recalls back in the day. He had a policy of dusting the wing alternator on the bikes he worked on. He told me that mine was the dirtiest he'd seen that still worked. I took that as good advice. When I traded the 02 for the 17 it had 132K on it with the original alternator still going. I'm practicing the same procedure with the 17.

[Asphaltmaniac]

You're welcome!

I had a GW mechanic recommend that I dust the alternator frequently because I live in a dusty area. An 02 I had was in the shop for one of the early recalls back in the day. He had a policy of dusting the wing alternator on the bikes he worked on. He told me that mine was the dirtiest he'd seen that still worked. I took that as good advice. When I traded the 02 for the 17 it had 132K on it with the original alternator still going. I'm practicing the same procedure with the 17.

Nobody beats Nevada when it comes to sand and dust!!