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Should my charge light be on at idle?

tboooe
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Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by tboooe »

I was adjusting the idle today because since I got the bike the idle was very rough. The bike would literally shake while the idle stumbled. Any way, I got the idle to the point where I like but I noticed that the charge light was no longer on. Should it be on at idle? If I adjust the idle so that it is on, the bike stumbles and stops sometimes.
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Tommy
1967 R69s + a bunch of Ducatis

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schrader7032
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by schrader7032 »

Sounds normal to me. Typically the generator doesn't develop enough to be able to power things at idle and the battery has to pick up the slack. As long as the gen light goes out with added throttle, sounds fine.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

xackley
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by xackley »

When I adjust the carbs the test for the slide and air screw is to remove one spark plug cap, observe, replace and do the other side to make sure they are the same. Adjust the slide a little and test again.
If the carbs and compression is working right it should be smooth. I like a low idle, so I adjust downward so the generate light turns on, and the engine shuts down if I don't put the cap back on within a couple seconds.
Wear gloves when pulling the caps.


Next adjust the cables to 1/16 to 1/8 slack. Rev it, coming off idle should be smooth.
I fine tune the left cable as I mess with the throttle with my right hand.
1958 R69, 1972 R75/5, 1980 XS650, 1982 GL1100, 2003 guzzi ev, 2017 guzzi V7!!!
All on the road, going no where in particular in the Finger Lakes of New York

tboooe
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by tboooe »

schrader7032 wrote:
Thu Sep 29, 2022 5:27 pm
Sounds normal to me. Typically the generator doesn't develop enough to be able to power things at idle and the battery has to pick up the slack. As long as the gen light goes out with added throttle, sounds fine.
Thank you. So are you saying the charge light should be ON at idle?
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Tommy
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schrader7032
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by schrader7032 »

tboooe wrote:
Thu Sep 29, 2022 6:10 pm
Thank you. So are you saying the charge light should be ON at idle?
It can be. But doesn't have to be. Just depends on how you've set the idle. I don't like it too low...want to keep the oiling going on at lower RPMs.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by 808Airhead »

Yes,the light is on at idle,it goes out once you get it a little above idle speed.
Thomas M.
R69S - R60/2 - R67/2 - R51/3 - R69

tboooe
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by tboooe »

808Airhead wrote:
Fri Sep 30, 2022 12:22 am
Yes,the light is on at idle,it goes out once you get it a little above idle speed.
Yes I understand that once the revs pick up the charging light turns off, but does the light have to be on at idle? When I tried to lower the idle until the charge light turned on, the bike would stumble badly and idle very roughly, sometimes even dying. If the light does have to be on at idle then I need to keep making adjustments.
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schrader7032
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by schrader7032 »

If the light only shows when you put the key in and begin to kick, but goes out as soon as the bike is started, that's a good thing! You generator is charging the battery and providing excess power to the system. I would not keep lowering the idle just to have the light come on. You have a good situation there!
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by Seek »

It also depends on the exact voltage limit of the regulator. There is no obligation for the red light to be on or off at idle.

tboooe
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Re: Should my charge light be on at idle?

Post by tboooe »

Cool, thank you guys. I appreciate the input.
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Tommy
1967 R69s + a bunch of Ducatis

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