Went to start my quad last weekend and it was dead, just a clicking sound. It started right up with the pull cord and I had headlights. While I was riding I noticed that the speedo was not working and when I went into reverse it would sputter and backfire. Tried to charge the battery but I think its dead, couldn't get more than 11.2 volts. Is there a way to check that the generator didn't take out the battery. I don't want to buy a battery just to kill it. Any suggestions are welcome.

Tony

 

I can't help you but I may have a simular problem. This weekend my bike would not start using the starter. Sometimes it would just click, sometimes it would spin but not engage, other times nothing. Headlights work but dim to nothing when I try to start. Thank god for the pull start.
I have only had it three months but I have also beat the H E double hockey sticks out of it.

I bet on the battery or the charging system. Like you I have no way to check. At least this happened during my warranty period.

Maybe we'll both get an answer.

 

Well, I think I might be able to help a little. Now try to charge the battery up, and start the motor. Now run with the lights on for a while and then check the battery. Now on the charger, it should tell you how much juice your battery is pulling from the charger. Now if it's a lot, then one, your alternater is shot, or two, the battery is crap. So one way to check this is pull start the motor like usual. Now, if you don't have a tool like me, you might want to go to the shop before anything. What you do with it is you touch one end, positive, and the other, negative, to a wire. This will tell you how much power is running through the wire. Now if there is no juice coming from the alternator to the battery, then it is the alternator. If that's not it, then the batter is crap and needs to be replaced. Now your dealer should have a way to check that. This will save you time and money, replacing something that is not needing replaced. I think I just rambled on about nothing, and I really can't explain the way you should check it at your house, so I probably wasted your time. But I hope in all of this that it helped you in some way.

 

First thing to check is the regulator. It is the little guy that you may be able to see in the radiator shroud, with all the little wires coming out of it. On my Xplorer, if you look from the front through the grille, you can see it. I am not sure on the location on other machines for sure.
Check to be sure that all the wires going to it are solidly connected.
Do you have lights when the engine is off, or only when running? If only when running, there may be a loose or corroded terminal on the battery. If they come on when running, you know the generator has to be putting out at least some juice. If they work all the time, but the starter only clicks, it may be a connection to the starter solenoid, or the solenoid itself.
Also, if you have a voltage tester, check voltage (at battery)with engine off, running at idle, and running about half speed (in neutral, of course [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Voltage should be lowest when off, maybe 11 to 13 volts. Voltage should raise a little at idle, and be highest when revved. This voltage should be about 14.4 more or less, or at least 2 volts more than when off, if the battery is low.

Check these 'easy' things first. If that doesn't help, I have some other things to try.

Good luck
Farmr

 

You may have more than one problem. A faulty alternator will usually put out enough current to barely run the machine but not enough to recharge the battery.Over time, the battery dies because it is forced to compensate for the shoddy alternator. Most of the time, alternators simply don't just give out, but they give warning signs along the way. Since the machine RUNS at all, the alternator is putting out SOME current. Before anything else, ensure that all electrical connectors are tight.

1. Jumpstart the machine with a car. If it fires right up, replace the
battery and have the alternator bench tested. If it does not start,
check the starter solenoid.
2. Check the rectifier, as mentioned earlier. It is located just above
the radiator. The rectifier converts the A/C voltage from the
alternator into D/C voltage the machine was designed to use.