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Tools
needed:
-
Wrenches
and screwdriver (to remove front seat section and rear ignition coil
assy)
-
Soldering iron and solder
-
Electrical tape
-
Optional
- Electrical multimeter (for measuring charging circuit before/after)
One of the
very first things all Vmax owners should do is correct a factory wiring
harness issue which impedes the Vmaxes charging system from doing it's
job. The issue is a crimped splice in the red power wire between the
regulator/rectifier and the main fuse block which can cause resistance and
a resulting voltage drop (Figure 1 below). It is located in the wiring
harness directly behind the battery (under the front seat section) in a
taped-up section of the harness. Many owners report a full one volt
increase at battery during charging (when bike is running) by just
soldering this connection. Older bikes seem to benefit more from this
modification. All Vmax owners should perform this fix.
Figure 1
- diagram showing electrical location of 'crimp'
Perform
following steps to correct 'splice' issue:
1)
Remove front seat section from motorcycle
2)
OPTIONAL - Start the motorcycle and measure the voltage across the
battery while bike is running. This is the charging voltage.
3)
Remove 2 10mm bolts holding rear coil assy (Figure 2 below). You will
need to unplug some of the various electrical connectors which limit
the rear coil assy from moving so you can get underneath to the taped
area of the harness
Figure 2 -
Picture of area under the front seat section
4)
Follow the 'culprit' wire into the wiring harness to locate area where
electrical tape needs to be removed (Figure 3 below)
Figure 2
- Picture shows routing of 'culprit' wire into harness under
rear
coil assy (rear coil assy is lifted up for this picture)
5)
Remove electrical tape from the harness until the red 'culprit' wire
and 'splice' area are visible (figure 4 below)
Figure 4 -
The 'crimp' exposed
6)
Solder the crimped connection making sure adequate solder flows into the
'crimp'
7)
Re-tape the harness with good electrical tape
8) Plug
in any electrical connectors that were previously unplugged, re-install
the rear coil assy with 2 10mm bolts
9)
OPTIONAL - Start motorcycle and measure the voltage across the battery.
Note any difference from step 2 above (if performed)
10)
Re-install front seat section and go for a long ride, stopping only to
eat, fuel up, or, well, you know. Have fun!
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