Honda Unicorn- Charging Problem--Help!!

tj123 · 31st December 2009, 17:24

Suddenly yesterday my Unicorn's horn, flasher, neutral lights conked-off. I thought that the battery conked off, but today I checked the voltage on the terminals without the battery , it showed 9 volts & on racing the engine the voltage is dropping to 4-5 volts.

I thing there is some problem with the voltage regulator ....guys any of you faced such problem. What will be approx cost of replacing a rectifier circuit ? Any clues

aaggoswami · 31st December 2009, 22:17

Did you do any mods to your bike ?

Get the coils and RR unit checked. If you have installed heavy electrical units then its possible that things have gone bad.

Checking Coils and RR unit will get the job done. I have seen many cases like this. Its not very serious issue.

Its surprising how this can happen if you haven't done mods to your bike. These systems are on threshold. Anything more than what factory gives and you have ended up with problem.
Good way to earn money, both for company and dealer.

tj123 · 31st December 2009, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

Did you do any mods to your bike ?

Get the coils and RR unit checked. If you have installed heavy electrical units then its possible that things have gone bad.

Checking Coils and RR unit will get the job done. I have seen many cases like this. Its not very serious issue.

Its surprising how this can happen if you haven't done mods to your bike. These systems are on threshold. Anything more than what factory gives and you have ended up with problem.
Good way to earn money, both for company and dealer.

Hey I have not done any modification to the bike , it is in absolute stock condition.
Ya initially I thought that the battery has conked off, but I was surprised to see the charging voltage as 9 v and on racing the engine the voltage is dropping down to 4-5 volts , looks like some other electrical problem.

Alter_Ego · 1st January 2010, 00:15

Get your alternator checked.That seems to be the culprit.

greatmana2000 · 1st January 2010, 00:19

Even with the battery drained , do the headlights still work ? Are they as braight as they were before ? If they are then the regulator/ rectifier is the headache , else get the alternator coil checked .

tj123 · 1st January 2010, 07:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatmana2000

Even with the battery drained , do the headlights still work ? Are they as braight as they were before ? If they are then the regulator/ rectifier is the headache , else get the alternator coil checked .

Yup the headlights & tail lights are working as normal.
It seems that the alternator is working , the rectifier seems to be the problem. Let me check out at Honda A.S.S. as other guys wont stock such components

.

What can be the possible reason for rectifier failure ? Any clues

mithun · 3rd January 2010, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj123

Yup the headlights & tail lights are working as normal.
It seems that the alternator is working , the rectifier seems to be the problem. Let me check out at Honda A.S.S. as other guys wont stock such components

.

What can be the possible reason for rectifier failure ? Any clues

How old is your bike and how much KMS ?

tj123 · 3rd January 2010, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

How old is your bike and how much KMS ?

Bike is around 4yrs old , not used it much... done around 20K Km.

mithun · 4th January 2010, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj123

Bike is around 4yrs old , not used it much... done around 20K Km.

So, get the charging system checked.

tj123 · 4th January 2010, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

So, get the charging system checked.

Today showed it to a Honda shop not H.A.S.S, as per him the rectifier needs to be changed, and it will cost around Rs.600.
But unfortunately he didn't had any rectifiers in stock as it is a slow moving & expensive part.

The voltmeter was sowing around 8-9 volts & on increasing the engine rpm the voltage was decreasing to around 4-5 volts this he said is due to faulty rectifier.

Hashim · 5th January 2010, 01:29

I remember same problem in my Yamaha Gladiator, without battery when attaching voltmeter it was showing 5v and from beginning battery was going down often. For charging it should give about 14v right? But dealer took off battery from a new Gladiator and attached the multimeter and that bike was too showing 5v. After that 3 years passed and I didn't bothered much about this and my battery hardly manages to start the bike and I have to use kick most of the time.

But I notice when I drive the bike for long like 10km or more battery does get charged and it is able to power self motor and start bike. What I mean to say here that before changing rectifier do check if its same with other Unicorn as well or not.

tj123 · 7th January 2010, 17:36

Hey today got my Unicorn checked at Honda A.S.S they put a new battery as mine was dead & they checked the voltage on the terminals it was showing around 14.6 volts. And as per the mechanic this is normal & the battery is being charged normally.

He said the battery needs to be replaced & there is no problem with the rectifier...

The A.S.S only has Amco battery as OEM, hence I got an Amaron Alpha series AP-ATX2.5L battery from outside costing around Rs 700/- with 60 month Warranty. This battery is absolutely maintenance free with no water top ups at all.

I also saw a Exide costing around Rs 600/- with 15 month warranty.

I felt Amaron is a much better product with a better warranty & service life with zero maintenance.

31st December 2009, 17:24	#1
tj123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BLR Posts: 1,148 Thanked: 680 Times	Honda Unicorn- Charging Problem--Help!! Suddenly yesterday my Unicorn's horn, flasher, neutral lights conked-off. I thought that the battery conked off, but today I checked the voltage on the terminals without the battery , it showed 9 volts & on racing the engine the voltage is dropping to 4-5 volts. I thing there is some problem with the voltage regulator ....guys any of you faced such problem. What will be approx cost of replacing a rectifier circuit ? Any clues
	() Thanks

31st December 2009, 22:17	#2
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Did you do any mods to your bike ? Get the coils and RR unit checked. If you have installed heavy electrical units then its possible that things have gone bad. Checking Coils and RR unit will get the job done. I have seen many cases like this. Its not very serious issue. Its surprising how this can happen if you haven't done mods to your bike. These systems are on threshold. Anything more than what factory gives and you have ended up with problem. Good way to earn money, both for company and dealer.
	() Thanks

1st January 2010, 00:15	#4
Alter_Ego BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 444 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	Get your alternator checked.That seems to be the culprit.
	() Thanks

1st January 2010, 00:19	#5
greatmana2000 BANNED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 703 Thanked: 58 Times	Even with the battery drained , do the headlights still work ? Are they as braight as they were before ? If they are then the regulator/ rectifier is the headache , else get the alternator coil checked .
	() Thanks

5th January 2010, 01:29	#11
Hashim BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aligarh Posts: 449 Thanked: 49 Times View My Garage	I remember same problem in my Yamaha Gladiator, without battery when attaching voltmeter it was showing 5v and from beginning battery was going down often. For charging it should give about 14v right? But dealer took off battery from a new Gladiator and attached the multimeter and that bike was too showing 5v. After that 3 years passed and I didn't bothered much about this and my battery hardly manages to start the bike and I have to use kick most of the time. But I notice when I drive the bike for long like 10km or more battery does get charged and it is able to power self motor and start bike. What I mean to say here that before changing rectifier do check if its same with other Unicorn as well or not.
	() Thanks

7th January 2010, 17:36	#12
tj123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BLR Posts: 1,148 Thanked: 680 Times	Hey today got my Unicorn checked at Honda A.S.S they put a new battery as mine was dead & they checked the voltage on the terminals it was showing around 14.6 volts. And as per the mechanic this is normal & the battery is being charged normally. He said the battery needs to be replaced & there is no problem with the rectifier... The A.S.S only has Amco battery as OEM, hence I got an Amaron Alpha series AP-ATX2.5L battery from outside costing around Rs 700/- with 60 month Warranty. This battery is absolutely maintenance free with no water top ups at all. I also saw a Exide costing around Rs 600/- with 15 month warranty. I felt Amaron is a much better product with a better warranty & service life with zero maintenance.
	() Thanks