Motorcycle Repair: 1980 Honda CB650, 1980 honda cb650, continuity tests

Question
QUESTION: My newly accquired 1980 Honda CB650 does not recharge when running.  I have a new battery and cleaned all the terminals and area's around the battery.  The aftermarket owners manual suggests a few tests for the Reg/Rec.  1st hook up a meter to the battery and rev the engine the voltage should not go above 14.5 at 5000rmp and be about 12 at idle.  The bike passed this test.  Everything I can find about this on the Internet says if this test is passed than the reg/rec and stator is fine... There were then a series of continuity tests across different terminals of the reg/rec all of these tests failed according to the manual.  I was going to just replace the r/r but I find it suspicous that all of the terminals on the r/r would be bad...any idea of other tests? or do you have a more clearly defined testing method?  Not sure if the R/R terminals need to have a certain voltage present to properly test continuity of the terminals...wouldn't be the first time a manual failed to document a minor detail...

Any help would be great, thanks

Jacob Miller

ANSWER: With the engine running do you see an increase in the voltage?  If not then you are just measuring battery voltage.  You should see the voltage go to about 14V if the system is charging...
 Let me know,  Jan

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QUESTION: Jan,

Sorry for the delayed response.

I do see an increase in voltage when the bike is running.  The voltmeter reads about 14.5V as I rev the engine.

ANSWER: Then your charging system is fine.  You either have a battery which is not holding charge, or perhaps you have a lazy starter motor which does not function well when hot.  What is the reason you suspect no-charge?  From what you describe everything is working as it should.  Good luck,  Jan

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QUESTION: After riding the bike for an hour or so (starting and stopping), I can no longer re-start it.  I have to pop the clutch to get it running.  After popping the clutch a few times the bike will no longer run (I'm thinking because there isn't enough juice in the battery to create spark).  The battery is brand new, and even after sitting in the garage for 2 weeks it holds a charge...any ideas?

Answer
This is a puzzling one.  Either you have an intermittent huge short somewhere or the charging is not consistent.  Do the lights appear dull and does the horn still work after an hour's riding?  The horn is a good indication as to the voltage in the circuit.  If the horn is still good but the starter has issues, then it is most likely the starter motor itself.  If the horn does not work, then there has to be a part of the system which is stopping the charge, check for bad connnectiosn and broken wires.  Good luck,  Jan