So I got my bike running ok. Not well but ok. Enough to take it for a test run. The battery was dead again. So I got it started with the battery charger/starter. When I would unplug it it would die. Alternator? Maybe? When I rev the engine it's fine but at idle it dies.

After that day sometimes it would start and run and other times it wouldnt start at all.

I replaced the weber carbs with Mikuni carbs. It took a while for it to start up the first time. But after the first time it started and got it running it's awesome. No problems running at idle without the charger attached. But I know the battery was low again because i had to put the charger on it. Today I added the airfilters. I started the bike and it ran great. I unplugged the charger and the headlight and dash light got very dim. I would rev the engine and they would brighten up. But at idle got dim again then it died.

So my questions. Is my alternator going bad or is this normal at idle and a dead battery to not have enough electric production to run the bike?

If my alternator is going bad what should I search for on ebay? What models and years use the same alternator?

Lastly. I do plan to replace the battery with a gel bettery. But I dont want to put a good battery in that will only hide a problem that will be sure to show up when I am in the middle of nowhere after the battery has died and my alternator isnt working. Unless the alternator isnt designed to idle very long.

One more question. Will I need special tools to replace the alternator if needed?

As long as the old battery works/starts the bike I`d keep that one until the problem was found. I wouldn`t ride until then.
Is the carb synchronized and idle speed set correctly ?
First thing I`d do is measure battery voltage with engine off and engine running. There should be a few volts difference. If voltage remains the same your battery doesn`t get charged and the engine will run on the battery until it`s empty.
Check the FAQs there`s info i.e. a fault finding chart from Electrex for the regulator/alternator.

As usual on a Paso one should check all electrical contacts and clean them specially the grounds. Be sure the regulator/rectifier has a ground connection. Check for wires with a burnt isolation.
(While you`re at it measure voltage at the coils. If that`s lower than battery voltage and cleaning all contacts doesn`t change this add a relay. Won`t solve your problem but still help)

That the lights would brighten up when accellerating, I had that too. My regulator, battery and alternator were ok. After redoing parts of the wiring this has gone.

For the alternator you`ll need something like this


G.

Thanks. I will look it over real well and see if that helps.

I have not checked nor cleaned the wiring or tested voltage yet.

I read in the online manual that the Paso should not be run without a battery. I should have mentioned that in the post I linked above.

Yesterday I attached the battery charger to the battery knowing people would want to see my project finally run today. And run well after replacing the carbs.

here was my show to the fans. We went to the garage and I attached the gas line I bought to the fuel pump and put it in the gas can (the tank is off the bike). I put the fuel line that normally directs the excess gas into the gas tank into the gas can. nothing. A few clicks under starting power that my charger claims it will do starting a car. Just a few clicks is all I got. Jumpper cables to a car battery and it started right up and ran well as promised. So here I am with a gas can and pipes leading to and from it and attached to a car by jumper cables. LOOK IT RUNS GREAT! (as long as there is a side car with a gas can and an extra battery) As soon as I unhooked the jumpper cables the bike died. my battery is dead. Totally dead. So as I mentioned before the manual said do not run the bike without a battery. Basically I ran the bike with a dead battery sucking juice that it can no longer handle.

Did the bike die instantly from no battery? Did I cause more electrical damage running it on a dead battery and no jumpper cables? or do I have an electrical problem?

It was the 4th of july in the US. Plus I also have another project bike i was working on yesterday. But my Paso is my true baby and want it running before the other bike.

What do you think?

I merged your posts as they are the same topic.

Yes, of course you still have the same electrical issue. Did you cause more electrical damage ? No.

G.

I keep being told to go to the FAQ. I go here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=705

There is nothing there about the alternator. I have http://www.box.net/shared/u6ny9gj6s0 and http://www.box.net/shared/40l0q0it07 where does that tell me about where to get an alternator? What fits?
The parts interchange I? http://wayback.archive.org/web/jsp/Inte ... Fparts.htm
MAybe the parts intchange II? http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=ht ... lable.html

parts interchange III? viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2152

Can someone tell me when I find it really is the generator/alternator how do i obtain one?

G, I sent a PM to you the other day.

The outcome of the tests shows that the alternator works fine. The power was not getting to the bike or to recharge the battery. The problem was paint on one connection and the sticky part of electrical tape seeping in on the other connection.

I saw your pm. It is a long one, didn`t really have the time to reply to it yet. Will do asap.
I guessed something like that as the alternator rarely breaks down. Happy it runs now.

G.