Did an overnight trip was taking the back roads home when battery light came on and gauge said around 11 volts, so got on highway to try to get close to home . About 2 minutes after it came on it went out ,stayed on highway for 40 miles and was fine took exit and went back roads home . Guessing regulator is going bad can't remember doing this most times it just dies, I'll buy one and keep in bag.
If the defective regulator is replaced, why carry another in the bags?
IIRC the '12s had problems with their regulators. I would check the stator out. Mine did pretty much the same thing. I replaced the regulator and found that it was indeed the stator.
Follow your factory service manual test procedure. It will get you there.
The 2012 HDs had a bad batch of regulators that was dealt with via Service Bulletin M-1325. My 2012 Limited was one of the ones affected.
If you're curious, the 4 digit date code on the regulator was how they told which were affected. Like tires, the date code is the week (first two digits) and the year (last two digits). Per the SB, the affected date codes were: 4011-5211 and 0112-0912.
As far as a spare, that was the only regulator I have had to replace...
Do the sniff test in the primary, make sure the stator windings burnt, do the service manual tests. Swap out what is bad and keep on riding. It might not be the regulator. I have had stators fail in the same way, stop charging, a few miles later all ok and run that way for the rest of the day. When I got home I popped of the derby cover and I could smell the failure.
I never understood the point of carrying extra parts. Chances are once the old part fails the new one will last for years. Here we have a nine year bike with a possibly failed regulator. You gonna carry around a spare for nine more years?
I know I guy that had a ignition coil fail. He carried a spare for ten years and never took it out of the box.
Quote from: PoorUB on August 02, 2021, 09:46:13 AM
Do the sniff test in the primary, make sure the stator windings burnt, do the service manual tests. Swap out what is bad and keep on riding.
I never understood the point of carrying extra parts. Chances are once the old part fails the new one will last for years. Here we have a nine year bike with a possibly failed regulator. You gonna carry around a spare for nine more years?
I know I guy that had a ignition coil fail. He carried a spare for ten years and never took it out of the box.
You're right UB. I carried a head gasket in my Shovel for years and .... oops, different subject. Seems I used it often... :SM:
Quote from: fbn ent on August 02, 2021, 09:48:41 AM
You're right UB. I carried a head gasket in my Shovel for years and .... oops, different subject. Seems I used it often... :SM:
Well, it that case you are probably justified! Later regulators and stators don't fail that often!
"I never understood the point of carrying extra parts. Chances are once the old part fails the new one will last for years. Here we have a nine year bike with a possibly failed regulator. You gonna carry around a spare for nine more years?"
I'm presuming the OP meant to keep running the old one & have the new one handy for replacing? Most would just do the checks & replace it while at home, in the shop.
Quote from: koko3052 on August 02, 2021, 12:06:43 PM
"I never understood the point of carrying extra parts. Chances are once the old part fails the new one will last for years. Here we have a nine year bike with a possibly failed regulator. You gonna carry around a spare for nine more years?"
I'm presuming the OP meant to keep running the old one & have the new one handy for replacing? Most would just do the checks & replace it while at home, in the shop.
Correct, find the problem and fix it. (Check for loose battery cables too)
The light has come on twice in the last 300 miles going out in a minute , bike shop said check cables before ordering , gave them both about 1/8 of a turn never had a problem starting like a bad connection . Just going to ride and see if it comes on again , if it does I'll order it then.
It's the regulator. They had a batch of bad ones on the 2012 bike. I had a 2012. Does exactly as you describe before it fails completely.
Yeah I already replaced it once bike shop said it's common because oil cooler in front of it so over heats in hot weather