Jdmranger4x4
New member
Hey everyone. I've got a 86 Yamaha excel 3 with some charging issues. It's got the 340 in it with electric start and pull cord. I can always start it with the pill rope. And I know the starter is bad so I've just used the pull start since I got it. Put in a new battery and it won't hold any kind of charge. These 2 stokes are a new breed to me and am just starting to learn them. Ive been a mechanic for 18 yrs and never really had any run ins with them. So what am I missing with the charging problem. Once it starts it runs fine and lights and all work perfectly. Just battery either isnt charging or won't hold a charge. I put a new battery in it this yr and have the same problem. Any guidance would be extremely helpful.
archer
Member
You might start by putting your voltmeter across the battery terminals and see what the voltage is before you start and after, while its running. A charged battery should be somewhere between 12.8 and 13.2 and when charging should be 14 vdc or more. If the charge voltage doesnt change when its running, the sled has a bad charging circuit, maybe voltage regulator, CDI, diode, wiring, etc. If it seems to be charging when running but the battery discharges when its just sitting there I would think you have a component or wiring problem thats shorting to ground.