Blow 40A fuse (Cali 1400 .... 2013)

[Nuzzi]

I need some help to solve a fuse which seems to keep blowing.... the story begins:
- after a long winter of storing my bike (inside) I took it outside to fire it up. The battery was close to dead, the bike wouldn't start ..... mea culpa... I hadn't put it on the battery tender.
- the battery was so dead I couldn't bring it back and ordered a replacement battery. I thought I ordered the correct battery... it sure looked the same and was the same size and shape.... I installed it hooked it up... found out the poles were opposite to my original battery (+ve on the right)
- I ordered another battery as it really didn't fit well the other way round.
- New battery arrives, I install. Bike starts .... I go for long scenic ride.
- After an hour of riding...my service light comes on.... battery voltage is at 10V..... alternator isn't charging the battery and I'm running it down.... bike dies.
- A kind friend held me get the bike home and we scratch our heads and try to figure it out.
- I figure I've blown the alternator by having hooked up the battery bales to the wrong poles previously...... we start stripping the bike.....but also check in with Wildguzzi.
- Someone suggested before stripping the bike to get at the alternator... check the 40 A fuse. Problem solved.... that was it.
- Yesterday I rode the bike.... after the ride I parked the bike and forgot the key in the ignition.... drained the battery (after 5 hours)
- I jumped it with cables....it started and ran well.... I rode home...well, half way home ... when the service light came on ... I checked the voltage... 9.8V ...bike died....checked fuse....it was blown..

So my question is..why is it blowing? I know I did some stupid things (winter storage without tender, not checking poles on battery and leaving the key in the ignition...aah)...however, jumping it shouldn't blow the fuse.... once it was jumped and running (and I assume charging as the battery had been pretty depleted).... the fuse blew while I was riding it (20 minutes after jumping it with cables)

I would very much appreciate someone's help / insight here.

[guzzisteve]

There was a Tech Bulletin on cutting a power wire at the alt. If key left on for extended time it kills the alt. Power wire was for excitement for gen lite that was never made. I don't have the bulletin #.


Edit:    #13-07-2015      Call the dealer OR there is a copy of bulletin on the GT forum.

Welcome to the campfire!

[Kiwi_Roy]

There was a Tech Bulletin on cutting a power wire at the alt. If key left on for extended time it kills the alt. Power wire was for excitement for gen lite that was never made. I don't have the bulletin #.


Edit:    #13-07-2015      Call the dealer OR there is a copy of bulletin on the GT forum.

Welcome to the campfire!

Pete Roper said something to that effect a couple of weeks back.
I suspect the 1400 shares the same alternator with the Stelio, Griso and Norge but the schematic shows it wired with 2 wires to the plug whereas they have only 1
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/2014_California_Power_Supply.gif

[guzzisteve]

Yea, how many dealers call up and tell the customers to bring the bike in? And all Cali 14 from the beginning are out there. Simple fix, just have to dig in, then test the alt while in there.

[Johan]

Check if your alternator is consuming current with ignition off. Mine is. By placing an ammeter in place of the 40A fuse I measured 5A going to the alternator. Confirmed with mine that the current is actually going in to the alternator by measuring it again at the alternator main power connector.

Havent fixed it due to personal medical issues. The alternator has a replaceable regulator unit inside, and apparently may also have a soldered internal diode bridge.

[Nuzzi]

Yea, how many dealers call up and tell the customers to bring the bike in? And all Cali 14 from the beginning are out there. Simple fix, just have to dig in, then test the alt while in there.

Thanks for the tip, I downloaded the instructions to fix and then (when I thought I had it)...I messed it up by cutting both wires coming from the alt. Both wires are the same color...any tips on determining which wire to reattach ?

[Kiwi_Roy]

I believe both wires are joined
If you read through the other post Pete describes how just the top of the Tee is supposed to be alive.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=91891.0

[elvisboy77]

Yea, how many dealers call up and tell the customers to bring the bike in? And all Cali 14 from the beginning are out there. Simple fix, just have to dig in, then test the alt while in there.

My dealer did call me!  They always call when there is a recall on my bike.  They beat the US mail to the punch.  Scoot Richmond is the best!

[Lannis]

My dealer did call me!  They always call when there is a recall on my bike.  They beat the US mail to the punch.  Scoot Richmond is the best!

They are indeed.   Anytime I have my Guzzi or Triumph serviced there, I find on the bill that any service bulletin items have been taken care of with no fuss, and they call and stay in touch after a service to make sure things are OK ....

Lannis