testing rectifier/regulator out of the ski

[JKSTI&R1]

Hey guys,

Ok so my question is, can you check/test the rectifier out of the ski? Like just the rectifier its self. I bought one for my 1996 gti 717 and wanted to test it before I put it all back together. The problem with the ski is this..... I bought a new battery and the ski ran great for a few hours. Didnt bog or have any problems. Then the oil sensor beeper went off. I checked the oil and it was full. Gave it throttle on the trailer and it had the normal white smoke. So we unplugged the beeper and went out. They came back about 15 mins later because another beeper was going off. It was the low voltage light. Started the ski back up and all the gauge lights flickered and the beep came on after it started. We didnt take the ski back out, didnt want to get stuck out on the water. So I figured its the regulator..... So do all the stator and rectifier test have to be done in the ski. I checked the ohm's of it out of the ski, got no reading on 1 yellow wire and got a reading on the other wire. I also have another 717 ( 95 xp ) and I pulled the rectifier out of that one as well because It seamed to do the same thing,( I got different readings on both rectifier ) got the 95 xp started, turned it off and the battery was dead and would start, could be a bad battery as I bought that battery last year, did charge it fully before we went out, but I have had batteries die like that before, but I have 2 95 xp's and I did have to replace the rectifier on the other one last year so I figured I would change it out just in case.... Anyways can they be tested out of the ski......?

 

[LouDoo]

Off hand I don't know of a way to bench test the rectifier. You might want to check the manual.

You can test the rectifier-stator out of the water by running the ski at fast idle, 4200 rpms or so, you should be getting a charging voltage of around 14-14.5 volts. Since you have multiple ski's I would try a different know good battery, I'm not saying it can't happen, but personally I have never had a rectifier fail on a 717.

Lou

 

[pwgsx]

If its anything like the Yamaha that I had to do this on which I assume it is, use a multimeter and test the diodes. This video helped me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8EjV0IjW9Q

 

[howie099]

Regulator is easy to sent if you are getting over 15v it is bad. You bring the engine to 5500 RPMS and see. For the Charging stator you use a digital ohm meeter and you should .05-.6 resistance. Testing yellow w/Yellow&Black.

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Hey Guys,

Ok thanks for the help. Ill put them back in and test them in the ski.............

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Ok guys,

So I put the rectifiers back into the skis, started the gti up and checked the voltage and it was 12.4 before I started the ski, brand new battery, then checked it running over 5k rpms and it never changed from 12.4 v. I had to leave to go look at a house ( wife made me ) so I didnt get a chance to test the stator or the rectifier yet. I will put it on the hose tomorrow and check them. The crazy thing is im having the same problem with my 99' xp, new battery and it wont change voltage at all. I even tried it with a different meter and same results. What are the chances they both have bad stators? Im going the unplug the stator on the 99' xp tomorrow and see how it runs, it has a little bog when you hit the throttle hard but runs fine if you feather it..... Anyways ill be back

 

[LouDoo]

Before you start troubleshooting the stator why not borrow the rectifier from your 95XP (same part), and exchange it on your 96GTI?

Lou

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Hey Lou, That is a great Idea, only problem is I sold that ski last year :facepalm:

Also I put in the new battery and as soon as I put the key in, it starts beeping, tested the battery at 12.6 and it was still the same at like 6k rpms. Why would it beep as soon as I put the key in even before it was even started?

 

[howie099]

they have to be bad. Did they pass the static test?

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Do you mean with the ski not running?

 

[howie099]

yep, you can test them without the ski running. If you have the manual it goes right through it.

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Ok, so I went out to the lake today and put in the new regulator and the beeping stopped but it still have the battery light on and also the temp light is on. It has water coming out the pisser and the motor was cool to touch and never got hot. I checked the battery on the meter and it was 12.39v when I started and I checked it after about 15 mins out on the water and it read 12.47v, so it seems to be charging but it wont jump on the meter when I give it throttle. But here is the strange thing, I tested 3 ski's and none of them will read any higher on the meter after they start. Do you think my meter is bad or something? I cant see all of the ski's not reading higher after the ski is running. Also is my temp sensor bad and thats why the light is on, or is it still all the same problem with the voltage ?

 

[howie099]

I have used $5 Harbor Freight ones and I get the 13V range. Here is the easy way you know your car/truck is charging so just use the tester on that battery. If it shows good the meter is fine. To test the charging stator you don't need the ski running you just test at the 4 pin connecter up front. Should only take you 5 mins to see if is passes or not. That last ski I tested for charging was my Yamaha GP1200 and when I gave it gas from idling on the hose I watch the voltage actually go up from 12.x to 13.x.

Could be something in your MPEM also. They have static test for the temp sensor and that also or just move it from ski to ski. You never did jump your batter on your ski with the battery cables hooked up?

 

[JKSTI&R1]

Hey Howie099,

Thanks for all the help on a lot of my posts, I really do appreciate it a ton...... Ill check the meter on my truck and see how that goes. Ill change over the temp sensor as well, I have a few around the garage. And no, the ski have never been jumped by cables, I always carry a spare charged battery just in case