Q: My uncle has given me an old Suzuki GS850, the one with the shaft drive. I managed to get it running and went out for a ride, but suddenly the bike came to an abrupt stop and I could smell something ‘odd’ coming from behind the air box.
When I removed the side panel I realized it was coming from the battery, one of those yellow one’s, and when I took it out it was swollen and cracked down one side.
So I was wondering if you’d have any ideas on what could cause this, because I’ve never seen anything like it before?
Regards.
Piet Stock.
A: There have always been issues with early big Suzuki’s and the charging systems. I’d predict there’s a short inside the stator behind the left side engine cover. Over time the copper windings become brittle and especially the three wires coming from it to the voltage regulator/rectifier units, which control the correct voltage and current.
See if you can get/borrow a battery and check the voltage with a meter onto the battery terminals, and make sure it isn’t more than 13.6 volts +/- above 3,000rpm. But if the readings are ‘strange’ you’ll have to replace the stator I’m afraid, which can be very expensive, but you can install it at home with very little tools. Maybe replace the regulator/rectifier as well for a new complete charging system to be sure?
This is what we’d recommend, replacing the whole system, and a new battery of course.
