Stator, Battery, and Front Tire

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Well, it happened.  The stator in the alternator failed, as they tend to do in Ninja 650Rs.  Mine got me almost to 66,000 miles, so I am pretty happy.  It also didn't just let me down in the middle of nowhere, fortunately.

The stator is wired in a three phase pattern, and one of the phases was not producing an output voltage. 

I think the failure is right where the burned place is in the photograph below.

That failure made the stator produce less power to recharge the battery and run lights, ignition, fuel injection, and accessories.  I noticed that occasionally the horn was not very loud and the trip odometers and clock would sometimes reset to zero when starting the engine.  I tested the stator according to the Kawasaki manual and found the problem.

The stator OEM part number is 21003-0042 for my 2006 and others.  I bought a new stator from grimcycles on ebay, and it got here in about a week.  It looks good and fit fine.  More importantly, it now produces the full power that it should.  That cost me $144.95 for the part, shipped.  My labor, as usual, is free.

I changed the oil and filter as long as I was in there.  You lose most of the oil when opening the stator cover if you do it with the side stand instead of a rear stand.  If you use the latter, you only lose about a quart.  It needed changing anyway, so that was fine.  I use Mobil 1 and a Kawasaki-brand filter. 

The procedure to change the stator is well documented here.  I reused the stator cover gasket.  It is not metal, but it is sufficiently sturdy if you are careful handling it.  Use silicone sealant only around the wire passthrough, not on the entire gasket. 


I buttoned up the engine, filled it will oil, started it up and found that the charging voltage at 4000 RPM was correct at 14.6 volts.


I went for a ride, and the symptoms of the weak horn and disappearing odometer reading persisted!

Now what?

Well, I tested the battery after it had been on trickle charge overnight and found its voltage to be lower than it should be.

That is an indication of a bad battery.  I last replaced the battery in late 2012, almost 30,000 miles ago.  That time, I replaced it with the same as OEM, a Yuasa YTX12-BS.  I did the same this time, and found it only a few dollars higher than six years ago at $59.88, shipped from Amazon seller Avid Cycles.  It got here in a few days, I filled it, charged it, and everything works fine now.


Oh, wait a minute.  What about the tire I mentioned?   Well my front tire was about worn out so I sent away to Sportbike Track Gear for a fresh Michelin Pilot Road 4.  They had the lowest price of $146, shipped when I used an $8 rebate from previous purchases there.  I took it to the local Foothills Powersports dealer to be mounted and balanced for $37.  The worn out tire had 10,500 miles on it and the resulting cost per mile was $0.018 over its life.  Even at as long a life as I get because I ride sedately, tires are a significant expense of owning a motorcycle. 


So I have two good tires, and an electrical system that works properly now.  The whole escapade cost about $390.  This motorcycling isn't cheap!


I might say, though, that this bike has been very reliable over its life.  I never abuse it, so that probably contributes to its longevity.

The other major issues -- besides routine service -- have been the fuel pump failure, the loose kickstand, and the water pump seal failure at 41,000 miles.  I have done all of the maintenance and repair myself, so the costs were much lower than if I had to take it into a mechanic each time. 

Not too bad for an elderly ride like mine.

Hope to see you on the road!
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Veterans Day -- A Salute to Those Who Fought for Our Freedom

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Veterans Day  
(from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

If you see a veteran, take a minute to thank him for his service, and for his helping preserve our freedom.  
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