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Hi.

I am currently having some troubles with Morini Strada 500, but I wanted to ask for some advice on trouble shooting.

I currently am using a C5 Ignition:
http://www.c5ignitions.com/

While the bike started and ran well for about 50 miles after rebuild (5 starts over 2 weeks) it started to degrade after this, and became nearly impossible to start. When I started the bike the final time, with high revs being pulled, I noticed that the power generation was 8-10 volts. Initially when I started the bike on day 1 it was around 13-14 volts, and now it is around 8-10 volts. I believe the problem is stemming from the alternator being old and perhaps the rotor or stator being degraded. Has anyone had this experience? Does that sound right in that this could be happening when it started out well?

If that is the case, does anyone have any recommendations on an aftermarket generator / alternator that could work with the C5 Ignition?

I appreciate any help or advice that anyone could give.

Thanks.

My first guess would be a failing battery.

You have a battery powered ignition, unlike the original CDI, so starting and running problems as the battery runs low are expected.

The Morini charging circuit will not charge a battery that's below about 10V. Such a low voltage would frequently indicate a failed cell and charging a battery in that condition will 'boil' the remaining good cells and also possibly burn out the alternator.

If the battery is good, then check that the regulator is getting battery voltage at the brown wire terminal when the ignition is on.

It's possible your rotor magnets are weak. I have a remagnetiser, but like everybody these days you've neglected to give even a general location.

Paul,

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. I should have included that I installed a new Antigravity Lithium Ion Battery (8 Cell), so I ruled out the battery being a problem. That being said I will run another check on that to see if that is the issue, but the battery was new prior to install. I will check the brown terminal with the ignition on, but is this the cable terminal on the later wiring diagram of the 500 Blue Manual?

Just to note the electric starter has been removed, and I have installed a M-unit from Motogadet for wiring.

I currently live in Houston, Texas, I updated on my profile so it should pop up now. I have currently not pulled the rotor or stator so I do not know their condition at the moment, and have not been able to test the magnetization of the rotor. I will try to do this and see what I see, but may be a week or so.

Sounds like the Alternator is on the right path? Just in case I have difficulty re-magnetizing, or rewinding, do you know of any replacements as a plan B?

Thanks again, huge help.

Toki wrote: I should have included that I installed a new Antigravity Lithium Ion Battery (8 Cell), so I ruled out the battery being a problem.

MASSIVE FACEPALM!!!

Your battery is almost certainly the problem, you've killed it.

I would never put a Lithium starter battery on anything other than a racer running a total loss system and an offboard charger designed for a Lithium battery.

When a Lithium battery is fully charged, the current into it must drop to ZERO! That's just not possible with a conventional vehicle charging system.