Starting Problem

[Mr_Salad]

I just got my bike and its a bit older. ('93 Seca II)
When I was looking at the bike, the previous owner said the battery was old and wouldn't hold a charge, so all I had to do was get a new battery and I would be golden.

So I took it home, got a new battery and was far from golden.
The bike still won't hold a charge, despite a brand new battery. The next thing that I think of is a problem with the charging mechanism. Aparently there are two parts that make up a motorcycle's "alternator:" a stator and a regulator. I am going to take it to the mechanic on friday and have him check it out. I want to use this as an opportunity to learn how to perform maintenance on my bike. How tuff would it be to replace the stator or regulator myself? Should I just let the mechanic do it?

Also I wanted to take it in for a general tune-up, but want to learn how to do this by myself. I have a feeling that the previous owner didn't do any maintenance in the year that he owned it. What do you guys do for "general maintenance?"

Thanks in advance for your help.

[niterider]

When I bought my vulcan it had a charging problem. It turned out to be a broken wire that went to the regulator. Acid from the bat had corroded the wire in two.

Gen. Maint.
I change oil at about 1500 miles and check water and oil levels.
My lifters are self adj.
Cam chain self adj also.
I have no chain to bother with.
I will start to check air pressure more regular.

[storysunfolding]

I want to use this as an opportunity to learn how to perform maintenance on my bike. How tuff would it be to replace the stator or regulator myself? Should I just let the mechanic do it?

Depends how mechanically inclined you are. The best bet if you plan to do it is to buy a factory service manual, a clymer or a haynes (in that order of preference). Replacing hte regulator is easy, you unplug the old one and plug in the new one. The stator is more of a piece of work and requires going into the engine. It's doable but I'd put it at a 7 out of 10 on a difficulty scale for someone who has never touched a motor before.

Of course if it's your stator and you want to save money PM me and I can walk you though it (I live just south of D.C.)

[Mr_Salad]

Hey Thanks for the offer. Yea, I plan on getting a repair manual for all of the work that I do. As far as my mechanical inclination, I am an engineering student with no real mechanical experience. I have rebuilt and rewired my electric guitar though. Not quite on the same scale as a motorcycle.

I plan on taking the bike in to determine the problem. Based on the report, I am going to decide what I want to do myself and what I want the mechanic to do. Should be quite a learning experience.