Basic Service Methods; Voltage; Resistance; Amperage - Yamaha V star 1100 Owner's Manual

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electrical basics is necessary to perform simple
diagnostic tests.

Voltage

Voltage is the electrical potential or pressure in an
electrical circuit and is expressed in volts. The more
pressure (voltage) in a circuit, the more work can be
performed.
Direct current (DC) voltage means the electricity
flows in one direction. All circuits powered by a
battery are DC circuits.
Alternating current (AC) means that the electric-
ity flows in one direction momentarily then
switches to the opposite direction. Alternator output
is an example of AC voltage. This voltage must be
changed or rectified to direct current to operate in a
battery powered system.

Resistance

Resistance is the opposition to the flow of elec-
tricity within a circuit or component and is mea-
sured in ohms. Resistance causes a reduction in
available current and voltage.
Resistance is measured in an inactive circuit with
an ohmmeter. The ohmmeter sends a small amount
of current into the circuit and measures how diffi-
cult it is to push the current through the circuit.
An ohmmeter, although useful, is not always a
good indicator of a circuit's actual ability under op-
erating conditions. This is due to the low voltage
(6-9 volts) that the meter uses to test the circuit. The
voltage in an ignition coil secondary winding can be
several thousand volts. Such high voltage can cause
the coil to malfunction, yet the fault may not be de-
tected during a resistance test.
Resistance generally increases with temperature.
Perform all tests with the component or circuit at
room temperature. Resistance tests performed at
high temperatures may indicate high resistance
readings and result in the unnecessary replacement
of a component.

Amperage

Amperage is the unit of measurement for current
within a circuit. Current is the actual flow of elec-
tricity. The higher the current, the more work can be
performed. However, if the current flow exceeds
the circuit or component capacity, the system will
be damaged.
Electrical Tests
Refer to Chapter Two for a description of various
electrical tests.

BASIC SERVICE METHODS

Most of the procedures in this manual are
straightforward and can be performed by anyone
reasonably competent with tools. However, con-
sider personal capabilities carefully before attempt-
ing any operation involving major disassembly of
the engine.
1. Front, in this manual, refers to the front of the
vehicle. The front of any component is the end clos-
est to the front of the vehicle. The left and right
sides refer to the position of the parts as viewed by
the rider sitting on the seat facing forward. For ex-
ample, the throttle control is on the right side of the
handlebar.
2. Whenever servicing an engine or suspension
component, secure the vehicle in a safe manner.
3. Tag all similar parts for location, and mark all
mated parts for position. Record the number and
thickness of any shims as they are removed. Iden-
tify parts by placing them in sealed and labeled
plastic bags.
4. Tag disconnected wires and connectors with
masking tape and a marking pen. Do not rely on
memory alone.
5. Protect finished surfaces from physical damage
or corrosion. Keep gasoline and other chemicals off
painted surfaces.
6. Use penetrating oil on frozen or tight bolts.
Avoid using heat where possible. Heat can warp,
melt or affect the temper of parts. Heat also dam-
ages the finish of paint and plastics.
7. When a part is a press fit or requires a special
tool for removal, the information or type of tool is
identified in the text. Otherwise, if a part is difficult
to remove or install, determine the cause before
proceeding.
8. To prevent objects or debris from falling into the
engine, cover all openings.
9. Read each procedure thoroughly and compare
the illustrations to the actual components before
CHAPTER ONE