So I installed the MSA 60-amp alternator and voltage regulator bypass today. It was a huge pain in the arse fighting the incredibly stiff formerly rubber boot that goes over the positive connection, but other than that it was easy.

So I fired it up and all of a sudden the engine bay light and interior dome lights were bright as could be. They'd never been on before, apparently the switches were always active (and the engine bay light was flipped on) but didn't have enough juice to operate. Good times.

I have a battery drain issue to, thanks for heads up!

Whats does your ammeter say now? Mine sits just above the line and what appears to be about +20 amps at 3000 rpm.

Edited April 9, 201016 yr by Z-Luke

My ammeter hovers just past the center mark on the positive side. I haven't had to drive with the lights on yet, I'll do some checking tomorrow while I'm tinkering.

I think I had a bad battery. Won't stay above 11.7 volts sitting in my kitchen, at room temperature. Thats after being charged overnight as well. The motorcycle battery thats been sitting in my laundry room for 3 months without beeing maintenance charged at all is still sitting at 12.4

Sounds like you're right, once a battery no longer holds a charge it's pretty much a paper weight.