How often do regulator/rectifiers go on the blitz?

As above because I've just had to replace it and the battery on my S model.

Unusual for both to go at the same time.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by warmshed

Unusual for both to go at the same time.

Actually, depending on the the way the reg/rec fails it can often take the battery with it.

Or if the battery gets completely discharged then sometimes they wont take a charge.

So both together is pretty common.

If you use the search on here you will find out that its not that an uncommon failure, bit not as common as some would have you think.

What makes the reg rec fail?
its a very common prob on VFR400 japs models - usually the prob can be traced back to the stator/alt which throws out a high output, which fries the reg rec and then gooses the battery.
same idea on the sv650?

[yorkie_chris]

Not really, the reg recs are just sh*t. Budget part.

On a lot of h*nda it is the way the alternator are wound that give a high voltage output.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Not really, the reg recs are just sh*t. Budget part.

On a lot of h*nda it is the way the alternator are wound that give a high voltage output.

Thats actually really interesting!

Common mod for the Honda is to put in a suzuki Reg rec - wonder if it works both ways.

There is a nice upgrade available for the NC30 that uses a GSXR1000 stator

[_Stretchie_]

Example below of three different types of failure that have happened to me (on Honda's I hasten to add)

My BlackBird - Reg/rec failure

Issue
The clocks died while riding the bike, then the bike died and could not be started.

Diagnosed
With battery charged and bike running, tested the battery with a multimeter and the votage was going down instead of a healthy voltage topping the battery up

Fix
Changed the reg/rec, retested and charging fine. Bike is still running a fine year on.
Cost me £80 and is still working.

Vipers VTR1000 - Reg/rec failure

Issue
We parked up after a ride to a horrible smell, thought it was sewage or something, went to move the bikes but the VTR1000 would not start, notice a strange sound under the seat so took the seat off to find the battery was bubbling over.

Diagnosed
Battery and reg/rec were visibly melted

Fix
Replaced battery and reg/rec, tested with meter and battery was charging fine. Cost about £130 (£80 for reg/rec and £50 for battery) and is still working two years and a couple of Europe trips later

FireBlade 929 - Stator failure

Issue
Exactly the same as the BlackBird, riding along, the clocks stopped working followed by the bike and wouldn't restart

Diagnosed
With battery charged and bike running, tested the battery with a multimeter and the votage was going down instead of a healthy voltage topping the battery up, only this time I know a bit more. Charged the battery again and re-tested, this time I took the socket out of the reg/rec and tested the socket to find that there was not enough going to the reg/rec in the first place.

Fix
Replaced the stator with a redesigned version, tested with meter and found that now there was current going to the reg/rec, reconnected the reg/rec and retested to find battery was charging fine so no need to replace the reg/rec. Cost about £220 for a new stator. Did a bit of mileage but sold the bike due to bad times, but I would put money on it still running.

On some of the Honda's the reg/rec heat sink wasn't very big and would overheat causing the issues, so they have been redesigned with a bigger heat sink to solve the problem of them overheating.


Please correct me on the below if I am wrong.

If the reg/rec overheats and goes, it can:
- Undercharge the battery so that it eventually dies (more common)
- Or can over charge the battery and make it bubble over and it stinks of rotten eggs (less common but this is what happened with Vipers Firestorm meaning replacement reg/rec and battery)

This can also (so I have been told) cause the stator to overload because it is pumping out all this voltage which cannot be dealt with.

The failure could be the reg/rec OR the stator and one MAY knock out the other which in turn COULD know out the battery

Best bet is to get a multimeter remove the seat plastics and check it all out. No point just replacing the reg/rec if it's the stator causing you a problem, and vice versa, that's just expensive.

Hope this A: Helps, B: Stands up as actual fact. YC, Sid what do you say?

Am I learning, or am I doing it wrong?

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah it is rare but reg/rec can take stator out. Or maybe it is stator blows and kills reg rec? Who can tell when you are just looking a load of melted crap

[dirtydog]

I've not had a reg/rec die on me and i've had 4 SVs on the road and done thousands and thousands of miles. Current SV has something like 34k on it and no issues with the reg/rec

[Sid Squid]

The 106,000 mile SV is on the original regulator.

My 120,000+ mile ZX6 also has the one that Kawasaki bolted to it.