Damaged regulator wiring.
 

So this is the state of my regulator rectifier...


I replaced the stock one with one from a GS500 when it died.

My battery went flat, I didn't notice until it broke down again.

Charged the battery, refitted it.

The bike started up straight away and smoke started pouring from the tail unit.

Opened her up to find this sorry state of affairs...

Regulator Rectifier

Damage to location of Reg/Rec

I think I will need a new hose to the rear brake fluid reservoir too...

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

:smt104 Thats not good, looks like it couldn't handle the power/heat.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

think it might have been running a bit hot

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

Dear Bike, please try and set fire to my ****.

The bike starts with no reg/rec fitted. What else will it affect?

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

Battery/electrics, charging system dont know what else.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

Lights and indicators all work. The dial light doesn't though. I'm not sure what else will be broken?

I cant replace the reg until the end of the month so I may have to just keep journeys short and keep trickle charging the battery.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

Hmmmm off the top of my head I think the GS alternator is rated at 200-225 @5000 rpm, and the SV at 250-275, something like that, that is of course if it was wired up correctly :smt102, so that might be the cause, try and find one over rated rather than under next time would be my advice.

Cheers Mark.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

I think running the bike without the regulator may overload the circuits and melt your wiring etc could even start a wire fire.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

How, without the RR fitted, there is no load on the alternator. Other systems continue to draw their rated loads from the battery that will discharge quicker.

Re: I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen...
 

I think not.

The worst that could happen is insulation breakdown within stator windings as the open circuit voltage will be pretty high at high RPM. It won't cause a fire though and it's pretty unlikely.