Andy1100 Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Ok here's the scoop. Buddys got a 98 VFR 800, wasn't charging, traced it out and replaced the R/R with an electrex unit. Getting 60v AC even between all 3 legs of the stator @5000rpm, no grounding of any legs. no voltage losses through connectors, ingnition switch, cables etc. The battery was just replaced, (cheapo wal-mart). When I start the bike, with the choke on (high idle), the voltage climbs all the way to 18v. then I cut the choke off and the voltage drops with the rpm, to 13.5 and no matter where I rev it from there it doesn't go higher than 14.5. Well when I got home last night I started it, voltage climbed to 18 volts and I could smell the electrolite. I killed the bike and could hear the electrolite boiling in the battery. WTF I went in and called Electrex tech support and a tech is supposed to be calling me back, but I thought I'd tap into the support here. Ideas? Oh I've pulled and cleaned the grounds also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severdog Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 18V on the bus is the classic symptom of regulator failure. It isn't regulating. You'll notice all kinds of things happening, like the battery boiling that you mentioned, as well as little things like bulbs blowing, etc. It typically doesn't affect ignition components. Replace that regulator again, it's defective....unless your connectors are shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1100 Posted July 24, 2003 Author Share Posted July 24, 2003 Could the battery be at fault? I agree with the R/R not regulating, though I'm curious to hear what electrex has to say too, they've got a 1 year warranty on their stuff... The connectors amazed me at how clean they were, look brand new. No distorted plastic, burned nothing, the contacts are still bright and shiny even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severdog Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Could the battery be at fault? I agree with the R/R not regulating, though I'm curious to hear what electrex has to say too, they've got a 1 year warranty on their stuff... The connectors amazed me at how clean they were, look brand new. No distorted plastic, burned nothing, the contacts are still bright and shiny even. You're chasing the symptom, and not the problem. The battery is now a problem due to being cooked by overvoltage. You should never see anything higher than 14.5V from a properly working regulator. It is the stator's job to provide a high AC voltage (three phase) to the regulator. This is because a higher voltage means a smaller current through those stator wires, which leads to smaller resistive losses (i.e. heat) through the wire. This is the same principle as to why your local power company runs 14,000 volts down your street, but is only stepped down to 220/110 right outside your house on the pole. So you've done the right thing by measuring input/output voltages around the regulator, but the fried battery is a result of the regulator, and not a cause unto itself in this case. The Electrex folks should understand the situation once you've provided the clear facts that you've gathered, and they should <koff koff> rectify the situation for you by providing a new regulator for you. Keep an eye on that battery. It may now be toast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1100 Posted July 24, 2003 Author Share Posted July 24, 2003 You guys ROCK.. thanks fellas, they should <koff koff> rectify the situation DAMN..... had to go THERE didn't you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in PA Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 All the answers I would have given have been given. COOL :cool: Bad reg/rec from Electrex, give em hell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtTorpedo Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 This was posted here once before. Here it is again. Good link to bookmark. http://www.electrexusa.com/Images/fault_finding.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1100 Posted July 24, 2003 Author Share Posted July 24, 2003 yep that's the chart I used. They were supposed to call me today, but I have yet to hear from them... Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeG Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Used to have a VFR and had the RR fail. The VFR list guys had lots of trouble with Electrex RR's. For a while they would not even sell the RR for the VFR. Buy one of the new OEM RR's. Much heavier duty now. MikeG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1100 Posted July 25, 2003 Author Share Posted July 25, 2003 I'm considering doing that, the electrex is supposed to be the shit now, but I'm not impressed. Started the bike again last night and it started climbing again, when it hit 16v I shut it down. I'm goig to send them an email today.....Never heard from them yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy1100 Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 Still have not heard from Electrex, never called me back, never returned my email. I called again today and left a message on their answering machine. At this point in time I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM. Getting progressively pissed :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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