charging system problems

Well my VFR finally died today. Its the first time I didn't make it home and had to resort to a tow truck.

I rode the bike all last week without any problems but if you have been reading my prior posts I have been experiencing intermittent charging problems with the charging system.
The local Honda dealer checked the system and did not find anything wrong.
When the problem returned I called the dealer to speak with a mechanic to ask if there were any other tests that could be done to pinpoint the problem before just throwing money at it and replacing parts.

He hung up the phone after commenting, "are you gonna come down here and spend some real money or are you just trying to get some free information."

Bummer. From other posts I have read, it seems like the regulator/rectifier is the most likely culpret.
Does anyone know of a source to buy it?

Any other suggestions for testing, fixing or locating the problem?

Bikermike

 

Everyone has a differing opinion, but Electrex is one source. Some say bad some say good. I bought one for an 86 Yamaha Radian and had no troubles from it at all. Also, you can try Service Honda for an OEM unit. They have the lowest price on them.

For testing, charge your battery to a full charge. Get out your trusty digital volt meter and connect the appropriate leads to their corresponding terminal on the battery. Start bike, rev to 5000 RPM. Meter should read about 14 - 16 volts. More or less and the r/r is most likely bad.

Also check all r/r connections and the stator wires (3 yellow ones) for corrosion/burns. This can also cause you problems.

Point of note: The r/r on the radian worked intermittently for quite a while. Like you, I had my electrical systme checked and nothing was found to be wrong. But I still had the problem of the battery not charging and the bike leaving me stranded.

 

I am wondering if my R/R is bad, too. Three times in the last week the clock and tripmeter reset, and it seems to have trouble turning over. Previous posts seem to say that those are classic early symptoms of a bad r/r.

My question is at what time in a 5Gs lifespan are the r/r's usually crapping out? (I have 16K miles on mine at the moment.) Will a new OEM replacement crap out as well in the same amount of time? It seems this particular issue is the "Achille's Heel" of the beloved VFR.

Oh, yeah, one other thing....I agree with reg. Fire your mechanic, Bikermike, he's a butthole.

 

Reg, thx.

Once I get back from the other war, I will be due for the big 16K service. Thinking about having the r/r replaced then, unless someone tells me it's so easy that a tool like me can do it in my garage with little or no trouble or crazy tool requirements.

I am actually "handy", but only in the blood and guts dept. There is hope, though. I put on my slip-on all by myself...and it has not slipped-off yet. :wink:

If nothing else, people can read how publically ignorant I am about bike maintenance and can:
A) Laugh (which is good medicine, so I am happy to prescribe it)
B) Feel Sorrow and Pity
C) Feel better about themselves, taking pride in the fact that there is at least one guy out there that knows way less than them!!
D) All of the above!!

 

It's like someone threw a switch at 16K and my rec. comitted suicide. You do; however, need to tell that mechanic to piss off. My OEM part seems to be doing well.Shop net for part.

Google Discount Honda Motorcycle parts. It's plug and play!

 

Sweet,thanks! That's the way I like it.

Actually, I did download a bootleg VFR shop manual a while back, and I plan on thumbing through it on the 18 hour C-17 ride back to Afghanistan in a few weeks. I'll either learn a lot, or get lots of sleep! :redface:

 

And I asipre to be just like you guys...sometimes I just worry that on some "easy" project 'ol Murphy'll be there to help me screw it up so bad that the bike is A) no longer rideable :frown: or B) now screwed up so bad that I have to take it too the shop.

But heck, that is why I downloaded the shop manual. We'll get there. In the meantime, my mantra shall be WWVFRWDD? (What Would VFR World Dudes Do?) :wink:

 

We would mount a 50 cal on our VFR's and run through the Middle East cleaning house while laying down the V4 power.....be safe out there son!

 

FWB, that is a damn good idea!! I wonder if I can sneak the Bike on the C-17 somehow.....oh the possibilities.....

 

I have put 2 r/r's on my 98. The service manual lays out the test pretty well so it is not too hard to tell if that is the culprit. Another way is if it dies when riding. Bad battery won't usually do that. The r/r's on these bikes have been updated. They now have a backing plate to cover the gel pack over the diodes on the back (frame side) (tools can slide if the band holding them under seat breaks - that is what killed my first one). They are larger now and have more capacity. I have had no problems with this one. I get mine from ronayers.com in NC. They can get you anything. Watch connections though - bad about overheating and burnin.

 

VFR R/R Bad or not

Man , I have two VFRs in the garage with some type of electrical problem. I have had one R/R replace on my '93, now it seemed to have gone bad again, only after 3 - 4 months. Just out of the warranty period.
The other bike, (97) I have ordered and installed a new r/r. It too seems to have gone bad.
Used the Honda manual to check the r/r. Both seem to be just inside the spec.s laid out in the manual.

What is the next thing to check?

Seeking some advice right now.

Leontj