possible Rec/Regulator failing?

Hello, looking for advice
97 vrf750 with 36k
Drove in rain for about 30 miles today, all on highway. Motor shut off with some backfiring before it died. started back up (immediately) and returned to normal within seconds (some more backfiring then fine). Bike then rested for next 7 hours, then it started normally. But I had no speedo with random speedo occasionally. This lasted for about 10 miles then returned to normal. Drove perfectly for next 20 miles.
Is this possibly a sign of a failing Rec/Regulator?
The bike is driven all year and has been through very heavy rain before and never gave any problems.
Before I possibly go off in the wrong direction looking to fix this i would love to get some advice and direction.
The Rec/Regulator was changed by original owner at 12k. I'm not sure if the current one is OEM. The wires and connectors look fine with no melting.
Thanks
Greg

 

Hey Cronos68

When I had my 97 VFR the first thing I noticed was I went for a ride one day to work, came home and overnight the battery appeared to die. Thought it was the battery at first (it was who knows how old since it was in the bike when I purchased it) so I replaced it. The next weekend I went for a ride with some friends and after about 250 km's we stopped and had lunch at a road side rest stop. When we went to leave the battery was dead and I had to push start it. Seemed to run fine at first and then about half way home the speedo started dancing all over the place when I was doing a constant pace. My R/R wound up being completely fried and the connector was melted. I replaced the R/R with a factory one and repaired the wiring with a new factory connector (didn't know there was another option at that point) and I added a PC cooling fan to the top of it, an aluminum heat shield, and some heat transfer paste to the back of the R/R. I road the bike for almost 35,000 km's after that before I sold the bike and never had another issue. The current owner is still on the same R/R to the best of my knowledge and has not had a problem.

Rubo, a member of this site has a thread that helps walk you through checking the charging system to see if everything is working properly. I used his thread when I had charging issues with my current bike and his thread was of enormous help. Check out the thread and go from there

http://vfrworld.com/forums/5th-gene...how-fix-common-regulator-stator-failures.html

Welcome to the site and hopefully you get the problem all squared away.

 

There should be info on the back of the module as to it's origin.

The ususal symptom of a R/R faiure are dramatic. The bike stops and NGNM (no go no mo)

 

Sounds more like a water issue from the rain, maybe corrosion in exposed terminal connectors.

 

It could be either one or both. I would make sure your battery is good first then check your r/r. I have a 98 and I went through the r/r problem like most all other vfr owners have. But sometimes its just an old battery. It seems the speedo is always the first thing to go wacky. If you have a multi meter though checking your charging system is a very easy thing to do. If you dont have one they dont cost much. But as much of a problem it is with vfrs it should have come in the tool kit.