I replaced a blown out and failed stock unit with a new finned Honda RR, at idle the VOM shows 13.5v DC, but as the RPMs climb, the voltage drops to 12.58 +- regardless of the engine speed. It never gets past 13vDC except at idle.

Any thoughts out there?

 

You may want to test out the stator next - its basically the alternator like you have in a car. it should have a testing procedure in the manual or try a search on here for more info.

 

All three sides of the stator got to 50vDC or slightly more when tested.

 

And that is decidedly low... I think my new one was at 60 ish when i scrapped the old one and replaced it...

 

Well, the shop manual led me through the test for the charging system and 50vDC for all three sides was normal, ergo the stator is okay. But.

None of the tests for the RR would yield the result, good or bad, that the book said I should observe. The unit is a new finned piece from a known source. The 13.5 at idle and dropping to 12.58 as the rpm's climbed had me scratching my head.

Once more into the diagnostic chart, I figured, and got out the tools. As I unplugged the harness from the RR unit again, I noticed that the insulation on the red/white wire was slightly discolored. What the...

After I pulled the female connector from the plug and peeled the insulation back I found gray/green corrosion on the copper strands and in the wire to connector contact point. In an ah-ha moment I dismounted the wire and cleaned it to shiny bright as I did the female connector, then I soldered the two back together, applied dielectric grease, shrink wrapped the unit and reinstalled it into the plug, plugged it into the RR and ran the test again.

13.5vDC at idle and 14 as the rpm's come up to 5K. The sun is shining on me today! The bike is charging it's battery again and one more gremlin is cast out in the cold.

 

Glad to hear you figured it out...

 

Bad connections are to blame for many an R/R problem, as is poor cooling..which is often a result of a bad ground connection.

I came over from the VFRD forum at the recommendation of a member here, to offer what I could about the R/R issues we have fought there, and see what else I could learn

Tightwad

 

I see you are in Texas and I also own a VFR. My R/R has been replaced by the PO on the Superhawk but the Interceptor seems to have been fitted with the finned unit from the manufacturer.

It's not surprising when you stand the two bikes up side by side. Many of the electronics on the '97 VFR were superior to the Superhawk instruments for years to come.

For me they are two different tools. When I'm on the Superhawk I don't give a **** what time it is so not having a clock is not important.

The Interceptor is the jet out of the city when traffic is light to a place a little quieter than here. If I need to get my head into the country for a breakfast away from the city. . . you won't see me leave. Like the cops, you will only hear it.

 

Yup, Dallas area. Some of the 90-97 VFRs also had non-finned units...probably the same one? Uses a 5 pin plug that goes directly into the R/R? Heat is the killer for this unit, grounding them helps immensely.

 

Ok, speaking of VFRs, my dad has one and turned me on to a site that the VFR guys know about. www.wiremybike.com He does what he calls the VFRness, which is a new harness and R/R.

I wrote and asked him about doing one for the VTR. This was his reply:



So who has their bike apart and can take some pictures to provide him?

 

That would be me....more than happy to help if I can, the VFR versions are about a perfected as I can get, and now I need another challenge.