replacement regulator/rectifier for 1978 XS1100

[gargoyle_house]

Hey buddies,

I've just tried using a purchased-new replacement regulator that I found on eBay -- but it burned out my main fuse (twice) when I turned on the key. It looked correct, was plug compatible, but clearly not the right thing.

the link on ebay is:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181335780138...84.m1423.l2649

There are other similar regulators for sale at the cheap prices -- anyone have any experience with one that actually works?

When I reinstalled my original regulator, bike starts, runs as before. I am replacing it because it under charges -- even at 3000 or 4000 rpm and above, the voltage is only 13.2 on the bike...when at idle, I am only getting 12.4 or 12.5 -- which is essentially the battery charge. If I run too long at low speeds in town, etc -- the batter looses it's full charge and won't start the bike. Yes, I've resorted to traveling to Boston or Montreal with a small but good battery charger and am tired of it!

Am attaching a link to current pic of my semi-working regulator:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1003008...25088697116722

As always, good advice is most welcome...

[natemoen]

http://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/Reg_rec_units.html

Tony is also a member here, his name is Geezer.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Guys,

Okay, here's a photo of the eBay unit he got, it says PLUG AND PLAY for 78-81 XS11's. I'm looking at the wire colors and orientation on the plugs.




And of course, here's his OEM unit:


Okay, on the ALT 5 wire plug, the 3 white wires look to be in the correct position, and the RED is on the right side on the latch side of the plug just like the OEM. The 2 wired field coil wires?? On the latch side the new one shows RED and the other BLUE. The OEM closest to the latch is Green which is the ground, and the Brown is the power. I'm thinking they are reversed on his new unit???

I'm no electrical GURU, with the NEW one plugged in with the 5 wire plug, but the field coil unplugged, shouldn't he see 12 V+ on the RED/BROWN equivalent, and the BLUE/GREEN equivalent.....shouldn't that be a ground?

IF those 2 were cross wired, would that cause his main fuse to blow once the key is turned on?

Any other tests he can do on the NEW reg/Rect?

The eBay add says it has a 1 year guarantee, so he should be able to send it back if it's defective, but I don't know if they'll give him a refund??

T.C.

[crazy steve]

Okay, on the ALT 5 wire plug, the 3 white wires look to be in the correct position, and the RED is on the right side on the latch side of the plug just like the OEM. The 2 wired field coil wires?? On the latch side the new one shows RED and the other BLUE. The OEM closest to the latch is Green which is the ground, and the Brown is the power. I'm thinking they are reversed on his new unit???

I'm no electrical GURU, with the NEW one plugged in with the 5 wire plug, but the field coil unplugged, shouldn't he see 12 V+ on the RED/BROWN equivalent, and the BLUE/GREEN equivalent.....shouldn't that be a ground?

IF those 2 were cross wired, would that cause his main fuse to blow once the key is turned on?

It shouldn't make any difference which two field wires go where to the coil. It's a simple electromagnet, and while that may reverse the polarity of the magnet, the rectifier won't care.

The low output probably isn't the regulator but poor connections. Doing the usual drill for that will likely fix the issue.

[3Phase]

Gargoyle,

Check the new regulator wires in the three-pole connector. Make sure the Red wire uses the same pin as the Brown wire; same for the Green wires.


T.C.,

I think you may have nailed it. If the picture is correct and not just a generic one for the ad then. yes, the two Red and Green wires on the new regulator plug are backwards, upside down, reversed.

That'd be a dead short on the Brown primary wire direct from the Ignition switch and would pop the Main fuse.

.

[3Phase]

Steve,

You can reverse the wires to the Field Coil. I don't know why you'd do that but you could conceivably get away with it. You can't do it to the Regulator.

The Brown wire in the Regulator three-pole connector is the voltage sense connection; Green wire is a regulated ground. Don't reverse 'em or you're trying to regulate the ground on the Ignition primary supply and sense the voltage from the return side of the field coil.

.

[TopCatGr58]

Gargoyle,

Check the new regulator wires in the three-pole connector. Make sure the Red wire uses the same pin as the Brown wire; same for the Green wires.


T.C.,

I think you may have nailed it. If the picture is correct and not just a generic one for the ad then. yes, the two Red and Green wires on the new regulator plug are backwards, upside down, reversed.

That'd be a dead short on the Brown primary wire direct from the Ignition switch and would pop the Main fuse.

.

Hey Scott,

Thanks, I try to earn my keep around here every now and then. I just hope Gargoyle comes back and sees the responses so that he can try swapping the wires in the REG/RECT Plug for the field coil plug and see if that gets it to work. IF so, he should first contact the eBay seller to inform them that they had the plug wired backwards....production quality control or such!

I'm not trying to take anything away from Geezer's R/R, it's a great unit, well worth the $$, actually had one on Godzilla until I installed my 1 Wire race alt.
Just trying to help him not spend anymore $ than he already did.

T.C.

[3Phase]

T.C. you do a fantastic job!

Yes, it's easy to tell someone to spend money instead of figuring out what might be going on with the part/problem they have in their hands at the time. <whistling all innocent-like>

.

[crazy steve]

Steve,

You can reverse the wires to the Field Coil. I don't know why you'd do that but you could conceivably get away with it. You can't do it to the Regulator.

The Brown wire in the Regulator three-pole connector is the voltage sense connection; Green wire is a regulated ground. Don't reverse 'em or you're trying to regulate the ground on the Ignition primary supply and sense the voltage from the return side of the field coil.

.

Yep, you're right.... Forgot about that...

[mharrington]

I may need a new regulator. Bike broke down at my brothers house 100 miles away and is there now so I cant diagnose currently. If the wires are cut and reconnected correctly on the ebay unit will it then work?

[3Phase]

I may need a new regulator. Bike broke down at my brothers house 100 miles away and is there now so I cant diagnose currently. If the wires are cut and reconnected correctly on the ebay unit will it then work?

The problem and its fix are based on a web picture that might have nothing to do with the part you installed on the bike. I'd suggest taking a picture of the connectors on the new regulator and getting in touch with the eBay seller before anyone starts cutting wires or switching terminals around.

IF the wires for the Regulator are backwards it's easy enough to test: just unplug the connector, charge the battery and see if it lives longer when the Regulator isn't actively trying to bring it to its knees.

The color of the wires on the new part doesn't necessarily mean anything either. The manufacturer can use any color that's in stock on the spool as long as they go to the right place in the Regulator/Rectifier.

Talk to the eBay seller.

.