What do the parts specialists say?
What do the parts specialists say? We picked up the phone to Honda parts specialists David Silver Spares to pick their brains for some answers to our Honda regulator big question. We got through to Chaz Chesire.
Q: Are Honda regulator/rectifiers really that bad?
“Customers often wrongly assume that it’s a case of buying a new reg/rec and off they go again. This is why electrical items like these are nonreturnable, something that we remind customers. There are several reasons why a rectifier will blow: if you’ve burnt yours out ,you should do a few checks before plugging in a new one.”
Q: What advice would you give anyone that wants to prevent a reg/rec meltdown?
“Buying a good workshop manual is a good starting point. Learn how to do basic tests on how to check that your charging system is in good order. Try simple things like running the bike with the lights on and checking that the lights get brighter when revving the engine. Buying a voltmeter will allow you to do proper tests of the charging system.“
Q: Is the regulator really the villain of the peace, or is it unfairly labelled a weak spot?
“We stock and sell plenty of Honda regulators that fit models like the CBR600F, CBR900 Fireblade and VFR models. The thing is the reg/rec will fail when there’s issues within the charging system itself. Poorly maintained batteries are probably the real culprit. Keeping a bike on a trickle charge when not in use is an easy way to keep your battery in good shape. This will help you avoid premature woes.“
Q: Are there any changes that can be made to prevent the issue re-occurring?
“The plug that fits the reg/rec is not available as a separate Honda part. Always check the condition of the socket. We recommend the Kojaycat plug, which greatly improves any further issues. Applying some heat sink paste is another widely accepted cheap and easy way to help rid the reg/rec of unwanted heat. A thin piece of alloy plate between the regulator and the frame will also help to absorb heat.”
Q: Do you sell as many generators as you do regulators for these models?
“No, we probably sell one stator for every 50 or so regulators.”
Q: Would you recommend interchanging units from different models, like fitting a CBR reg/ rec to a VFR?
“We only advise customers to use the part number of the regulator that Honda recommends for that model. Customers sometimes want to order a different unit than the parts book suggests, though we can’t stop them. The only time it’s worth doing is when Honda upgrade the original equipment part. These are easy to spot because they are bigger and have more cooling fins.”
Some useful contacts
■ https://www. electrexworld.co.uk/ ■ Www.kojatcat.co.uk ■ https://www. davidsilverspares.co.uk/