Well, it's Thursday...

.... so it must be time for the weekly VFR 750 breakdown.

In the outside lane on the M20, no less. Fortunately I made it across
four lanes without gettting run over which was a bit of a miracle as I
didn't have enough momentum to just coast across.

It looks like another dead rec/rect with dead battery. CN sent the
same company that recovered it last week (and who also did the
repair). Oddly enough I wasn't too keen to have them have another go
at the bike so it's now with the Honda stealer in Maidstone.

If it turns out that it is the rec/rect then some choice words will be
had with a few people.

Funnily enough, I'm *not* a happy bunny this morning.

 

Sounds more like a related problem that's putting more
load onto the reg/rec and causing it to fail early than
a problem with the reg/rec itself.

Common causes can be things like a clogged fuel filter
that puts extra strain on the pump, so it draws more
amps and pops the reg/rec. Or maybe a corroded
connection in a plug/socket somewhere that is
causing some nasty current drain as that's not
unusual either.

For the sake of a fiver, I'd replace the fuel filter and
then start checking all the obvious sockets and
plugs for signs of corrosion.

 

And this is a perfect example of the character of the 750 that is so
lacking in the 800s.

--

jeremy
'01 Triumph Sprint ST in green
_______________________________________
jeremy0505 at gmail.com

 

antonye wrote

Been taking lesson from Ken the Troll have we? How does a blocked fuel
pump cause extra loads on the charging circuit?

Corroded connections are by their very nature entirely the reverse of
what you suggest and tend to resist the passage of elecumtrickery rather
than encourage it.

It could be all manner of things but one thing is for sure, the area to
look first is the charging system not the rest of the bike.

 

Jeremy was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Early 800s supposedly exhibit these endearing traits as well.

 

antonye was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

It actually was something *far* simpler.

Spannerwanka who 'fixed' last week's breakdown had to remove the
connector block as the block was well melted. So he stuck new spade
connectors on, didn't bother insulating them and hey presto, one
working VFR.

Until said uninsulated connectors shorted out, that is.

Fortunately both the reg/rect and the alternator survived the ordeal
but the battery didn't. So it's time for another mega-expensive
battery, and the dealer fitted another connector block so the shorting
out bit hopefully won't happen again.

I've asked the Honda dealer to put the diagnosis in writing so I can
go and slap the other guys around the head with the piece of paper
until the cough up the money.

Incidentally I have a new fuel filter here, together with all the
other filters that I'm planning to fit when I service the bike on the
weekend.

 

A DC fuel pump trying to overcome a clogged fuel filter
or crimped fuel line can easily draw 15 amps - one of
the prime causes of regulator failures. It will draw more
current, which causes more load on the reg/rec, which
causes more heat, which causes more load on the
reg/rec, etc.

My bad wording. A corroded connection can cause
voltage spikes, which is also a killer of reg/recs, but
can also create a hotspot which burns out connectors
and reg/recs as the connector melts, goes short and
causes all sorts of mayhem.

Fair enough, your knowledge is obviously far superior
to mine in fixing broken down bikes.

 

antonye wrote

Not convinced. I would expect other issues such as the thing running
very lean, particularly at sustained high revs, to show first.

Not bikes no, low voltage electro-mechanical stuff though is a different
matter.

 

steve auvache wrote

Then I realised who the OP was and would now like to withdraw that
statement.

 

I think in a properly designed system the fuse would blow before the
system had a meltdown.

 

muddy cat was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

We're talking about a Honda reg/rect system here...

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, muddy cat

It's a Honda.

HTH.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

In communiqué <-consult.com>,

Reminds me of the time some moron diagnosed a relay fault on my Alfa 75
V6 by connecting two wires together with a scotchlock. Fitted a new
relay but forgot to remove the scotchlock. Fortunately I was alerted to
this by the sound of the petrol pump running if the ignition was on even
when the engine was stopped. In the end the problem was not the relay
anyway but a dodgy multi-pin connector in the loom.

--

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Moto Guzzi Mille GT/Squire RS3 Gilera Nordwest |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

<Holds head in hands>

 

Indeed. I think I've almost calmed down enough by now to phone them up
and politely ask them to cough up all the money I had to spend on
Thursday thanks to their little fuckup. Like, the money for the repair,
the train fare, the taxi fares...

 

the champagne, oysters and 5 star meal at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant to
get over the sheer stress you were subjected to .... ;-)

 

D'oh. I knew I had forgotten something.

 

He's losing his touch. My VFR sailed through its MOT this morning.

 

Look, I can't be everywhere at the same time. Please make an
appointment the next time 'round, willya?

 

<Holds head in hands>[/QUOTE]

It fell off?