Snaggletooth Posted September 6, 2010 Share #1 Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) Ok, this is pretty much a story of cause and effect. Earl and Dano know what happend but now I think I can explain why it happend. About a week ago I had an electrical problem. Lost my charging system out on a ride. Voltage was dropping like a rock but I was able to get it back home before I lost power. (thank you DEKA AGM) When I got home I saw smoke coming out from the left side by the swing arm. Well, that is where the R/R is mounted. Tried to start the bike again in the garage and blew the main fuse. Long story short....tested the stator, a 2 year old Buckeye upgrade, looked for shorts in the wiring and found none. Replaced the main fuse and tested the system. Looked like everything else was fine. Pulled the R/R I installed about 3 years ago. It was an aftermarket unit, (not the upgrade Shindengen upgrade), and it pretty much started to fall apart as I removed it. As you can see from the pics it is more square and thicker than the OEM unit so I had to fab up a new mounting bracket to hold it in place. That was where I went wrong. I lost my main fuse because the R/R shorted to ground. On a three year old quality unit....why? Not supposed to happen. Looking at all the pieces now I'm pretty sure I know what happened. The new fabbed up mounting bracket left the new R/R hanging a bit lower than the OEM unit. I had room at the time and had no reason to be concerned about it. BUT.....about a year later I bought a new set of MAC pipes and installed them. Still had room for clearance on the R/R but it was closer to the MAC's than it was with the stock pipes. About 3/8 of an inch was all I had. And these things get warm all by themselves. Didn't need to add to that. SO.... when I pulled the R/R off I saw the bottom section of the rubber electronics potting was burned and brittle. Pieces came off in my hand as I removed it. That was the section that was closest to the pipes. You can see the damage in the pics. Heat ....pure and simple. I opend it up and the R/R is singed all the way through. So, in my opinion, I caused the failure by not making sure the unit had more distance away from the pipes. If anybody else has a better explaination I'm open to your thoughts. D'oh. Next time I'll have a better plan...... Just call me Sparky. Mike Edited September 6, 2010 by Snaggletooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkuhr Posted September 6, 2010 Share #2 Posted September 6, 2010 Sniff..Sniff I know that smell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted September 6, 2010 Yep....not something you want to smell when you are not within pushing distance of the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingy Posted September 6, 2010 Share #4 Posted September 6, 2010 That's one of the reasons I like this forum. Another mans failure is a lesson for all of us. Sorry it had to be you Mike. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydoc_17 Posted September 6, 2010 Share #5 Posted September 6, 2010 Hey Mike, I know that after a few 9000 RPM shifts on my 87'VR you could "fry an egg" on my Jardines, I say you found the problem, Sparky! I checked with my brother today, (electronic wiz) and that fuse holder is the "hot ticket item" to replace that main fuse holder. You are good to go. I am glad that the extra backup R/R I had laying around found a good home. That is one of the best things about this site, riders helping riders! I hope you get some good riding in over the Holiday weekend, Earl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldgoat Posted September 6, 2010 Share #6 Posted September 6, 2010 hey snaggletooth how are you at BBQ,S:225: just kiding man that sucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted September 6, 2010 Earl....You keeping count of how many of your "backup parts" are on my bike? I lost track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squidley Posted September 6, 2010 Share #8 Posted September 6, 2010 You dunned let the smoke out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) It's ok Squidley.....I added some 2 stroke oil to the gas and stuffed a couple of taters in the Macs so I can refill it. Should be fixed by tomorrow. Edited September 6, 2010 by Snaggletooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyHorse Posted September 6, 2010 Share #10 Posted September 6, 2010 Ok, this is pretty much a story of cause and effect. Earl and Dano know what happend but now I think I can explain why it happend. About a week ago I had an electrical problem. Lost my charging system out on a ride. Voltage was dropping like a rock but I was able to get it back home before I lost power. (thank you DEKA AGM) When I got home I saw smoke coming out from the left side by the swing arm. Well, that is where the R/R is mounted. Tried to start the bike again in the garage and blew the main fuse. Long story short....tested the stator, a 2 year old Buckeye upgrade, looked for shorts in the wiring and found none. Replaced the main fuse and tested the system. Looked like everything else was fine. Pulled the R/R I installed about 3 years ago. It was an aftermarket unit, (not the upgrade Shindengen upgrade), and it pretty much started to fall apart as I removed it. As you can see from the pics it is more square and thicker than the OEM unit so I had to fab up a new mounting bracket to hold it in place. That was where I went wrong. I lost my main fuse because the R/R shorted to ground. On a three year old quality unit....why? Not supposed to happen. Looking at all the pieces now I'm pretty sure I know what happened. The new fabbed up mounting bracket left the new R/R hanging a bit lower than the OEM unit. I had room at the time and had no reason to be concerned about it. BUT.....about a year later I bought a new set of MAC pipes and installed them. Still had room for clearance on the R/R but it was closer to the MAC's than it was with the stock pipes. About 3/8 of an inch was all I had. And these things get warm all by themselves. Didn't need to add to that. SO.... when I pulled the R/R off I saw the bottom section of the rubber electronics potting was burned and brittle. Pieces came off in my hand as I removed it. That was the section that was closest to the pipes. You can see the damage in the pics. Heat ....pure and simple. I opend it up and the R/R is singed all the way through. So, in my opinion, I caused the failure by not making sure the unit had more distance away from the pipes. If anybody else has a better explaination I'm open to your thoughts. D'oh. Next time I'll have a better plan...... Just call me Sparky. Mike Houston we have a problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W. Posted September 14, 2010 Share #11 Posted September 14, 2010 I was always told that if you're going to do something, then do it well. I'd say you got all of that one, Mike!! Thought it looked a little hazy across the river the other day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted September 14, 2010 Hey Bill, How ya doin'? Well I was on your side of the creek when I noticed the voltmeter headed south. Probably left a bit of a smoke trail on the South Expressway. How ya coming along with your bike? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Annie Posted September 14, 2010 Share #13 Posted September 14, 2010 OOHHHH, Bugger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrich12000 Posted September 14, 2010 Share #14 Posted September 14, 2010 (edited) Hy sparks, that looks nasty. Do you need a regulator ? or do you have one I have one from my high power update. pm me and I will ship it..Mike R:smile5: Edited September 18, 2010 by mrich12000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted September 14, 2010 OOHHHH, Bugger :sign yeah that:Kind of what I said.....not exactly.....but simiiliar. mrich12000........Thanks for the offer but Skydoc_17 hooked me up with a used OEM so I'm back in operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongobobny Posted September 14, 2010 Share #16 Posted September 14, 2010 Man, looks like a volcano erupted and took out a town... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 15, 2010 Author Share #17 Posted September 15, 2010 Hi Ya Bob, Coming from a guy who tried to melt his 1st gen.......I'm flattered. :crackup: I came close buddy. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W. Posted September 18, 2010 Share #18 Posted September 18, 2010 Told the wife I was just going out for a little ride the other day, ended up half way to Des Moines before I turned around. I love this bike!! Gotta find someone to fix/replace/whatever to my seat cover. It's getting pretty ragged. Any ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaggletooth Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share #19 Posted September 18, 2010 Hi Bill, Yep.....my daughter loves the words "Going out for a spin." All get back these days is "See ya tomorrow." She's learning. I checked your profile to see if you had a pic of your bike but Dang!!! You look the kind of guy that carriers a big stick! Or are those just knee pucks for when ya lean into the curves? I checked a lot of places around here for recovering on my original seat. Ran $250 to $350 for the seat and $100 to $150 for the back rest. And no....that wasn't leather either. I was told about as place over here off of 84th that will redo one for about a $100 to $150. I'll check on the name. I found a like new seat on eBay for $40.00. Glad you're enjoying the bike. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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