New fix for battery charging and r/r electrical burned out issues

Hi VFR 800 Riders (1998-1999 Models): I had the same problem with charging even when I recently purchased a brand new Interstate Battery on my 1999 Honda VFR 800. One day I rode over 2 hours road trip, and the next day I was unable to start my bike. You would think after riding for 2 hrs that the battery should be fully charged. The problem is in the regulator / rectifier. Use the multi-meter and check the voltage across the battery. When it’s idle, you should get a voltage across the battery terminals of 13.0-13.5VDC. Then when you rev up to around 5,000RPM, the reading should increase around 14.0-14.5VDC. If the voltage drops and goes the other way when you rev up, then the problem is in your R/R unit.

If you remove the seat, you should able to see the printed on the R/R. The original R/R came from the factory was the SH579A-11, with over 80% fail rate. Later on an improvement was introduced SH-689DA; it was better but still failed at 25% rate. Now there is a latest fix for R/R problem that was introduced by a company in located in Connecticut with a new R/R Heavy Duty [10-125H]. The “H” stands for Heavy Duty; it must have that printed on the R/R unit. This should solve all the problems with battery charging and burned out wires that the VFR 800 is prone to have.

Please click the link below to check out the company website:

Regulator Rectifier VFR800F Honda

 

Tom, that heavy duty, 50amp Regulator you suggested is really good advice. I just added one recently.
I would also recommend the heavier wiring harness from WireMyBike.
Since I like overkill, I also attached a fan onto the new regulator and so far all the charging numbers are looking good.
I have a few fans left and if anybody wants one they can email me at: porsche.bob@sbcglobal.net

 

Get this upgraded R/R from Tightwad at Wire My Bike for $145.00.

 

Hello friends,

I am a newcomer in this forum, writing from Italy!

I've changed a couple of times the R/R on my 2000VFR, without too much success.
I might go for a R1 R/R, as I've seen here around, but the modifications seem a bit more complex than what I could be able to do.

So I found this post very interesting and checked well on their website.
I found there is a specific R/R for my model. Its code is [10-126H] and sells for 145USD.

Regulator Rectifier VFR800FI VFR 800 FI Honda

Anybody here have good experience with this specific model?
Should I get it and live in peace?
Thank you so much for your help.
And the next time I'll introduce better myself and post pics of my baby :redface:

Cheers!

 

I would buy the one from Wire My Bike as they have a pretty good reputation around here. While you're there you might as well get the VFRness too.

-Jake

 

Hey from Italy,

Since I upgraded to the heavy duty 50A R/R for $145 USD 3 months ago, I stopped having problem with battery not charging. Before I was having problem not starting because the battery was too weak and wasn't charging even though I ride my 1999 VFR 800 almost everyday. I didn't have to replace my battery, just the new heavy duty R/R. You should order one for you 2000 VFR 800 from Regulator Rectifier VFR800FI VFR 800 FI Honda.

You will be happy with the end results

-Tom CRuiser

 

Dear Jakobi and tomcruiser,
thank you for your notes.

I've been exchanging mails with Tightwad of wiremybike in the last couple of days.
He's been extremely kind and really insightful.

I ended up ordering Ricks HD R/R through him as well as his VFRness.
By the way... anyone here could direct me to pictures for VFRness installation?

Can't wait to get the stuff, install it on my VFR and ride to Sardinia for a 1 week tour with my girlfriend!!!

And I am happy to be in this forum.

Have a nice day!

 

I only replaced just the 10-125H R/R on my 1999 VFR 800, so it just matter of remove and replace. I didn't do the heavy duty re-wiring as some have suggested. Hopefully I don't need to but we'll see down the road. :smile:

 

I see what you mean, but I'll take the chance of a rather expensive US - Italy shipping to get the VFRness, too.

It's cheaper and more convenient than getting it afterwards. And I am sure I will be happy to install it! I never ever read any complaints about this item. Only good words!

Ciao from Italy!

 

I am a happy customer from Wire my bike. Got the R/R and VFRness. Installed it easy enough. No probs since. Touch wood

 

Thank you for your boost, Mark 024!
I am getting both the R/R and VFRness later this week or early next week.
Can't wait to install them and ride in peace!!!

I wonder if any of you could direct me to some pics of VFRness installation for my model (2000-2001). That would be really really helpful.

Ciao from Italy

 

Amazing!

Hi all,

installed the MOSFET R/R + VFRness the other day and tested yesterday.

Since I tend to have quite a scientific approach, I did some temperature tests to compare this new one with the old R/R.

The results are AMAZING! Let me put together the data in a graph. I'll post everything soon! I bet you'll be as surprised and happy as I am right now...

Ciao from Italy

Il Preciso

 

For testing, this flow diagram is very good: http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/pdf/fault-finding-diagram.pdf

I replaced the r/r on my '99 with the new Honda unit and since then I have added a heavy duty parallel (+ red) wire from the r/r to the battery. That was good for a few years then I noticed the stator (yellow wires) plug was burning up. I replaced the plug with soldered wires and have been ok for the past year. The wire my bike harness may address these problems, I haven't looked at it in detail. Check all your connections for heat and burning if you're having problems, try wiring in new wires to replace the connectors to see if that helps and use the flow chart fault diagram.

 

I would very much like to see this when you are done. Glad to hear it's working great for you.

-Jake

 

I'd like to see that graph myself. I'm getting my VFR back Friday, with an aftermarket stator and stock RR in place (Aftermarket RR in mid-Sept). The shop said there was no sign of wire damage but I have a VFRness that's going in the minute I get the VFR home.

 

Would anyone know the size of bolts for the r/r unit, or by chance extras sitting around. I had mine taken out waiting for a knew one and they were misplaced by someone my household and now I cant find them.

 

6 x 20mm.

-Jake

EDIT: Checked the schematics. I guessed right on the length.

 

Thank You Jake

 

Hello from Italy, dear VFR friends.

Some 1 month past my last post, here you are my MOSFET R/R Temp test results visualized in a graph:

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FACTS:

- the red line is a non MOSFET aftermarket R/R still working properly, but that I decided to replace because was running too hot

- the blue line is Ricksmotorsports MOSFET R/R bought through wiremybike, and there is VFRness installed, too

- on X you see minutes, on Y you see Celsius (°C) degrees

- in both cases there was a 120x120mm fan installed over the R/R, always ON

- the two rides were done in two consecutive days at the same hour and on the same roads

- every time you see a temp marked on the graph, it meant that I stopped for few seconds at the side of the road and took a pic of the thermometer installed; once back home I put together this simple graph with Excel

- the thermometer is a cheap one (10 EUR) with a long wire to a sensor, which I attached to the upper fin of the R/R in both cases

- the thermometer reads 70 °C max, that's why the non MOSFET readings stop at 70°C

CONCLUSIONS:

- the non MOSFET R/R standard working temperature is somewhere around 75-80°C (you can easily figure this out by adding a "trend line" to the readings) which I think is not very healthy for the components

- the MOSFET R/R gains temperature almost half as fast as the non MOSFET R/R

- the MOSFET R/R standard working temperature is around 40°C, which I believe is much healthier for the components

- the MOSFET R/R slight temperature variations visible around 40°C depend on various stops and gos, hi or low speed run and so on

- even if this is not a scientific test, it is impressive enough to make me VERY happy with the MOSFET R/R I installed on my VFR and ride my baby with much more confidence I can go from A to B and come back from B to A in the future!

---

BUT... MY ELECTRIC NIGHTMARE IS NOT OVER YET!!! Please read further... I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

So I was very happy with my new stuff that I left for my summer holidays ride to Sardinia with lots of confidence. I could finally enjoy my week of well deserved motorbike holiday!!!

Unfortunately my VFR stopped after 2 hours and didn't want to fire up again!!!

I was lucky enough to fire it up on the run on a downhill and got to take the ferry at the very last minute...

The day after, I went to a Honda garage: after checking together with them, the result was: STATOR SHORTED! And my tester could not find it (I think I have to buy a new tester).

My holiday was really an headache and now I need to buy a stator and a gasket... and here's where your help comes in:

1st question: could my new MOSFET R/R have been damaged by the burnt stator? I immediately contacted Tightwad, he's confident that the R/R is still OK and now I wish to hear your opinion as well.

2nd question: if you were me, which stator would you buy? I am very tempted to buy Ricksmotorsports from wiremybike as it is reasonably priced and because of the good experience with the R/R; but before buying it, I wish to know if anyone of you has a direct experience with this one installed since at least one year and with everything running well. I really want to solve my problem once and forever.

3rd question: if not the stator above, which one would you buy? an original Honda part? from where?

That's all, friends.
Thanks for reading this all and double thanks to those who will answer my questions.

Hello from Italy!

Il Preciso (Mr. Precise)

 

Il Preciso, you need to find out why your stator shorted out. When my OEM stator and RR went balls up in June, the RR was replaced with an OEM and the stator with an Electrosport. The new stator burned out (and I do mean burned out) within an hour of getting my VFR back, despite showing nominal charge (14.1). Even better, the OEM 3rd stator also started to overload the minute my VFR was started, something the shop was watching for and shutting down before anything burned out. There is little doubt something's cooking stators in my bike and you may have the same problem...