1999 R6 alternator/rectifier issue?

[rhone81]

R6 failed on Saturday: speedo went, followed by backfiring (presumably due to lack of spark?) then bike died altogether. Got it bump started and got half way home before it died again.

Battery is charging from external charger but not holding a charge. It would be unfortunate if I was the first person to suffer this problem, so I wondered if anyone had any experience of it? Should I expect any major difficulties in identifying where the problem is or fixing it?

Thanks.

[veze]

to be honest i am not all clued up on new bikes like R6's, but the first place i would start is a new battery. before you connect the battery get a multimeter and test it on the battery. it should be reading about 12.5 volts DC. now, connect the battery to the engine, swith the ignition on and let the engine idle. now check the battery with the multimeter again with the engine revving at about 5000rpm and test the batt. it should be reading 14.5 - 15 volts DC. If it is actualy making the voltage decrease then i would say that the regulator is a dud.

The way to Test your alternator would be to find the reg/rec disconect the the cable from your alternator, it might have about 5 connector pins in it. check the multimeter across these pins, you should be getting around 70 volts AC. anything smaller or significantly higher then you alternator is shafted.

If your alternator reads ok then its deffo your regulator/rectifier.
cheers
josh.
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[rhone81]

Thanks Josh.

[chris-red]

Test the old battery in the way stated before buying a new one.

I may be wrong but I though as long as the battery was putting out 13.5volts when the bike was running it was ok.
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[Cigaro]

I'd agree with you Chris.

In fact I've heard that running an alternator with no load and no regulator can cause it to fail.

[Blue_SV650S]

[veze]

ive herd that if your battery gets over charged it can explode! is this true?
____________________
tlm50,mt5,sr50. rs125 extrema, cbr 400rr nc29 suzuki gs500e.Honda cbx250 rs . FJ1200 .fz6,fjr1300

[MG#43]

[Itchy]

[rhone81]

Thanks Luke - I recently bought a new crankcase gasket and touch wood nothing else will require any work. You selling any tarty bits (I need a new rear hugger) or did everything go with the bike?

OT - how's it feel to be without an R6 in years?

Charged the battery of the bike and was reading 12.3V. Connected it back up and was when revving to 5000 with lights on was dropping to roughly 11.5V. Going to pick up a Rec on ebay and failing that will look into the alternator - Blue_SV650S thanks for the heads up.

[rhone81]

Well, finally got round to attempting to change the rectifier. What a pain in the arse to get to! Ended up snapping the bottom plastic bracket.

Disconnected the five pin plug from the side and noticed right away that the red wire had corroded and was no longer connected to the plug. What there was was a lot of green powder (copper oxide?).

This presumably means the rectifier is shagged but could the alternator be the cause?

Also what is the best way of fitting the five wires (3 white, 1 black, 1 red) into a new plug or is there a bodge anyone else has tried?

Thanks.

[Itchy]