Yesterday I went and bought my first 600 cc bike. Feeling very pleased with myself, I cruised around the 'hood for 30 minutes, just loving the purr of that CBR engine. Then, with no warning, it sputtered to a stop. Now, I know zilch bout engines anyhow, since I'm a computer geek, and this seemingly smooth sounding engine had me baffled. My neighbor is an engine genius, and he thought it was alternator trouble, but the more research I do and looking at my manuel, I have begun to wonder if it is just the regulator. I've read that the regulators on the F2/F3 models are notorious for giving out at around 20k on the clock. I'm fashionably late, as I have 23k on the clock, and the feller before me was as dumb as a doornail with bikes. He only owned for a summer, so hopefully not too much damaged has been done. Now, tomorrow, I'll run some tests with a multimeter, but could anyone tell me what EXACTLY needs to be done to test the regulator? Thanks very much,


A new, slightly befuddled CBR owner.

 

pop the seat off, hook volt meter to battery, start the bike, get rpms to around 4 grand. It should put out around 13.5 give or take on the meter. If it doesn't then I'd put my money on Rectifier. the stator is built really well and almost never fails, But rectifer on other hand tends to overheat and fail often.

Also check all the wires leading too and from the rectifer to make sure someone didn't unhook it by chance or anything is loose. It being a used bike It is unknown what the past owner did to it.

 

These will get your head wrapped around the issues...

Charging System Diagnostics - Rectifier/Regulator Upgrade - Triumph Forum: Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums

https://cbrforum.com/forum/f2-tech-9...-solved-27739/

Ern

 

Thanks very much gentlemen! I'll do all that was recommended, and I'll let you know his it goes!


Thanks again,
A slightly more cheerful, but still as confused CBR owner

 

I did what jveach said to do, and its pushing 12.9 volts, and that's a freshly charged battery. So I'm guessing its the RE, but I'm going to do what Madhattor said to do. The issue doesn't look like part of the alternator, which is a relief to me. Madhattor, consider my head thoroughly wrapped

 

Yeah bro, same trouble here! I actually got a new R/R from streetbikewarehouse.com for around $74 shipped! I had it running, but never actually rode it! The battery was charged, most likely not fully, but it was started an ran about 6 times in 1 day then after then last run it died & failed to restart as the battery was dead! So I'm replacing the R/R as it has the original model which from all I've read has a frequent tendency to overheat & possibly cause damage elsewhere! The R/R I picked up has a 2 year warranty & regular ground ships in 2-4 days! I just got this bike in trade for a 2004 Katana 600 so I'm amp'd to get on it & ride! Good luck with your bike bro... Gage!