Yes but I did not go through the fuse panel. I fused my pos to the battery. So incase something in the harness got messed up when my R/R croaked I didn't want to mess this one up with bad wiring.

 

Dumb question but what is an R/R and what does it do? Why is it better to use a different one? I'm still learning about the mechanics of bikes.

 

It takes the volatges that come from the battery and ensures that they stay within an acceptable range for the components that it provides power to (everything). It also takes the AC power that your stator (alternator) outputs, and converts it to the same DC voltage, so that you're not sucking the battery dry. It also sends power BACK to the battery to charge it while the bike is running.

Do to the fact that it uses resistors as a main part of it's functionality, it is converting a massive amount of electrical energy into heat energy. Most bike manufacturers elected to add a hefty heatsink to theirs to dissipate this heat properly. Honda chose to rely on the metal plate behind it and the bike frame to do this. In many cases, especially in very hot climates, it just doesn't do the trick, and the R/R melts.

As such, many of us have elected to use other manufacturer's heatsinked R/R's proactively to avoid failing on the road. The one I used above is form a 2007 Yamaha YZF-R6. I just snipped off the Honda connector, and spliced in the Yamaha one, and bingo. Got it on eBay for $40 shipped. You're usually not lucky enough to get the connector with them, though, so you have to go with idodirt's method.

 

Here's a fun update: I sold my old R\R on eBay for $20 MORE than I paid for the BETTER Yamaha one.

 

Capitolism is a wonderful thing.

Once again,good on ya idodirt.

 

I guess I'm bringing this thread back from the dead, but I need some help. I have the same setup as Idodirt, except I guess my R/R is off a GSXR 1000. Got it off ebay for $25 and once I get everything wired up, I turn the key on and get nothing. No lights, won't start, nothing. Checked all the fuses, they're still good, so now I'm at a dead end. Is my "new" R/R bad? I didn't think that would totally keep the bike from starting. I even tried jumping it off with my car, still nothing. If you guys have any tips I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

 

Bump! Anyone?

 

Do you have a meter or a test light ? It should be a fairly easy thing to troubleshoot a completely dead bike. No lights at all indicate either blown 30A fuse near battery on the Starter Relay, or problem related to the ignition switch. Tell us where you have power and where you don't. Also tell us how you tested it.

 

would an R/R from a 04 Suzuki SV650 work on my '97 F3?

 

Thank..you..IDoDirt, blown starter fuse was the problem.. I see it is definitely time to invest in a Service Manual, just so I know where everything is. I really appreciate the help man, thanks again.