Speaking of Rectifiers...

[SR1K_Femme]

So my buddy who has an S4R, had the pleasure of being stranded in the not so friendly outskirts of eastern Cali, when he lived there.  Apparently the rectifier tends to get a might warm under the seat and fries itself.  Has this problem been fixed, or should I be concerned.  Alas I've had this happen to me with my CBR (and no they haven't updated, in the last 15years. )  And I REALLY don't want it to, on the Duc.

[Mother]

So my buddy who has an S4R, had the pleasure of being stranded in the not so friendly outskirts of eastern Cali, when he lived there.  Apparently the rectifier tends to get a might warm under the seat and fries itself.  Has this problem been fixed, or should I be concerned.  Alas I've had this happen to me with my CBR (and no they haven't updated, in the last 15years. )  And I REALLY don't want it to, on the Duc.

I've always heard second and third hand about the under seat location of the rectifier being bad news

never seen one actually fail

TPO Parts makes a slick little kit to get it some air

radically over-priced if you even have rudimentory skills with a hacksaw and a drill motor

but the fit and finish more than make up for it IMO

Vic has one I think

[NEIKOS]

I wouldn't say mine "failed" but the connectors did melt through - don't believe me you can ask Bible Boy, he helped me fix it.

It is now relocated.

[Visolara]

I wouldn't say mine "failed" but the connectors did melt through - don't believe me you can ask Bible Boy, he helped me fix it.

It is now rectified.

fixed it for ya.

[NEIKOS]

I so want to throw out a rectum joke but my little brain just can't make the connection . . . 

[scott_araujo]

If you're not in the mood to go through relocation, getting more air, etc. you can just trace the wires from the rectifier down to the nearest juntion connectors.  Clean the terminals and put some dielectric grease on them.  This keeps them from corroding, keeps the electrical resistance down, and helps keep the temps down.

That said, under the seat with no airflow is a stupid spot to put something with cooling fins that tends to get hot.

Scott

[SR1K_Femme]

Cooling fins, what?!  We don't need no sticking air flow to make those actually WORK do we?!    I hear ya guys!  Not sure I want to part with a bunch of money on my Duc for a 'relocation' kit, when I can buy 'cooler' things.   I'm thinking I'm going with Scott's idea for now. Hey Neikos, next time you ride or whatnot, can I check out your 'rectified' rectifier?

[duc_fan]

Effin' Ducatis and their bloody electrics. 

Ducatis are like Ford when it comes to electrical stuff: crappy connectors and weak wiring.

+1 to what Scott said about thoroughly cleaning the connectors and coating them with dielectric compound.  The connections on Chuck's bike had to be replaced because the OEM one had melted so badly the wires were coming loose (actually, one was completely disconnected when we got in there).

The headlight on my SS melted its connector last year.  That's okay, it gets better... when I hit the high beam, it's not shutting off the low beam filament.  I need to double-check the Ducati manual, but from what I understand of headlights, this ain't normal.  Running both filaments draws too much power and gets the bulb too hot.  So... the switch is probably bad.  I'd just not use the high beam, except that riding down Stafford Rd at 11pm is pitch-fricken-dark, and the low beam just doesn't cut it.

Anyway, Sabrina, if the rectifier is under the seat I'd put it on the priority list to get it relocated, whether you do it yourself, have one (or more) of us do it, or buy the kit.  Cleaning the connector is a stopgap measure.  It helps, but it's probably not the long-term fix.

[NEIKOS]

Sure.

[scott_araujo]

Dan, yeah, only one filament on at a time.  The exception is the passing trigger which flips on the high beam and does not dim the low beam.

Femme, you could also just cut off the connector and chuck it, solder the thin in place.  I think LT Snyder recommedns this as a fix in his manual because of the crappy connectors.  I like that guy's manual, he knows his doo-doo.

Scott

[NEIKOS]

. . . just cut off the connector and Chuck it, solder the thin in place.  I think LT Snyder recommedns this as a fix in his manual because of the

Hey now! 

[krolik]

I have the TPO relocator, it's a nice piece, and it is easy to install.

[SR1K_Femme]

How much is said TPO relocator?  Or dare I ask!?   

Damn electronics!!  *puts fist in the air, shaking angrily*

[ryandalling]

Jump starting your bike from a car (a running car) will fry your voltage rectifier/regulator too.

[SR1K_Femme]

Good thing I haven't tried that yet then eh?    Thanks for the heads up!