20 replies to this topic

[marrk_us]

Well good news and bad news. New regulator arrived, plugged it in, checked voltage and charges fine, around 14.8 volts @ 5000 rpm. Ran long enough on the gas in the carbs to make sure system checked out good. That's the good news, now the not so good. My Tdm is a '93 U.S. model. Here's a shot of the connector on the new regulator.

Plugs right into the wiring harness under the air box fine and charges.

Here is the stock regulator.

Sharp eyes will notice the stock one has about 2 feet of wire attached to it. This allows it to be mounted on the outside of the frame, It had enough extra that I actually moved mine from the original spot close to the steering head lower on the frame right behind the air scoop on the lower fairing where it catches a little more air.

Without the extra wire I'd have to sit it on top of the air box which definitely isn't going to happen, won't even reach to the stock mount on outside of frame by steering head. Has anyone else run into this?? Now i'm looking for a connector to plug into the new regulator. I figure i'll make a harness out of the extra wire from the stock regulator to plug into the new one so that I can keep it mounted on the frame. Maybe only U.S. models are like this?

Edited by marrk_us, 04 October 2014 - 06:13 am.

[Studley Ramrod]

The Regulator (RR98) I bought a few years ago had the wires coming out it.

 

http://www.electrexw...talog/RR98.html

 

iirc I had to modify the wiring at the socket end as the plug didn't fit to the wiring harness socket.

[marrk_us]

Thanks Studley. I talked with the seller and he's going to call his supplier on Monday and see what he can find out. I went to the electrex site and it looks like this is the one I need http://www.electrexw...tml#aRR40#aRR40

The RR40 even though it is listed for the 94-99 Mk2, which was never sold here.   It has the 3 white, 1 black, 1 red wire all inside the connector like mine does.

 

I'll give him a couple of days to sort it out. If he can't i'll return it and give the guys at electrex a call and see what they think. I did find the connector I'd need from a cycle supply place to make a harness from the old wires if needed only $5 delivered. I'll use the old one to make a harness regardless, never know when it might come in handy.

 

[marrk_us]

A friend showed up with this connector from another Yama regulator today, so some new terminals, the lead from stock regulator, my reading glasses, some solder and i'll have my regulator harness!

[Studley Ramrod]

[marrk_us]

Got the new harness made and installed. Charging fine, so i'm going to keep the regulator they sent me. I figure if I ever need one in the future i'll be set regardless. If i'm stranded I'll be able to use one with or without the pigtail already attached.

Edited by marrk_us, 08 October 2014 - 12:18 am.

[g650xtdm]

It is looking like I am going to need a regulator here shortly.  Should I be using a RR40 or a RR98 for my 1993?  I don't recall seeing a seperate ground wire like the RR98 has, but that is just going from memory.  I haven't messed with the RR directly on the bike yet. 

 

If the RR98 is better (somebody had posted it is a bit heavier duty), I don't mind making small modifications.  But I don't have anu spare yamaha plugs laying around.

[marrk_us]

It is looking like I am going to need a regulator here shortly.  Should I be using a RR40 or a RR98 for my 1993?  I don't recall seeing a seperate ground wire like the RR98 has, but that is just going from memory.  I haven't messed with the RR directly on the bike yet. 

 

If the RR98 is better (somebody had posted it is a bit heavier duty), I don't mind making small modifications.  But I don't have anu spare yamaha plugs laying around.

In the U.S. it depends on which regulator came with yours. I also have a 1993 and it looks like there was a change during that year. Check and see if yours is basically a box which the wiring harness plugs in to, or does it have about a 16" pigtail on it that plugs into the main wiring harness. (neither one has a ground wire outside the plug). I made a short harness from my old pigtail and it works fine, without the pigtail the reg wouldn't reach to where it mounts outside the frame.

 

After some research I've decided to order and install this mosfet type regulator kit http://motoelectrixc...-rectifier-kit.

One of the advantages of this kit is it is a mosfet type of reg/rec, if it fails it is designed so there is no danger of it frying your battery, stator, and ecu. The kit is made by shindengen the same company that make most of the newer oem mosfet type reg on Jap bikes.

 

There are many companies making replacement (non-mosfet type) replacement regulators for the Tdm. Most are shunt type units (cheaper to make). These replacements when they fail can fail and not charge (if your lucky) or they can fail in a manner that allows the systems to go into full charge mode and possibly frying your battery, ecu, etc.  One quick way to tell what type you are installing is marking on the replacement reg. If the reg has an SH printed on it (left on the pics below) it is the older shunt type of regulator . If it has an FH on it, it should be a newer type, which can eventually fail, but when it does there's no danger of it frying other components.

 

As an added note if you decide to order an oem style replacement don't trust the pictures on the sites. The one I originally ordered had a picture of a reg with the pigtail on like my original but arrived without one. A lot of sites use "stock" pictures, not pictures of the actual reg. Talk to them before ordering, I'd also ask them to tell you whether the unit has the tell tale "SH" or "FH" printed on the side, remember you want one the the "FH" on it. The one I got is the shunt type, it works of course and gets me back and forth to work, but the kit above is on it's way so I won't have to stress possible extra damage of the older "SH#t" type units.

Edited by marrk_us, 21 October 2014 - 12:51 am.

[g650xtdm]

Great post!

 

I saw ADVRich, who is on here and ADVrider, had replaced his RR with a Mosfet unit, but I couldn't find any details. 

 

How confident are you in the unit posted above working and being a quality unit?  I'd definitely be up for a Mosfet RR if it is a good replacement.

[marrk_us]

Great post!

 

I saw ADVRich, who is on here and ADVrider, had replaced his RR with a Mosfet unit, but I couldn't find any details. 

 

How confident are you in the unit posted above working and being a quality unit?  I'd definitely be up for a Mosfet RR if it is a good replacement.

 

Very confident. While waiting to see if the supplier of the shunt type regulator I was sent (that i'm currently using) could find 1 with a pigtail I had about a week to research it. The one above is available from many different places, Amazon, ebay, and from on a lot of the different bike forums. Sold in 2 ways, you can buy just the regulator with connectors, or regulator with a universal wiring kit. Only a couple $ diff in price. The regulator sold with the kit is a Shindengen FH020AA, same part as stock on many new Yamahas.

On the different forums  they list some of the bikes that these come stock on and some members pick them up from breakers, buy the connectors and wire them in themselves. I'd rather pay a little more and know i'm getting a good new part. There's plenty of into on the Vfr, Superhawk and other forums.

http://roadstercycle...fet Install.htm

http://www.superhawk...-why-how-25117/

http://www.rmstator....tifier-rm30504h

http://www.rc51forum...read.php?t=6540

http://www.hondatwin...heir-glory.html

http://www.vfrdiscus...per-mosfet-kit/

Only a few more weeks of riding here In Colorado so i'll be installing mine and some LED headlights once the snow flies, usually right around Halloween.

Edited by marrk_us, 21 October 2014 - 08:41 pm.

[TYREDNGRUMPEE]

Some really useful information there. 

 

Here's a linky that works.  or this

Edited by TYREDNGRUMPEE, 21 October 2014 - 09:20 pm.

[g650xtdm]

Great! Time to spend some more money on the TDM.

[g650xtdm]

Got the new regulator in the mail today - quick delivery!  It looks like it will bolt right up to the stock location.  I'll probably have it wired in tomorrow and will report the results.

[marrk_us]

Got the new regulator in the mail today - quick delivery!  It looks like it will bolt right up to the stock location.  I'll probably have it wired in tomorrow and will report the results.

Great, keep us posted (w/pics).

 

I installed an accurate weatherproof volt meter from Advmonster.com to keep an eye on things once the mosfet kit is installed. Just waiting for an Mk2 choke cable to arrive and i'll do everything at once.

Edited by marrk_us, 25 October 2014 - 01:14 am.

[g650xtdm]

I installed this one: 

 

I had the same one on my VFR and was happy, but it isn't backlit so you can"t see it in the dark.  I mounted it to the foam on the other side of the dash (11 o'clock). 

 

I feel your pain about the installs.  If I never have to remove that tank again it will be too soon.  (but we all know I will be removing it again and again!).  I left all the plastics off from my last round of installs the other day (LED flasher relay, LED indicators, brake light flasher, and the volt meter). 

[g650xtdm]

I got the new regulator on and I'm seeing 14v at the voltmeter (the tank was on, so I didn't check at the battery).  Still might be a touch low, but seems to be working properly.  I might be losing a fraction of a volt at the meter, but it was pretty close to battery voltage when I installed it.  

It bolts to the stock location fine, but the two weathertight plugs make a tight fit at the tank bolts.  I took some pics if anybody is interested. 

Thanks for the tip in the MOSFET unit, Mark.  I'm sure it will be a better replacement than what I would have gone with. 

 

Edit:  Here's a pic of it in place:

Edited by g650xtdm, 26 October 2014 - 12:56 am.

[TYREDNGRUMPEE]

I don't have a Mk1.

It appears you've mounted the RR on the lhs of the motorcycle with the weathertight plugs facing upward.

Why couldn't you have mounted it 180 degrees about, so that the plugs were out of the weather and the pigtail had more slack?

What am I missing?

[Catteeclan]

I don't have a Mk1.

It appears you've mounted the RR on the lhs of the motorcycle with the weathertight plugs facing upward.

Why couldn't you have mounted it 180 degrees about, so that the plugs were out of the weather and the pigtail had more slack?

What am I missing?

 

 

Looks like the wires would be up against the water pipe from the pic?

Edited by Catteeclan, 26 October 2014 - 10:18 am.

[g650xtdm]

Catteeclan hit in on the head. There is much more length on top with the plugs so there is no way it could be rotated 180 degrees.  I suppose ideally I could make an adapter to rotate it 45 degrees, but it fits fine.  The cable still has slack, although I probably cut off 3 inches from the old harness. 

[marrk_us]

I installed this one: 

 

I had the same one on my VFR and was happy, but it isn't backlit so you can"t see it in the dark.  I mounted it to the foam on the other side of the dash (11 o'clock). 

 

I feel your pain about the installs.  If I never have to remove that tank again it will be too soon.  (but we all know I will be removing it again and again!).  I left all the plastics off from my last round of installs the other day (LED flasher relay, LED indicators, brake light flasher, and the volt meter). 

 

Catteeclan hit in on the head. There is much more length on top with the plugs so there is no way it could be rotated 180 degrees.  I suppose ideally I could make an adapter to rotate it 45 degrees, but it fits fine.  The cable still has slack, although I probably cut off 3 inches from the old harness. 

Exactly why i'm waiting until the Mk2 choke cable gets here, to do everything at once. In a perfect world i'd change the the fairing and tanks mount all over to some type of velcro, but first pothole and 1/2 my bike would be all over the road.   I think yours should be fine, it'll be covered by the lower shroud once you put them back on.

Edited by marrk_us, 26 October 2014 - 09:16 pm.