Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

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bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

Could smell burning and there was smoke coming from under the seat, took it to bits and the rectifier and plug have burned, is this a common fault? And is the problem the rectifier or has something made it do this?
bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

Anyone?
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banner001
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Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:27 pm
My Bike: ZXR400 L4
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Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by banner001 »

well the reg/recs do fail fairly often, its not an uncommon fault...but its unusual for them to die so spectacularly on the zxr. i have seen other bikes where the reg/rec dies like yours has.

was there any indication it was bad, not charging correctly, lights getting brighter and dimmer (like a lot brighter/dimmer) when riding?

you will need a new one, and check eerything thats connected to the reg/rec to see if you have damaged anything else, the problem might lie somewhere else...the wiring diagram is in the manual, enjoy :D
UK ZXR400 L3 (1993) - Fully restored and on the roads, my green beast!
JPN ZXR250 A2 (1990) - Revs to 19,200rpm... 'nuff said :smt003
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banner001
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Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:27 pm
My Bike: ZXR400 L4
Location: Nuneaton

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by banner001 »

you mentioned about 7 weeks ago that you had a flat battery, did you ever resolve why?

a few people suggested reg/rec then, did you swap it for a new one or did you just replace the battery?
UK ZXR400 L3 (1993) - Fully restored and on the roads, my green beast!
JPN ZXR250 A2 (1990) - Revs to 19,200rpm... 'nuff said :smt003
bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

Hi thanks for the reply, I replaced the battery and checked with a multi meter and all seemed fine until a couple weeks ago it went flat so I'd bump it and sometimes it would charge it and not other times.
bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

What should my battery be reading whilst its running if I check it with a multimeter?
bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

Just checked it on idle and it was reading 13.8v
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banner001
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Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:27 pm
My Bike: ZXR400 L4
Location: Nuneaton

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by banner001 »

bike turned off = >12V, should be at around 12.6V DC

bike at fast idle = ~14V DC

generator output at 4k rpm = ~45V AC

yours seems about right.
UK ZXR400 L3 (1993) - Fully restored and on the roads, my green beast!
JPN ZXR250 A2 (1990) - Revs to 19,200rpm... 'nuff said :smt003
bude-zxr
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:24 pm
My Bike: ZXR 400 L4

Re: Just got home from work on my bike and.... Smoke

Post by bude-zxr »

Cool hopefully it's sorted now, since I've had it I've put a new battery, rectifier,carb rubbers, chain and sprockets and cam chain tensioner!!! And I resprayed it. Hopefully no more issues as I'm doing my first ever track day at silverstone in 2 weeks :excited
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