cashy
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 07:44 AM |
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BLADE electrical fault...HELP?
blade electrical fault...HELP
I need some help guys. I have a problem with the electrics on my westy blade. On the way to Northampton on Saturday the car died on me and the result
was that the battery was completely flat and so the car wouldnt run. Got sorted out with a new battery and the car ran great for the next 150 miles.
On the way back from the Chester show yesterday the car started to show the same symptoms as Saturday, started to refuse to rev over 6k and then
eventually just stopped. Same again battery dead.
I have re charged the new battery now and the car starts no problem, checked to see if the engine is re charging the battery and it is DEFO charging.
Has anyone got any ideas what to look for next?
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Berwyn
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 07:56 AM |
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If your sure the alternator is charging, then this is a strange one. On the blade there are 3 wires from the alternator that go to the regulator. Out
of the regulator you should be getting 12-15v charge. Does this voltage increase when you rev the engine ? and have you put an amp meter between the
+v out of the regulator and the battery ? this would tell you how much charge the battery is taking.
It is possible that it is charging, but you are using more juice than your putting back in. Was anything else running in the car at the same time,
i.e. wipers, heater, headlights, aircon  .
I remember W******ld saying they have built several factory built BEC's to order that had heaters, wipers, etc spec'd by the customer.
When collected on a rainy day, they drove home with both heater + wipers on. They recieved a few calls from people who had broke down on the M40 due
to flat batteries !!.
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not
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cashy
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 08:01 AM |
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Hi,
No heaters, wipers or anything else, only thing i used was brake lights and indicators!!! Its showing 14.5 volt from reg to batt?
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Berwyn
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 08:05 AM |
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Does that voltage increase when you rev ?, check out the current its drawing next with the amp meter.
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not
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cashy
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 08:07 AM |
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Off into garage in a bit to have a look around and get the multi metre out. you have u2u
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cashy
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 12:08 PM |
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HI,
The rectifier looks like the standard blade one. The conenctions look like they are burnt a little, or rusted brown. I have just started the car up
and the rectifier gets very very hot, is this norm?
I tested the battery voltage before starting the car: 12v
During engine running: 14.4 v
Tested the connections to the rectifier whilst running: Red wire 3 v
Green 0.01 v
Yellow wire above green 15v
Middle yellow wire 15 v
Yellow wire above red wire 15 v
What do you think?
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 01:09 PM |
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Hi cashy
The rectifier does get hot, its the main reason they fail cos they cook themselves. Ive put an old Athlon processor heatsink / fan on mine which seems
to do the trick and keep it cool
Having never had any electrical gremlins Im not particularly clued up on diagnosing electrics, but Id say the likely cause is the rectifier judging
from what others have suffered in the past on the BEC liat. Can you not blag Ryan's one for a test to see if it helps?
cheers
Chris
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timcrasher
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 03:30 PM |
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Charging problem
Hi, Cashy
Sounds like you definatly have a regulator/rectifier problem. Your car is only running properly until the voltage drops below 11 volts, then the
battery isn't being recharged and the car struggles. Like Chris says, they get hot and burn themselves out. It is very common with this
particular unit. Genuine ones are quite dear to buy, but you can buy a pattern item for about £ 60, which is almost as cheap as a second hand one.
If the connector looks slightly brown in colour, this is another tell tale sign its the reg/rec failing. Change it quick, or you may damage the
alternator windings. If you find a new reg/rec dosen't cure the problem you will need to have the alterator rewound. This costs about £ 80.
Hope this helps
cheers
Tim
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 03:53 PM |
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If it does come to an alternator re-winding then give me a shout cos Ive got a couple of spare windings from the various engines Ive blown up /
dismantled
Chris
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Hellfire
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 04:02 PM |
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We've put our Regulator Rectifier on a large aluminium plate - which will act kinda like a heat sink - directly behind the snow cone... and
angled the plate in such a way as to catch airflow, thereby cooling the unit.
Makes me wonder where your's is?
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Brooky
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| posted on 24/5/04 at 06:18 PM |
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Check the fuse housed in the starter relay block.
Mine did exactly trhe same and that was the casue
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cashy
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| posted on 25/5/04 at 08:52 AM |
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Thanks for all the replys guys, the rectifier is mounted on a plate of metal already but it does sound liek its been cooked.
There is some brown paste on the back of it when i took it off, is this some type of cooling paste?
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spunky
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| posted on 25/5/04 at 08:59 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cashy
Thanks for all the replys guys, the rectifier is mounted on a plate of metal already but it does sound liek its been cooked.
There is some brown paste on the back of it when i took it off, is this some type of cooling paste?
Brown paste.... sounds like it could be the potting compound the set the components in. If so then it has been a tad warm.
Worried about mine now.
John
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cashy
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| posted on 25/5/04 at 10:07 PM |
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when i started it up yesterday to test the charge rate the rectifier got untouchable with heat within 4 mins?
Is this normal?
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Hellfire
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 posted on 25/5/04 at 10:42 PM |
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There is also a guy on the Yahoo! forum with the same similar problem and has solved it pretty easily using a regulator with heat sinks on it... is
this you?
You may be well advised looking at postings on the yahoo forum too 
Link on our website - frontpage!
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cashy
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| posted on 26/5/04 at 06:24 AM |
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no not me......i tried the bec list but couldnt find the search function on the yahoo site!!
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Hellfire
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 posted on 26/5/04 at 04:42 PM |
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Cashy the thread start is number
49566
Titled: Blade electrics
Posted: 24th May
By: cashyblade
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cashy
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:10 PM |
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Well i fitted a Brand new heat sink with fins a few days ago, started the car, everything OK, engine charging battery at 14.5volts.
Went for a 50 mile spin out, got home and it was still charging and battery was at 12v.
I decided to go out today for a spin to Congleton to drop off a roll over bar, i did about 100 miles and then guess what.........
the symptoms came back agian and i was stranded in a layby awaiting the aa again.
The aa guy put some power into the battery and followed me home, managed to get home but it is now refusing to charge the battery when the engine
runs.
Has anyone got any ideas???
Do i need to go to a Honda bike dealer to get things checked out?
The rectifier is located on a metal plate, next to the starter relay on the drivers side, attached to the chassis. Will post pic in a moment.
I have though of re mounting the rectifier down near the alli floor and towards the front of the car near the nosecone to help cooling..
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Hellfire
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:23 PM |
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It really seems like you have cooked it again... IIUYC the unit is behind the hot engine on a hot day. Sounds like the damage could be done when
you've been out for a run and static maybe... no cold airflow at the rear of the engine.
Just my 2p
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:25 PM |
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Is that with a new reg/rec or are you still using the overheated one? The old one sounds beyond hope even with a cooler fitted, it looks like time for
a new one.
http://www.speednspares.co.uk/acatalog/Regultaor_Rectifiers.html
£50.00 to you sir.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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cashy
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:27 PM |
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This is with the BRAND new Honda unit.
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cashy
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:42 PM |
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this is where its mounted on my westy
 
Rescued attachment rectifier1small.jpg
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cashy
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 04:45 PM |
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rect
pic 2
 
Rescued attachment rectifier3small.jpg
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cashy
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 06:28 PM |
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Just had a root around and found a 30 amp fuse blown inside this relay next to the rectifier (think its starter relay)
Wouldnt this stop it starting?
 
Rescued attachment fuseblownsmall.jpg
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OX
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| posted on 16/6/04 at 06:35 PM |
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yes
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