Another Motobloat!

[Jamiefumi46]

Afternoon all,

Have a few battery problems...

After a spirited ride, my Storm started to smell of rotten eggs. When I came to a stop, I found a nicely swollen Motobatt. I've replaced it with a Vertex from M&P, just to try and diagnose the fault, but I'm a bit lost.

With the new battery on and the engine revving hard, the reg/rec doesn't allow anything past 14.3V. For info, this is a Tourmax aftermarket reg/rec.

Is it possible that the Motobatt was broken (3 years old and usually attached to an Oxford optimiser)? Or do I need to dig a bit deeper?

Thanks in advance!

Jamie

P.s. I realise this has been discussed at length before, but I couldn't find the thread, apologies.

[MacV2]

If the battery is overcharging it would normaly mean the R/R is at fault...

The R/R you have is still old tech & proven to fail...

It's more than likley that your new battery will end up going the same way...

If It were me I would replace the R/R check the conenetion block for the R/R for scorched wires.

Replace with a mosfet unit...

[Jamiefumi46]

Forgive me, I'm new to electrics. When measuring the voltage across the battery terminals, would I necessarily see the voltage jump past 14.3V at 5k rpm, if there was a short or my reg/rec was toast? Or is the problem likely to be a bit more intermittent?

The reason I ask, is because the multimeter appears to be telling me the reg/rec is doing it's job, so I wonder if the problem is elsewhere.

Ta!

[sirch345]

Forgive me, I'm new to electrics. When measuring the voltage across the battery terminals, would I necessarily see the voltage jump past 14.3V at 5k rpm, if there was a short or my reg/rec was toast? Or is the problem likely to be a bit more intermittent?

The reason I ask, is because the multimeter appears to be telling me the reg/rec is doing it's job, so I wonder if the problem is elsewhere.

Ta!

That voltage at the battery at 5,000rpms seems about right to me. What's it like at tick over at the battery terminals

I agree with Mac on the MOSFET regulator/rectifier. As a long term investment well worth having. Also as Mac mentions, worth checking the terminal block connections at the rectifier and the terminal block in that opaque cover in front of the battery. It's the one with the 3 yellow wires from the alternator going into it, for burn/scorch marks.

Chris.

[Jamiefumi46]

I think you may actually be right. Just found this video:

To save you watching it, bascially, the geezer has the same problem as me, but on a ZZR600, by the looks of it.

It's not until riding the bike and getting a bit of heat into the reg/rec that it starts to cause problems.

Looks like Wemoto have a Mosfet one that fits a 98 Storm.

Let's see what happens!

Thanks again!

[sirch345]

I think you may actually be right. Just found this video:

To save you watching it, bascially, the geezer has the same problem as me, but on a ZZR600, by the looks of it.

It's not until riding the bike and getting a bit of heat into the reg/rec that it starts to cause problems.

Looks like Wemoto have a Mosfet one that fits a 98 Storm.

Let's see what happens!

Thanks again!

Whatever you do check those block terminal connectors that I covered in my previous post,

Chris.

[Jamiefumi46]

Ok, will do. If they're scorched, is that a case of chopping off the bad stuff and soldering on some fresh connectors?

[Jamiefumi46]

I think you may actually be right. Just found this video:

To save you watching it, bascially, the geezer has the same problem as me, but on a ZZR600, by the looks of it.

It's not until riding the bike and getting a bit of heat into the reg/rec that it starts to cause problems.

Looks like Wemoto have a Mosfet one that fits a 98 Storm.

Let's see what happens!

Thanks again!

Whatever you do check those block terminal connectors that I covered in my previous post,

Chris.

Also, am I right in thinking an Sh691aa MOSFET r/r, off a CBR 125, will work as a straight swap? They seem to be a 3rd of the price from a breaker...

[tony.mon]

Yes the cb125 one will do the job.

[MacV2]

I think you may actually be right. Just found this video:

To save you watching it, bascially, the geezer has the same problem as me, but on a ZZR600, by the looks of it.

It's not until riding the bike and getting a bit of heat into the reg/rec that it starts to cause problems.

Looks like Wemoto have a Mosfet one that fits a 98 Storm.

Let's see what happens!

Thanks again!

Whatever you do check those block terminal connectors that I covered in my previous post,

Chris.

Also, am I right in thinking an Sh691aa MOSFET r/r, off a CBR 125, will work as a straight swap? They seem to be a 3rd of the price from a breaker...

It will be a straight swap but it will not be a Mosfet clue is in the part number Starting SH... Mosfet R/R part number start with FH... Easy ID is the Mosfet will have two plugs... & is much bigger...

[Jamiefumi46]

Whatever you do check those block terminal connectors that I covered in my previous post,

Chris.

Also, am I right in thinking an Sh691aa MOSFET r/r, off a CBR 125, will work as a straight swap? They seem to be a 3rd of the price from a breaker...

It will be a straight swap but it will not be a Mosfet clue is in the part number Starting SH... Mosfet R/R part number start with FH... Easy ID is the Mosfet will have two plugs... & is much bigger...

Joe mf 1.jpg

Ahhh, I see. I was confused because the wemoto listing looks like an identical part to the CBR 125 R/R and mentions MOSFET (https://www.wemoto.com/bikes/honda/vtr1 ... _rectifier). I suspect they're subtly different? To be honest, if the CBR R/R is considered a more reliable upgrade, that's fine by me. I'm planning to sell this Storm and get a slightly sexier one, in the coming weeks, but I want to make sure this one is safe and reliable before I pass it on.

[sirch345]

Ok, will do. If they're scorched, is that a case of chopping off the bad stuff and soldering on some fresh connectors?

Take a look first and see what they are like.

Here's what you need to be looking for sitting in that opaque sheath that sits behind the fuel tank in front of the battery. It's the terminal block connector with the three yellow wires from the alternator going into it.

Here's a few photo's of what mine was like a few years ago. You can see in the photo's the burn marks on both the terminal block and the yellow wires:

Chris.

[Jamiefumi46]

Ok, will do. If they're scorched, is that a case of chopping off the bad stuff and soldering on some fresh connectors?

Take a look first and see what they are like.

Here's what you need to be looking for sitting in that opaque sheath that sits behind the fuel tank in front of the battery. It's the terminal block connector with the three yellow wires from the alternator going into it.

Here's a few photo's of what mine was like a few years ago. You can see in the photo's the burn marks on both the terminal block and the yellow wires:

Alternator-terminal-block-c.jpg

Alternator-term-connector.jpg

Alternator-burnt-terminal-c.jpg

Chris.

Ohhh dear, that connector block looks like Dot Cotton's fingernails. I'll see how mine look a bit later. Many thanks for that!

[sirch345]

Ok, will do. If they're scorched, is that a case of chopping off the bad stuff and soldering on some fresh connectors?

Take a look first and see what they are like.

Here's what you need to be looking for sitting in that opaque sheath that sits behind the fuel tank in front of the battery. It's the terminal block connector with the three yellow wires from the alternator going into it.

Here's a few photo's of what mine was like a few years ago. You can see in the photo's the burn marks on both the terminal block and the yellow wires:

Alternator-terminal-block-c.jpg

Alternator-term-connector.jpg

Alternator-burnt-terminal-c.jpg

Chris.

Ohhh dear, that connector block looks like Dot Cotton's fingernails. I'll see how mine look a bit later. Many thanks for that!

Chris.

[Jamiefumi46]

Just one more thing...

I've plonked the reg/rec from a CBR125 on. Now the max voltage at 5000rpm is 13.3v. Also, the reg/rec is getting quite hot after 5 mins of idle, when stationary. Does that all sound normal?

Thanks again!

P.s no signs of scorching under the sheath or the previous reg/rec and associated wiring.