how hot is your regulator/rectifier?

[fergus1964]

working the other day on the @ with the seat off and engine running, touched the rectifer/regulator and it was hot to the touch, like 'ouch', hot mug of tea hot. thought it might be on its way out. have contacted peter, technical guru at electrex 01491 682369 who sell replacement electrical items for bikes at very reasonable prices, and he says they run at 60-70 C (that's celsius). putting a regulator under the seat out of airflow seems a bit daft, then, doesn't it?
is it normal for the regulator on the @ to run this hot? and has anyone tried running little pipes or ducts to push airflow over the regulator?

[Whealie]

touched the rectifer/regulator and it was hot to the touch, like 'ouch',

You don't want to do that. It hurts.

[Reevie]

This is why the other arfs VFR whent Phut on the way to Austria this year.

The regulator is under the side panel out of the air flow.

When i fitted the new onei ran an 1" rubber pipe to the new one via the frame flutes which give an air flow.

The RD07 is not as bad because the regulator just sticks down below the rear fender into the air flow

[fergus1964]

has anyone tried using a water cooling block designed for cpu's in a computer, attaching this to the regulator? maplin sell the different bits - it should be possible to attach a cooling block to the regulator, and then run a tiny radiator somewhere else on the bike where there is airflow, and just rely upon convection of hot water to transfer the heat away from the regulator?

[BobA]

Fergus

I seem to remember somebody on the forum fitting a small 12v fan over the top of the reg/rec. Something like a PC or equipment fan.

How you getting on with those diaphragms?


Cheers


Bob

[trophydave]

This is why the other arfs VFR whent Phut on the way to Austria this year.
The regulator is under the side panel out of the air flow.

R/R failure is quite commen on the VFRs,the R/R runs very hot,as is the frame that it is sat upon.On mine I have done the P.C. cooling fan mod.At some point I will also make up a heat sink for it(no cooling fins on it).On long journies I even carry a spare R/R.

[fergus1964]

hi bob
re the diaphragms i am taking carbs to bits this weekend to have a look

re: regulator mods - i am thinking of running the fuel line through the 'cooling block' you can get from maplin for about £5. would hot fuel going to the carbs at 70 C cause a problem?

[vfxdog]

In reality the fuel flow is miniscule, especially in traffic, at lights etc. Based on my experience with fuel-injected cars, this is a very unwise proposition. Nothing worse than boiling fuel. The PC fan add-on is quite straight-forward and definitely worthwhile, as would be creating a better heat sink for the R/R to sit on.

[taffy]

In reality the fuel flow is miniscule, especially in traffic, at lights etc. Based on my experience with fuel-injected cars, this is a very unwise proposition. Nothing worse than boiling fuel. The PC fan add-on is quite straight-forward and definitely worthwhile, as would be creating a better heat sink for the R/R to sit on.

MMMMMMMMMMMM. now that is thinking ahead.(hot fuel)

[@lf]

Hello. Had a 95 model VFR. My R/R was of the old type without fins and moulded with a rubbery compund. Failed and changed to the new type with fins. It had a metal plate that i suppose was ment to lead the heat better also into the frame. Worked just fine.
And it was HOT!!