Rectifier / Regulator for 1979 KZ650

In my attempts to sort out the wiring on the bike, the regulator / rectifier which has been replaced seems to be for a 3 phase system (3 yellow wires) not the apparent single phase alternator on the bike.

I have sourced apparently the right rectifier / regulator for the bike, but when I look at the photo of the unit it has 2 yellow wires, 1 red, 1 black and 1 brown. Everything matches the wiring diagram I have except for the brown...

Does anyone know if I can use this part (see below photo) and if so what do I do with the brown wire????



Apparently the other option is you can replace the stator on the alternator with one which is 3 phase. Has anyone done this and is it a simple conversion????

Cheers,

Gra

Image attached.... I always have trouble with this???

I hope it works!!!

The brown wire is the voltage-sense line. It lets the regulator know what the system voltage (not necessarily battery voltage) is at. Some use the brown wire some don't. (The ones that don't have the brown wire sense the voltage at the battery through the output wire.)

You connect the brown wire to the same circuit that powers the ignition so the brown wire has voltage anytime the bike is running (or even turned on).

You should be able to find a single-phase reg/rec without the brown wire, though.

Are you sure the 3-phase reg/rec is dead? It is possible to use a 3-phase reg/rec on a 1-phase system if the reg/rec is hardy enough.

Hey loudhvx,

Thanks for the info.

It seems as though the 3 phase reg/rec is ok but as it has 3 yellow wires, how do I connect the two from the stator to the three yellow from the reg/rec?

Also, if I used the single phase reg/rec will it still work if I don't connect the brown to anything???

Gra wrote:

It seems as though the 3 phase reg/rec is ok but as it has 3 yellow wires, how do I connect the two from the stator to the three yellow from the reg/rec?

You can just leave that third yellow unconnected, but tape it up so it won't contact anything.


Gra wrote:

Also, if I used the single phase reg/rec will it still work if I don't connect the brown to anything???

Absolutely not. If you do that, there will be no regulation and you will burn out bulbs, ignitions etc.
The brown wire must go to a 12v source that gets power whenever the ignition gets power.

im starting to think that my reg/rec is going bad. my battery is dead every few days. im going to try testing it this week. does anyone have any ideas of aftermarket (cheaper) reg/rect? for my Honda i just grabbed something from Radioshack that worked great and cost about $5

thanks in advance

Josh

Look here: www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com

How old is the battery?

the battery is a few years old. its a gel type. and it is taking a little longer to charge

I would start by replacing the battery. Ed

yeah good call. i have another batt im using tomorrow.