Alternative regulator/rectifier?

Well my second regulator/rectifier on my KZ750H3 has apparently burned out. I can't afford the new unit prices (I'm quite poor) and am tired of buying old stuff from Ebay that is probably near death when I get them.

I've heard about some people who have built their own units, or have modified other non-Kawa units to work at cheaper prices. Anyone here done that?

I don't trust the aftermarket units. I have heard horror stories about them. Namely that they don't last worth a squat. I personally have always had good luck with eBay parts. The used units are Seasoned and proven. You can try to build one from an automotive regulator. Or you have the choice to go with these guys.
www.accel-motorcycle.com/

Try here,said to have a life time warrenty on parts:
www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com

Since you've mentioned you've burned up two rectifier/regulator units... would seem to me you have a serious problem in your electrical system somewhere...

Partial shorting in harness/conductors or over-loading of electrical system... i.e. power/current electrical component consumption too large.

Wrong wattage lamps in head light, tail/stop light, blinkers, radio, CB, light kits, connector/switch voltage drops etc...

Or stator/Dyno is malfunctioning, not outputting ideal current...

Yes, electrical systems fail no doubt especially in a 30 year old KZ but based on your posting times of this KZ, to go through 2 rect/reg units in a year or less... naw something else most likely going on in your KZ....

Jeff has combo units for ~$120 w/shipping... Do yourself a favor, save some money for it and buy one of their units... Then go through the complete electrical testing/measurements start to finish thus insuring everything is operating optimally....

Otherwise, just keep going the route you have been with 30 year old e-bay items...

Building your own rectifier is a no brainer, ~ $10 for the rectifiers whether individual diodes (6 each) or full wave bridge units (2 each) and use the existing conductors/connectors from damaged units...

As for the regulators, unless you truly know what your doing in the SCR construction... naw don't go there....

Just a thought...

I have heard really good things about the new ACCEL parts and they are being sold for about $85+/-. The lifetime "Oregon ones also look pretty good. You can't beat a lifetime warranty.

Bad choice of words on my part. They didn't burn out per say (no smoke and fire!) but just quit working. Both were old original units from Ebay. I do understand this stuff, and have the parts to build the rectifier, but I'm not up to designing the regulator on my own.

Traced everything today and found no problems other then the regulator/rectifier. Stator is putting out a good 50 volts in all three phases, no hot lines have continuity to ground, and tracing the wires point to point shows nothing wrong (no open wires or shorts). Just having bad luck with regulator/rectifiers I guess. Anyone got one in their tool shed I could buy, beg, borrow or steal (well...not steal)?

Yes, the Accell stuff looks good, but I'm unemployed long time now, and a step away from homeless, so that stuff is a bit beyond my finances.

polkat wrote:

Well my second regulator/rectifier on my KZ750H3 has apparently burned out. I can't afford the new unit prices (I'm quite poor) and am tired of buying old stuff from Ebay that is probably near death when I get them.

Yep, just like the "good" used coil I got off fleabay that died in pretty quick order but didn't have the grace to do it convincingly so I screwed with other things like the jets while it was gradually dying.

That experience has left me believing 30 year old electronics go straight to the dumpster.