Cb550k3 Rectifier

[mike the bike]

Mine was the standard Honda item.  The difference between the OEM one and what you've got is, maybe,  the heatsink.   Yours might run a bit too hot and break down.  You can always add a heatsink to it if you think it's inadequate.  With a smidge of heatsink paste.

[Johnny4428]

Thanks for that I did wonder about the heat side of it. I will keep an eye on it after a couple of longer runs, I will probably replace at some point with the correct item in keeping with the bike spec. (he says with his electronic ignition)🤫

[nairb]

I made up several sets of replacement rectifiers years ago expecting them to fail..... Some with heatsinks and others without.  Not one has failed.  Not had a battery go flat either.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Another useful thing from fleabay was a small digital readout.  I put some long wires on and clipped it to the handlbars to check the charging voltage.  Nice to see for a few days. All worked as it should with the new setup.  They seem to be reliable
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Johnny4428]

That’s interesting to know. Had my first run out with bike this afternoon, checked rectifier on return and only slightly warm. Funny thing I was wishing I had a volt gauge on the bike to keep an eye on charging.

[Orcade-Ian]

Hi Johnny,
I had the same problem of wanting to know battery voltage on our MX-5 - the ECU does the regulating and they seem to charge at or near 15volts, which I am a bit uneasy with.  Anyway, I bought a couple of very cheap voltage displays and fastened one to a cigar lighter plug to do some checking.  You could easily adapt one of these with long wires to somewhere visible - even inside the side panel would give readings you could check occasionally.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]


Ian

[Johnny4428]

Nice one Ian. 15v seems high! I actually have a small round double usb socket with voltage display I had purchased to fit to the Pan I possibly could do a temporary fit to the 550. Turned out to be nice day later on, didn’t expect to be out on the bike today but managed a run around. Cheers!

[Johnny4428]

Temporary set up to check charging circuit.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Johnny4428]

That is very neat. I watched some of this guys engineering videos, he is a bit of a genius. I don’t think I’m even worthy of owning a hacksaw never mind using one after watching Allen in action.

[Johnny4428]

It was Amazon. Flip up the cover and it’s a double usb socket. Bought to fit on my Pan. I have an unmolested low mileage model so was reluctant to cut into the plastic. Might make a bracket or something. Really just purchased more for the usb sockets than the volt meter, but makes sense to have both.

[nairb]

Those usb ports are great for charging the mobile phone.  I keep a portable one in my motorcycle jacket so I can connect it to any of my bikes.  Even charge on the go.  Make you wonder how we manged years ago.

[Johnny4428]

Very handy! Do you just have clips on it to clip to battery terminals?

[nairb]

Just use the croc clips to the battery.  I'm sure a more sophisticated way could be done but it works for all the bikes I have.  Its the purple thing in the pic.  I think it came in other colours too.  It does work!.  I have charged the phone up several time over the years. Just get an data cable that suits your phone.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
It saves having to charge the phone before you set off.....
 

[Johnny4428]

Thanks guys for input and help! Bike is charging as it should so moving into phase 2 and going to spend another £4.
Flag connectors heat sinc and cable ties of the appropriate colour Steve. 😂😂

[Johnny4428]

Nice run out tonight 38 miles. Interesting monitoring voltage at battery during run. Had broad range from 12.4 to 15volts, I guess that’s the regulator acting on demand, mostly it sat at 14.4volts. Not sure if that would be normal.

. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[deltarider]

14,4 is perfect.