Apparent Regulator Failures

[Charles S Otwell]

I'm a cheap skate, I buy used, I have heard of just as many new replacement regulators going out as I have used ones. The regulator I have on mine now was free, puts out a steady 14 volts and has not give any trouble. If I put a $30.00 used one on the side for a spare I'm still $150.00 ahead and have a spare to boot. For me being cheap is a way of life ..

[hootmon]

I have a single additional light mounted just under the stabilizer bar (above the front fender) and in the past I have had trouble running it with my headlight as my battery would drain down. I have heard of other Magna riders having similar experience with added lights, but then I see others with Light Bars... I went with this one for the extra 8% output. My last regulator lasted 40K miles... IF I get another 40K out of my '94 that has not had the TB001 performed I will be a very satisfied puppy!
What is the most number of miles you have heard of on a Gen3?

[Charles S Otwell]

I'm not sure who has the highest on the forum, I do know that Bob's 99 had over 55,000 and still ran like a new one. You'll get a lot higher numbers than that just from this group..

[lragan]

I have a single additional light mounted just under the stabilizer bar (above the front fender) and in the past I have had trouble running it with my headlight as my battery would drain down. I have heard of other Magna riders having similar experience with added lights, but then I see others with Light Bars... I went with this one for the extra 8% output. My last regulator lasted 40K miles... IF I get another 40K out of my '94 that has not had the TB001 performed I will be a very satisfied puppy!

I have two additional lights.  I installed the switch that came with them through the plastic fork cover on the left side -- it is a rocker type switch, and you have to look close to see it.  I did have to drill a hole for it, of course.  When I am idling for long periods, which is rare since I don't commute on the bike, and try to stay out of traffic , I will turn the extra lights off, as the alternator can only keep up at 3000+ rpm.

I would like to have more electrical power, but am not sure I would relish the extra weight and cost that would go with it...

[Greg Cothern]

I have heard reports of over 90K on 3rd gen bikes without major issue...

On additional lighting, my sons 96 (my original 96 bought new out of the crate) has had 2 Kuryakyn Silver bullet lights for majority of its life (40K miles approx) and has never had a problem with powering them...  However they are not used everyday.  When I rode the bike I used them at night primarily or when in group riding and I was running tailgunner, as the leader could identify me very easily, but without blinding anyone.

I personally believe the R-R issues would be less if it were mounted in a better airflow area.  I dont claim to be an electronics expert by any means whatsoever!  So I will leave it up to those whom are MUCH smarter than I.....

[Charles S Otwell]

Lawrence I haven't seen your lights, but I run two 50 watt riding lights, I believe they are called Platinum Burner series from Wal-Mart ,$17.00 for the pair and they come with all the wiring and a switch. I mounted the switch on the right side cover (top) and ran the hot wire from the Ign switch so I don't accidentally leave them on. I have had no problems with mine. I put them on when I replaced the regulator. They are small bullet shaped chrome, the same ones you see on E-bay for 30 or 40 dollars. I'm well pleased with them.

[lragan]

Charles, I bet yours are better looking than mine, which have a somewhat retro look.  Cheaper, too.  If you could post a picture, that would be sweet, as I would like to see how and where you mounted them.  Had I known they were $17 each, I would have paid attention at MOOTMag 6!!

[TLRam1]

I have a single additional light mounted just under the stabilizer bar (above the front fender) and in the past I have had trouble running it with my headlight as my battery would drain down. I have heard of other Magna riders having similar experience with added lights, but then I see others with Light Bars... I went with this one for the extra 8% output. My last regulator lasted 40K miles... IF I get another 40K out of my '94 that has not had the TB001 performed I will be a very satisfied puppy!
What is the most number of miles you have heard of on a Gen3?

My Magna has run two 55-watt lights on all the time for the life of the bike that I know of, never an issue running the battery low whether in traffic or not. Along with this I run with heated gloves (22 watts) in the winter, again without issue.

You can add up watts, headlight, taillight, signals, modulators, etc to get an idea of what can be put into the electrical system. I think the rule of thumb is keep your watts used at 80 % of output.

That being the case 375 watt output times 80 % = 300 watts available, 75 watts as a buffer.

[Magnum Magna]

  Lots of bikes have them exposed so it's an already tested location.

My coworkers Vulcan is visible from the side.  His fins run up and down no front to back.

[Charles S Otwell]

It must not matter, Brenda's Shadow has the regulator on the side and the fins run horizontal..

[Charles S Otwell]

"If you could post a picture, that would be sweet, as I would like to see how and where you mounted them. "
>


They were $17.00 a pair not each. Hope these pics are clear, as you can see I haven't cleaned any chrome lately.









I use mine mostly at dusk and dawn or when I'm ridng country roads at nite. (really lights up from ditch to ditch)

[hootmon]

Just some side notes, (Ramblings)
I also placed a rocker switch in the left plastic cover in front of the tank (wire ran from battery with in-line fuse, then ran the power up to a triple switch mounted on the master cylinder. The switch by the tank is to turn off the power so someone doesn't come along and turn on my light and kill my battery while I'm off shopping, etc.
I wish I could find a water proof rocker switch, I've already had to replace the switch once.
Because of the lack of my charging system being able to keep up with 1 additional light and my brights at the same time, I now think maybe my last regulator has been going for a while and finally failed..
My Bike presently states 49,500, but the Speedo cable was broke when I bought it so it has at least another 5K on in it. The TB-001 was never done, so I get a upper end cams knock at idle (always have and doesn't seem to be any worse.) Also my valves have never been adjusted (Just don't have the $$$ to get it done). The bike still runs great and there is no other all around bike I would prefer to have.
BTW - I bought the bike with ~ 10K on the odometer about 3.5 years ago for $1700  and since it was a friend of a friend, paid $500 down and $100 / month no interest... Almost got divorced over buying a motorcycle, but my wife rides now (03 Sabre) and is active in a womens riding group.
Thanx for reading..

[Magnum Magna]

I wish I could find a water proof rocker switch, I've already had to replace the switch once.

I have my switch mounted to the bracket of my windscreen so it is out of the rain while driving and somewhat protected while parked.  I got a water resistant switch from a boat supply store (West Marine). Then I added some black PVC to protect it and so it would blend into the shadows.

[Charles S Otwell]

I originally ran the hot wire from the battery with in line fuse, left the lights on a couple times during the daylight hours and decided that it would be less likely to leave the lights on accidently if they went off when I removed the key. I still have the rocker switch so I can choose when and if I want to run the lights.

[TLRam1]

My auxiliary lights also turn off with the key and I have an on-off switch mounted on the plastic panel in front of the tank.