Honda Magna regulator change is a PITA

I love my 1995 Magna, it runs very good and pulls hard but I have to confess that it is not an easy one when time comes to fix something.

My regulator/rectifier failed recently, this was confirmed by my mechanic. I asked him to order the part and said I will install it myself. Well, I learned a lot in the process!

The dam**d thing is very badly located, under the battery box and you CAN'T access the two nuts with a socket neither with an open key, there is not enough room between it and the swingarm. After a bit more than one hour of frustration, I figured that the only way to get it out would be to remove the rear wheel.

Even that was not as easy as expected. The axle wouldn't come out without removing one muffler or dropping the rear shocks, deh ! So after two more hours of work , the job is done. I'm sure I would have spent 10 minutes on the same fix on my Seca.

 

Compactness has its disadvanages.

 

It definitely has something to do with the whole design of the bike, there isn't enough room under the seat for the battery and tool box and electrical stuff. The problem is the regulator fails after 15-20 years because it is located where the air flow isn't very effective at cooling it. I think we should expect a better lifetime, don't we?

 

Always something, isn't there?
But two hours of work to swap a part that lasted for 20 years is acceptable, if you look at it from that angle. And hey, you probably won't have to change it again for another 15 years.

I learned to see annoyances like this as an opportunity to work on other things while at it. E.g. could have checked your wheel bearings or whatever, something you would most likely not do unless there is an issue.

 

I don't know........my old garden tractor had the same voltage regulator on it for 50 years.....

 

There is an upgrade that replaces the old style regulator with a modern digital one that will not fail from bad airflow. Even almost kinda mounts back in the same location. It does work like a charm though.

 

Tell us more about this digital regulator

 

Sorry, not really a digital but a MOSFET, It uses a Shendengen FH020AA rectifier. Eliminated a lot of problems on the Magna. I installed the breaker kit. It made installation a LOT easier It was not the easiest thing I have done but anyone capable of getting the old one out and can use a solder iron should not have too many problems. Even got it to mount back in original spot by removing the old bracket and replacing them with regular nut and bolt setup with some 1/4 barrel spacers. There is just enough room for everything to fit. I attached the link for the kits. They have several option and applications. The quality was real good also.

www.roadstercycle.com