The Next Nerobro's HowTo: Doing the Stator Dance

[GS1150Pilot]

He did indicate which model it is in. First post.

[posplayr]

He did indicate which model it is in. First post.

So you think he put an 550 rotor into that 1150 frame?

[GS1150Pilot]

No, I don't. He rides a 550.

[Nerobro]

Could you indicate what bike the stator is on and what R/R you have used with how much mileage.
I would presume if there is any amount of mileage with a Shunt R/R that it has started to at least discolor from heat.
To determine how much damage has occurred so far, would need have photos of physical inspection.
Alternatively doing the stator tests at 5K RPM and comparing to previous results when new might provide additional information without pulling the cover.

As I recall, you had repeated stator failures causing you to start doing your own rewinds. I don't know if you have specifically posted this, but are you seeing that your newly wound stator is lasting much longer under the same condition as before when stators were failing?

1983 GS550ES. That was indicated somewhere along the line. It's got ~3000 miles on it since then. I think. I"d need to go look. I've checked the stator several times, and because I used larger diameter wire, it's always given 80+ volts instead of the 90+ we really want. But that's not changed over the years.... That said I haven't checked it in 3-4 years. It just works....

I've only had two stator failures. One on a 1980 GS550. It came with a burnt out stator, and I replaced that with an OEM stator. I didn't have an OEM stator for my 83, and the cheapest method was rebuilding the one I had.

From what I've experienced over the years, I think most stator failures start at the r/r. I've flipped 10 bikes? something like that. The vast majority have had charging issues. Since I tended to pick up bikes that had been given up on, because they wouldn't keep running, or had "carburetor issues". I didn't run into bikes that had been babied and were put on chargers all the time. If they had a bad r/r I'd replace those. They always seemed to have an ok stator. What this indicates to me, is that a failing R/R can leads to a toasted stator. Depending on the r/r's failure mode. I think "abuse" leads to a burnt stator, if you get the r/r when charging system fails.... well the stator never seems to go.

There's really no way i'm going to be popping the stator cover to inspect the stator. The gasket isn't weeping, and it charges.

[posplayr]

1983 GS550ES. That was indicated somewhere along the line. It's got ~3000 miles on it since then. I think. I"d need to go look. I've checked the stator several times, and because I used larger diameter wire, it's always given 80+ volts instead of the 90+ we really want. But that's not changed over the years.... That said I haven't checked it in 3-4 years. It just works....

I've only had two stator failures. One on a 1980 GS550. It came with a burnt out stator, and I replaced that with an OEM stator. I didn't have an OEM stator for my 83, and the cheapest method was rebuilding the one I had.

From what I've experienced over the years, I think most stator failures start at the r/r. I've flipped 10 bikes? something like that. The vast majority have had charging issues. Since I tended to pick up bikes that had been given up on, because they wouldn't keep running, or had "carburetor issues". I didn't run into bikes that had been babied and were put on chargers all the time. If they had a bad r/r I'd replace those. They always seemed to have an ok stator. What this indicates to me, is that a failing R/R can leads to a toasted stator. Depending on the r/r's failure mode. I think "abuse" leads to a burnt stator, if you get the r/r when charging system fails.... well the stator never seems to go.

There's really no way i'm going to be popping the stator cover to inspect the stator. The gasket isn't weeping, and it charges.

Thanks for the update. You are correct R/R's cause stator failures, but it is not (in general) R/R failures that cause stator Failures. It is SHUNT v.s. SERIES that has been discussed bow at length.

As far as abuse, I'm not sure what you mean unless it is"neglect"of connection maintenance or thrashing of high RPMs in which case I agree.

As far as 80V vs 90V, open loop voltage always goes up with RPM (it is basic physics), but power produced is limited by the magnetic flux paths which is a function of the rotor design no matter the stator.