Author Topic: CB550 is feeling a bit drained  (Read 1327 times)

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Offline IAmCitizenMe

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CB550 is feeling a bit drained
« on: April 29, 2009, 01:05:57 PM »
So, I rode my 550 to school the other day--feelin' cool cruising through campus. I parked it, grabbed a book from the library and came back. She's dead. I had been keeping it in my garage on a slow trickle charge so I had not yet run into this problem. When it runs, it stays charged but if I let it sit for a while without the trickle on it, it dies. To me it sounded like an alternator problem but a friendly passer-by said that it could be either the rectifier or the regulator.
Does anyone know where I can find a working rectifier/regulator other than a dealership ($120!)?



I should take some pictures of my bike. I guess I'm too busy riding it. Maybe I'll do that today.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: CB550 is feeling a bit drained
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2009, 01:11:49 PM »
A bad rectifier can give the symptoms you describe.  Best to check it with an ohmmeter.  Have you looked at the FAQ yet?
If you are handy, you can make a replacement rectifier for a few bucks.  There are threads discussing this.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Sporkfly

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Re: CB550 is feeling a bit drained
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2009, 02:00:42 PM »
SOHC/4 Tech forums will get more hits, by the way. Put questions like this over there. Anyway, here's a useful thread regardless:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=12465.0
1977 CB550K
1979 GL1000 - Current project, winter '09-'10
1979 CX500
1976 Suzuki GT500 Titan