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View Full Version : Bike alternator failures - a recommendation



Blackbird
10th April 2007, 13:25
Some of you may have seen in the post on our recent south island tour that I suffered an alternator failure and completed the trip (well, as far as KB member and old friend Freebird's place just north of Wellington) by running on 2 batteries and recharging them overnight.

Whilst we were down south, two bike dealers both recommended a guy in the north island for electrical re-winding. They reckoned his repairs were better than new! As a new alternator stator was going to cost me ~$800 ex-Japan or a reconditioned one just over $300 ex-UK, I thought I’d try local first. I rang Ken Cairns Electrical Services in Dinsdale, Hamilton and was immediately impressed with his huge knowledge of bike electrical systems covering several decades! Apparently, alternator or reg/rectifier failures are relatively common irrespective of the make of bike, particularly newer models which are "built to a price". I sent the stator to him a week before Easter and got a call from him last night saying that it was ready. Completely rewound for the sum of $209 which I was pretty darned impressed with.

So, if you are unlucky enough to run into charging problems, you could do much worse than give Ken a ring (07 847 4233). Sure beats going through a dealer for a new part!

Now all I have to do is fly down to Wellington and collect my bike in the next week or two. The tour isn’t over until she’s safely tucked up at home!

bimotabob
26th April 2007, 21:22
Hi

I have known him for years - it's all true.
He has seen it all that fellow.

Regards
BB

Warr
26th April 2007, 23:13
Sorry to hear your steed was/is off the road Geoff. Will have to go looking for Ken Cairns Electrical Services in Dinsdale, since I live in Dinsdale too!

Blackbird
27th April 2007, 07:46
Sorry to hear your steed was/is off the road Geoff. Will have to go looking for Ken Cairns Electrical Services in Dinsdale, since I live in Dinsdale too!

No worries Warren, the man is a god! I'm flying down to Wekllington after lunch to pick my bike up from where I left it with a mate. Looks like the trip home will be wet!:angry:

NighthawkNZ
27th April 2007, 07:51
Looks like the trip home will be wet! :angry: it's only water... :)

but know the feeling the trip not over till all home safe... including the ride... :/

Warr
27th April 2007, 08:09
No worries Warren, the man is a god! I'm flying down to Wekllington after lunch to pick my bike up from where I left it with a mate. Looks like the trip home will be wet!:angry:
Have you got your Rain-off Mitts http://www.rain-off.com/
Used to think keeping hands dry was a myth till I bought these before last GC!!
Hope those guys on the Southern Cross have dry gear....

Blackbird
27th April 2007, 08:26
No, we got caught in heavy rain coming up the west coast of the SI and a couple of us had only got summer gloves and we looked for some of those mitts. Ended up getting some Oxford waterproofs which seem pretty effective but will get some of those mitts before I do something like the Southern Cross again!

Less than a year until we move permanently to Coromandel so I think long hauls will have to be sacrificed for decorating at both properties!:angry:

sAsLEX
27th April 2007, 08:27
pfffft

8 hours removing old wire counting turns off, then winding with wire found at work....

1 hour to work out wire was wrong

20 bucks for the correct wire

8 hours winding

Cost $20!

Warr
27th April 2007, 08:36
pfffft

8 hours removing old wire counting turns off, then winding with wire found at work....

1 hour to work out wire was wrong

20 bucks for the correct wire

8 hours winding

Cost $20!
Your the man. That would prob be my choice too but yes can be very time consuming!!!

sAsLEX
27th April 2007, 08:45
Your the man. That would prob be my choice too but yes can be very time consuming!!!

That was only a four pole Xr one, though using a lathe on a slow setting and a counter would be much faster than by hand!

Freebird
27th April 2007, 08:53
Hey Geoff Friend I don't mind but less of the Old :yes: