Yamaha FZ16 speedometer panel failure causes.

With the numerous repairs I have done in the past with this Yamaha Fz16 and Yamaha Fazer on their speedometer digital panel. I do hope this article will help unit owners to gain idea and perhaps prevent it in time not to breakdown by following some information that will be written here. I just do not why the design and placement of their parts are beyond imaginable, maybe for marketing strategy or other means. But simply unacceptable since from the very beginning, it was already a bad idea.

Technically, Yamaha FZ16 all variant and revision was noted to be a Full Wave Regulator system and it is very obvious how the headlight is configured. You can easily distinguish it when the ignition key is ON but the engine is OFF. The headlight can be turned on by its switch. Half wave system headlight can only be turned on when you turn on the engine. That is the main difference of a HALF wave system to a FULL wave system motorcycles.

Furthermore, A full wave system is very dependent on the health of the battery, meaning it should be in tip top shape always, and a handy on board Voltage Meter Indicator is a must where it lacks when you purchase an Fz16. It does not have any indicator whatsoever.

Location of your regulator:

Battery ang regulator on your FZ16 is located at the right side portion of your motorcycle. For illustration, take a look at the pic.

(not so sure if this is an FZ16, but same location of both item). Remove the side cover plastic and you will gain access to it. (regulator location is facing at the rear end of the motorcycle, battery is at the back of the engine)..

Ok, here is the tricky part. I want to emphasize that location first, and I do hope all of you will notice this that, of so many areas to put them. Why at the back of the engine to where when air is cooling them..Heat was being transferred at the back when you are running at the road. That HEAT alone will cause big time trouble on those two critical item during operation.

Since Regulator tends to heat up when it is charging the battery. The additional HEAT build up by air flow from the engine will cause it to even heat more than their working temperature...

Let me give you an example of item that heats up during use. An AUDIO AMPLIFIER...Didn't you ever think why amplifiers uses heatsink on their components..

Correct? to avoid thermal heat up on critical component like the AUDIO CHIP..

This is exactly the same as the REGULATOR..that is why they have fins that act as an additional cooling properties of the unit when air passes on them. Some regulator of other model is fitted in front where airflow is high, to cool them down. But FZ16 location was at the back of the engine. And I am pretty sure that the added HEAT the flow on that regulator added the MISERY of it getting to overheat.

And this is the most important FACT of their failure too..

Any item that is heating up, need something to cool them down. It may be AIR if it is aircoloed like the engine or Additional Heatsink in terms of regulator to act as thermal transfer to any other metal part of your motorcycle.

To those Yamaha FZ16 owners out there who is reading this, Heads up..

One reason why your regulator is failing many times was..The actual placement and where it was bolted was supposed to be a metal part of your machine..and not to a PLASTIC part. Originally of you will see it for yourself..It is actually placed on a plastic holder.. What the EF???

How in the world can it transfer the HEAT generated by the regulator elsewhere around your chassis metal part...PLASTIC is not known to be a heat conductor..even if that holder os bolted on your chassis, it will never ever transfer heat. And as the regulator is heating up, there is no other place to go but to the entire regulator itself causing that heat for it to FAIL..overtime.

And as I have known this for a long period of time. That plastic holder is a huge mistake. It must be replaced by any metal holder that is bolted to your chassis, to transfer its heat elsewhere. period.

But why the panel also get busted in return after I change my battery.

When the old battery was being used for a lengthy period of time. The regulator cannot cope the charging process and then it fails without your knowledge. Oh wait!!! there is one..

and that is your FZ16 Speedometer. When it gets blackout..there is a serious problem on your entire charging system.

Read!!!

When a regulator fail...there is a high possibility that instead of DC being thrown by it.. An AC is coming out too..That AC was supposed not to go to your electrical system preferably the Digital Panel. Any speedometer with electronic circuitry that needed pure DC will surely get busted..Want to try it on your Cellphone..(You wouldn't tell what will happen after wards.) :)

Getting back to that speedometer failure. Other owners encountered low battery scenario, and thought that by changing a brand new battery alone will fix everything. It is not always the case. Battery needs to be charge overtime during operation, since the FZ16 motorcycle is a full wave electrical system...All loads are directed to the battery..You do not simply have AC lighting like those on a HALF wave system..YES!!! full wave system is entirely a DC system and battery is the main source of powering the headlight, and tail light bulbs. Many adds auxiliary lighting system like led bars and led lights, That alone are added stress on the battery, The regulator works twice as before adding more heat on it. then without any means of transferring it to other metal part, you'll be getting a dead battery soon since it is no longer giving charge to the battery, battery then fail, AC might be getting inside the electrical system all the way to the speedometer panel..then fail, blackout in the process.

I am already alarmed of many FZ16 panel getting handed over to me for repair. And maybe as part of the process of giving back to the society..Who would want their panel to be repaired if in the first place can be prevented from getting busted..

Share this article..

1.  Change the regulator holder to any metal like aluminum plate then bolt that plate to the chassis to transfer the excessive heat build up of your regulator.

2. Put a voltmeter indicator accessory on your electrical system so that you have a visual indication of your battery.

3. To avoid getting the battery some serious overdischarge state..There is no harm using your KICK starter once in a while...Electric Starter is a hidden killer of a battery when used frequently.

4. Avoid overloading your electrical with unnecessary load. Always keep the charge and discharge state as balance as you can.


UPDATE:

Here is a sample photo of your regulator with aluminum plate added for added heat dissipation of the regulator towards the chassis. Sent by a friend to whom I gave some tip to prevent failure of his newly replaced regulator.

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