Rectifier Issues Rectified?
 

Hi All

I found this post on a South African forum called Wildogs Adventure Riding while having a google................ Can anyone confirm that Yamaha UK or whatever they are called are doing the same? It's just I picked up my new Ten last Saturday and was wondering if it would have been updated already, it's due for its 600 mile service on Saturday and I'm inclined to give the salesman a bit of a talking too and get him to get the updates done asap.


TENERE ISSUES RESOLVED

We at Yamaha have noted that one or two concerns have been raised about the new XT660Z T�n�r� on the Wild Dog forum. We�d like to thank you guys for bringing these to our attention and would just like to give you a quick update on the steps we�ve taken to resolve these issues.

Currently two minor concerns have cropped up.
Firstly, there have been one or two reports that under extremely dusty conditions, the standard paper air filter does not cope as well as expected. Please note that this only occurs under extreme conditions.
To us this is not good enough and we have accordingly introduced an additional Genuine Yamaha oiled, foam filter to be fitted in conjunction with the current paper filter. Our dealers have been informed of this recommended modification and the additional filter will be fitted free of charge by appointment at any authorized Yamaha Motorcycle dealer. Although this solution works perfectly and does not diminish performance, we anticipate that Yamaha Motor Company may in future develop an alternative and unique single filter suited to our conditions.



Secondly, we have had a few isolated cases where water has penetrated the regulator/rectifier coupler causing the battery not to charge resulting in a flat battery. Although we are only aware of 3 units with this symptom (in our book that�s 3 too many), we have introduced a water tight remedy which we would like to implement on all T�n�r�s in the market to ensure a trouble free ownership experience. In the next week, the Yamaha dealer network will be provided with the recommended solution and materials to avert any further similar occurrences.
 
We will be asking our dealers to contact customers to have both issues attended to simultaneously wherever possible. Should any T�n�r� customer not already have been contacted by their selling dealer for an appointment, we request that you book your bike in at your earliest convenience to have this work carried out at no cost to yourself.
 

We apologize for any inconvenience and concerns this may have caused, but we believe in getting things right and these pre-cautionary measures should be attended to as soon as possible.
 
All other local feedback on the T�n�r� has been overwhelmingly positive and for that we thank all of our valued customers.


Posted by �Red Cherry� , the official media representatives of �Yamaha Distributors� 


Excellent post thanks Im getting it all done under the warranty

Sounds promising I do hope they send out letters in UK and not just fix when they break.

Any chance of a link to the forum thread please?

Cheers.

Thank you, this post deserved to be made a sticky, so shall be done.

:660:

FYI here in Belgium so far Yamaha has refused to acknowledge this problem as a reason for a warranty claim. They claim the "extreme dusty conditions" are an improper use of the bike.:eusa_eh::eusa_doh:

it's supposed to be a bloody adventure bike for god's sake...

REgarding the above post , while this was posted by a yamaha representative i am still waiting for my delaer to contact me. When i called the dealer he had no knowledge of this.

my 2 cents

Took mine in for it's first service this morning (694miles) asked the technician to give the bike a good going over and to check the Reg connector, about an hour later while sitting in a cafe having a coffee I saw my bike go blasting past, not quite the good going over I meant but never mind.

Spoke to the technician afterwards when he had stopped grinning and asked him about the connector, he said that he had checked it for me but thinks that on the later bikes (09?) they have changed the water seal (boot) and made sure that all the spade terminals locate properly so he doesn't think it will give any problems. He just suggests that if I ever power wash the bike to be careful around any wires or connectors as all the problems that he's come across have been due to water being forced into connectors under high pressure. Asked him what he thought of the bike and he just smiled and said "It's luvely"

They got my OEM top box with inner bag in for me but unfortunately they could not open it due to the fact that the lock had jammed on the inside, even with the updated locks and stronger keys, so they are going to order another one for me and post it free of charge.

Got to add that I can fully recommend Woodford Motorcycles in South Woodford (London E11), the salesman Allen did me a great deal on an 09 bike and the service department are nothing short of brilliant, nothings too much trouble and they are about as friendly as can be. Just tell them that Chris with the blue Tenere sent you and they'll do you a deal.

Until Yamaha do the fix on the warranty I have unplugged the connector and used a baloon....pulled it up the cable and stretched it over the square plug and plugged it back in to reduce the risk of water ingress. Trimmed the ends and zip tied it to keep it water tight. I went and bought a few black party ballons and it works a treat for now.

Interesting about the airfilter... Regie308 has given me the part number for the Australian spec bike's foam filter, it is:

11DE4451-UF (the UK/Europe paper filter pn. is 11DE4451-00 I believe)

Anyway, turns out you can't order this in Europe (eh?) - just like I couldn't order those bloody spokes from the USA I guess (grrr...)

Perhaps that situation will change in the future? especially with some pressure to Yamaha UK from all of us? I for one would like to be able to run an oiled foam filter, particularly on the rally... seems stupid you can't order a specific part for this bike, especially when they are built in Europe!

xxx

Thanks for the info, on a trip to the lake district with only 360 miles on the clock my battery charging failed twice in 1 weekend. After the second time I contacted my dealer who had no idea if they had any faults, then Yamaha UK who sent out the RAC! to test the bike. The fault is intermitent and can rectify itself and re-charge the battery - if you are lucky enough to be able to bump start the lump. I was told to continue riding it to see if it happended again.
Now reading your post its going straight back to the dealer.
Cheers

To confirm , yamaha SA have replaced the air filter and cover with DNA kit and wrapped the rectifier in self adhesing electrical tap.

Good on yamaha sa

What a pitty Yamaha UK are not as good as Yamaha SA

Yamaha should acknowledge the faults and fix them all not wait until it ruins peoples rides, holidays etc

If Yamaha UK took any notice of the customer surveys they sent it might be a start

All the Tenere's should have the extra filters fitted they sold these bikes as adventure tourers after all. If they are not happy with the reg/rectifier issue they should replace all of them and do the breather tubes while there at it.

Can you post some photos of your new filter and the rectifier "mod" done by Yam SA?

My rectifier was ok last year but I'm going to protect it better.

I checked mine today (08' model). After one year it still looks perfect - no signs of any corrosion, bad connection etc. The plug was dirty outside and inside but the inner part of the connection area was perfectly clean.

Of course the location of the rectifier and it's "water-resistance" is a major design mistake. They should put it for example above the cooling tank - it should be not so hot there.

Is it a good idea to use WD40 to protect the connector???

Your better off giving it a small squirt of WD if it needs it then using a balloon over the connecting block as I did. That way its proteced from the elements.

I coated the top of my connector block with Vaseline to stop water ingress, 08 model and touch wood no problems at all and no need to keep reapplying.

I think that an extra shield placed just behind the horn would be good. There are two good mounting points to fix it. Then the rectifier will be much more protected from splashes but the shield can't block too much airflow (the rectifier can get too hot).

That is not right. Mine is from Jan 2009 and I had this issue. They replaced the complete loom.

Rectifier plug fix
 

Hi folks, great site, great help, I have had the said rectifier problem, luck had it I broke down a quarter mile from home, I cleaned the terminals and packed it with Vaseline, to resolve the problem on a more permanent basis I cut 4 inches out of a narrow dirt bike inner tube, (21 inch tube and cut in a tubular shape, as such) I then slipped it over the wiring block and zip tied the one end to the loom creating a rubber boot which sits over plug, any rain or road grime will now simply slide down the boot and not into the plug.
I would post a picture but can't find how, DOH !

Snap
 

I did exactly the same, now its tight to the connector so I just worry that the tube will hold water over the connections. Its been like that for about a year now and no problems though. Its an 08 bike so famously dodgy connections.

I'm kinda double posting here, but as this is sticky post and many people may be wrestling with the problem I hope nobody minds me adding this here too

I had the the bad connection issue with the reg last summer. I sprayd the connector with WD40, dislodged a tiny piece of plastic that I found inside the connector and put it back in place. Had no problems until this week.

The LED that I have installed on the dash luckily shows immeadiately when the battery is not being charged while the bike is running so I no longer get left on the roadside. I highly recommend installing one for peace of mind. Cost only a few euros and is easy to plug in straight to the battery. As I said I ran mine all the way to the dash so I can allways see the battery is being charged & ok while riding. Gives you some time to react if there is a problem.

Wigling the connector plug a bit currently solves the problem . I just put the bike on idle and wigle the connector and push it "deeper" until the battery charge light turns green and off I go! However, I'm having the whole wiring loom replaced in few weeks. Under warranty I might add as I talked to a local shop last summer about the issue and they promised to fix it if it reappears. The bike (09) had about 4000 km on it when I bought it, now it's around 9000 km.

On my bike the problem is not moisture, nothing is corroded etc. and the inside of the connector is dry as a bone. It just seems that the plug is not pushed in enough and kind off shakes loose.

I think a zip tie that pushes the connector and rectifier together might do the trick for me, but as the loom will be replaced I'm not going to bother.