stator life

[fido]

how long does a stator last on 1200 and why do they die

 

[slabghost]

As with all things electric. They last until they quit. This may sound a bit flippant but it's true. Some last 40 years some don't make it 5. In the case of stators failure is usually the result of bad insulation or broken wires. Dirty or loose connectors add resistance to the circuit producing damaging heat. Incorrect jump starting can cause wires to heat up. Regardless how the insulation or wires are damaged once they have the stator is damaged also. This is true not just for the 1200's but for all bikes really.

 

[dan filipi]

Like slab says they die when they die.
It has been mentioned countless times on the net the heat combined with old acidic oil causes them to die early but I don't buy that because my experience is the 1200 engine doesn't run any hotter than an 1100 or 1000.
I really think Honda had a bad run on them. Maybe they tried to cut costs using a different supplier, maybe there was a period in time when they changed the insulating material around the windings.
There really is very little difference between a 1000/1100 and 1200 stator. They may even be the exact same stator I've never compared them side by side.
I think we will never know for sure the real cause but I would not buy a replacement 1200 stator from Honda. I would either have one rewound myself or buy new from a maker with a good history making them. Ricks Stators has had quite a few defective so I'd stay far from those.

 

[mcgovern61]

Not quite true about the heat between 1100 and 1200...sorta. The 1100 fairing is slightly different than the 1200 and the 1200 dumps heat down the side real bad. I rode my Son-In Law's 1200 SE and was shocked at how much heat pumped down the side of the bike. It was comfortable otherwise, but I was glad to get back on my 1100! It was summer and real hot out. Matter of fact..I even gave Joe a visit back then!

 

[slabghost]

Heat dissipation will differ from bike to bike due to the variation of fairings, scoops, shields, Lowers louvered or closed etc. This is no indication at all of a variance in running temperature.

 

[joedrum]

the whole thing about stator cookers is just BS thats not enough heat in air flow differences to hurt a stator ....its totaly a output resistance and the reverse thing also as in over draw ....1200 dressers had more lighting than earlyer wings and the wiring had even more connectors and the wire itself was the same as earlier modles

 

[Tory]

I think we will never know for sure the real cause but I would not buy a replacement 1200 stator from Honda. I would either have one rewound myself or buy new from a maker with a good history making them. Ricks Stators has had quite a few defective so I'd stay far from those.

From what I understand is that the stators replaced by honda where better and carried a lifetime warrenty.

....1200 dressers had more lighting than earlyer wings and the wiring had even more connectors and the wire itself was the same as earlier modles

I agree with the extra load theory,but I think honda had admitted an issue early on with the 1200s which they replaced with a better unit.As I mentioned

The lifetime warrenty on honda replaced stators also covered labor,but was limeted to the original purchaser.
I do not remember if this was done under recall.