Posted by Hal on April 10, 2002 at 23:52:51:
In Reply to: saddle bags posted by Dr D on April 10, 2002 at 20:28:45:
Dr. D.
You don't want to interfere with the unit's cooling effectiveness by blocking the cooling fins on the Rectifier/ Voltage Regulator heat sink. If the unit cannot effectively dissipate the heat, it could overheat and fail, killing the electrical system of the Savage and possibly draining the battery. The engine-driven alternator produces A.C. which is rectified by 6 full-wave diodes in the Rectifier portion of the unit. The pulsating DC is then fed to the Regulator, which smooths out the pulsations, and then clamps the output to between 14.0 and 15.5 volts D.C. for charging the battery and supplying the bike with DC during operation. Don't defeat its purpose in any way! Perhaps you would wish to relocate the Rectifier/ Regulator to another location. Some Savage owners on this Forum have done that...notably Barbara Brooker and others who have customized their rear fenders. Check the postings!
HAL