Sports: Re: [DucatiST] 2002 ST2 regulator/rectifier

I guess that's a question without a simple answer, Nick. The stock ST2 regulator is a thin one without fins, because a later one won't go into that space. I mounted my replacement (finned and not from Ducati) under the nose fairing, right at the front; cut out a notch across the area from the bottom of the fairing. It gets all air from motion and can convection cool when the bike is not moving. Whether that is the best method, I am not sure. What I do know is that by moving it there, connecting it with 50-Amp wire, bypassing all connectors (stator and battery), I have solved my bike's problem. From what I've seen, the early ones are all mounted in that casting. There's a flat section in there that I assume was designed for the purpose, because the rest of it is not flat.

The value of the big casting as a heat sink is questionable to me. The regulator is inside it, mounted to the bottom, so heat generated will rise back to the regulator, unless the bike is moving fast enough to carry the heat away.

The main objective (for me) is to eliminate the SCR regulator and buy something with MOSFETs. Then it works for long periods of time with no issue.

Jack in NC

On 6/24/2013 2:15 AM, Nick Woods wrote:

--- In st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, Jack Davidson <tdma@...> wrote:
> To aggravate the issue, the regulator in the '98 is inside an
> aluminum tunnel in the nose, eliminating any airflow unless you are at
> speed. Beginning sometime in '99, the charging system is the same
> 3-phase (reliable in my experience; I have 6) system that comes with
> most are all Ducs through 2006 or so and the regulator is on the side,
> by the battery. It can get convection flow there with sitting still. >
> Jack in NC

Well, that's weird! I always understood that the nose/intake was the preferred position and early RRs needed to be shifted to there to take advantage of cool air and the heatsink of the headlamp mount. Are you saying they do better down beside the motor??

NickW, 99 ST4