Voltage WAY too high (17v)

Posted by Round Dice on Aug 22, 2012; 4:25am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Voltage-WAY-too-high-17v-tp4027696.html

This is my first post so I hope it goes well.

This is for my 1978 cb750k.

Background:

Bought motorcycle and voltage was low, 10-13.  I played with the regulator and couldn't really get anything better so I just road that way for about one year.  I wasn't that bad because it was mostly day riding about 20 miles a day.

I installed a solid state rect/reg off a 1981 cb750 hoping that would bring up the voltage.  No luck.  The voltage remained low but I still road it another year.  

So after two years my voltage drops to 8ish!  I open up the alternator casing to test the coils and the first thing I notice is that one of the three phase wires has been chewed up by the starter motor gear (the small one).  So I repaired the wire and removed the gear (I never use that thing, I'm a kicker).  

Now my voltage is outrageously high, 12.5@1G, 17@3/4G, and I've seen it in the low 20s when I flick it (fried my LEDs).

I figured it had something to do with the 1981 solid state rect/reg so I put the old OEM stuff back in and it is still mega high.  

I'm at a total loss.  Any suggestions?