Hitchcocks Forum

Went to start the bike no problems this afternoon, then whilst it was ticking over the bike stopped and didn't want to start again. Looking under the seat, I noticed the rectifier bracket had broken. I did my errand by car instead and the bike later started OK to go back into the garage. At around 6 months / 1,800 miles use, I wouldn't expect things to break, but hey-ho. I'll have to call Haywards tomorrow, as I guess it's a warranty repair.

I'm afraid it's not uncommon for the rectifier bracket to break on C5s. If you or the dealer just fits a new one the chances are that it'll break again. It has to do with vibration and harmonic frequency. An effective cure seems to be to use a large cable tie to prevent movement of the rectifier. This fix was found by an Australian on another forum who had a number of the brackets break on several C5s (he's had a few). Like many on that forum I did his mod early on and have had no breakage yet - touch wood. Basically it's a poor design that lets one end of the rectifier plate move about more than it should. Eventually vibration breaks the bracket.

I am a bit surprised the bracket lasted that long?

Put some rubber washers ether side of the R/R lugs when you remount it and don't overtighten. Its also worth replacing all fasteners with nylocs and to do a 'nut and bolter' every time you wash and polish the bike (at lest every 500 miles). I've found several things either clinging on by the last thread (i.e. main engine/frame bolts!) or actually having lost nuts (fr mudguard stays). Thats big single ownership for you.

Like Nigel says, rubber mounting would help a lot. If you can get some sort of "top hat" rubber washers it would be even better or perhaps a grommet in the mounting.

That’s big singles without a balance shaft ownership

Or is it an Indian thing?, I have a collection of British bikes, single, twin and triple and can't remember loosing anything or any vibration cracks apart from the front mudguard stays on my Super Meteor bought from or hosts (3 sets) and cured by making my own.

Certainly some of the Indian metal is not the best.

Failing RR brackets has been occurring since day One.


Why the factor has chosen to ignore the issue is a bit of a concern, along with: Horn brackets, failing tool box locks, battery cover locks, cracking and falling off Ex pipe heat shields, dragging clutches, dodgy Injectors, inconsistent ECU modules, inadequate Air intake sealing...


I could go on.

TimNZ - I assume you mean 'factory' not 'factor'? If so the answer is simple economics. This year RE is on target to ship 450,000 units and there is still a two-three month waiting list in the home market. So they're made of Indian Cheese metal . . . . so what? PS Look up Jugaad on Google and you will gain a clear understanding of the prevailing philosophy behind all Indian industry.