Honda ATV No-Spark: Bad Regulator-Rectifier?

Can a bad regulator-rectifier unit cause a no-spark condition on a Honda ATV? Not likely, but you should test the charging system on your ATV anyway just in case.

Partzilla's resident Honda ATV pro John Talley does live Q&As on our YouTube channel every Friday at 3pm Eastern. In this session, John was asked if a no-spark condition on a Honda Rancher TRX420 could be due to a bad voltage rectifier. 

Honda Rancher 420 No-Spark Condition

Can a bad rectifier cause a no-spark on a 2013 Honda Rancher 420?

John Talley: Chances are you’re not going to run into that particular scenario with a bad rectifier not allowing it to spark. Now with that being said, part of the charging circuit which is the stator, has wiring associated with a trigger that could cause a no-spark condition. And that association with the ignition system could cause a no-spark, but a bad rectifier? I kind of doubt it. That would be a long shot, although not impossible because the wires are more or less intertwined.  

As John mentioned, the regulator-rectifier is probably not the cause of a no-spark condition for a Honda Rancher 420. Nevertheless, it's still a good idea to test the rectifier and the entire charging system. When checking problems with the charging system, you need to test the battery, the stator, and the regulator-rectifier. In the video below, John demonstrates how to test the charging system on a Honda TRX420. The testing starts with the battery, using a digital multimeter to check on the charge coming into it. Next, John disconnects the cables from the stator to the regulator-rectifier to see if the stator is delivering current to the voltage regulator. Finally, John shows you how to test the regulator rectifier and replace it.

Watch the video above to see how to test the charging system on a Honda Rancher 420 ATV.

Want to see more live repair questions answered? See more motorcycle and ATV questions answered here.