I have a 1999 heritage softail

I went to install the new voltage regulator and ran in to a problem.

The old one had a grove on the edge of the housing for a ground strap that comes out of the back of the regulator and grounds to the bolt that holds the regulator to the frame.

The new one has the same grove on the edge of the housing, but the post on the inside does not have a threaded hole for the screw that secures the ground strap inside the housing. where the bolt hole would be, on the top of the post, is just covered. It can not be punctured or threaded or anything.

Is this the wrong part? or have they changed the ground strap to be internalized somehow? what happens if I install a regulator without a ground strap?

 

I suspect it won't work! The wiring on the bike provides the positive side of each circuit, the ground connections provide the negative. It needs both! Can't anser what to do, but hopefully someone will be along soon who can. You may be able to ground it from one of it's mounting screws to a nearby part of the frame, remembering that the engine is rubber-mounted.

 

Why not get the right part?

 

Most aftermarket regulators don't have the extra ground wire, they ground through the housing when mounted.

 

Ask where you bought it. If you install it and it WAS the wrong part they won't credit you. "no returns on electrical parts" Is usually the policy.

 

this is the correct answer - you also have a china regulator the USA ones we install have the ground thread that you do not need on some

 

thanks guys

installed the regulator and it works fine

it was the cheapest one i could find, i am not surprised it came from china, i stick with american parts from now on.

 

That's funny right there, good luck with that. Sorry to say.

 

All new Harleys come on Chinese wheels - and the computer/phone we all use to get on HDF did too - jus' sayin.....

 

so thats the reason the wheel bearing for no rime or reason go bad

in personal walk around devices the business public would not stand for the normal china junk ( up grade junk ) - like we get the same for something we drive