Honda VT1100 Common Issues: Weekly Wrench 

Looks exactly like our old VT1100R. Same color and everything. Keep up the great work!!!

I had this same issue a few years ago, I put in my own bullet connectors and completely fine! Great video thanks for sharing!

Nice work on the 400. Please keep us up to date with the stator issue. It's been sitting in the back of my mind bothering me since I watched that video. Good luck with it. Nasty plug developments on the VT. That could have been so much worse than it was.

Thank you for this video. I have the start of this on my 02 vt1100 and I have a charging issue because of it. keep up the great how to videos!!

Thanks Doc another happy patient.

Great video! Helpful and truthful instruction.

Thank's Again Cody 😎👍👍 I watched your Troubleshooting OHM test video and found this exact same thing on my C3, Thinking the Stator burnt also but knowing this help's I'll be Cutting and soldering in some bullet style connector's after retrying the stator test with clean wire's LOL ✌😎👍 Rubberside Down Brother

My Honda shadow 700 had this and I had to have it all redone. Thank God I have a great mechanic

Thankyou for the heads up.I am looking at purchasing a 1998 vt1100.

Similar issue with Mercury outboards 40A stator with twin 20A charge coils and rect/regulators. Besides the wiring and bullet connectors burning up the regulators would actually catch on fire. The fix was. new bullet conns and dielectric grease. The nice thing about the twin reg's was, if one reg or wiring butnt and shorted, you had the second one that would still offer a suitable charge to the battery. Good post man, I'll be looking at my shadow's stator connector.

Great videos you do! Thanks and you got a new suscriber today.

It seems that a lot of models have that issue with the stator plug melting from a poor connection. I had it on my 750 Shadow, my 1100 Shadow and so I decided to eliminate the plug onmy 1300VTX also. I just cut out the plug completely and soldered the wires together and used heat shrink on them. Now I don't have the problem. I also installed a volt meter to my bikes as well, so I can keep an eye on the battery to make sure it's always charging. I have heated grips, driving lights and a stereo on my bikes, so I like to be able to know how well my battery is doing while I ride. The reason your stators are going out is not only the plug making poor contact, it's also the fact that the Honda stock voltage regulators are also faulty. They are a poor design from the factory. I also switch mine our for a Mosfet style regulator, which runs cooler and sends more power to the battery, even at idle. If you change the stock regulator with a better (Mosfet) regulator, you won't be burning out your stator. Hondas are notorious for this and if it's not addressed when you get your bike, you will be replacing parts (regulator and/or stator) eventually.

Excellent and understandable and in layman’s terms. Instead of on and on and on. Good basic troubleshooting steps I apply towards my atv.

Same issue I've had with the Yamaha xvs1100, I cut out the bit entirely seven years ago and have had no issue since.

Thank you for this video. I replaced the molex type with solder cup gold plated R/C LiPo connectors (what I had on hand). The bike has been running great ever since.

Hi Cody, again an excellent video - thank you for sharing. I met this problem on my vt 1100c shadow of 1994. Not knowing the kit I performed a traditional repair. Does the kit work on my model? Thank you again a future subscriber. Ride SAFE !!!

Great video!! Your videos are so helpful! I do have a question though. Would a low/bad battery or charging system component cause the motorcycle to not perfrom, like loss of engine power? I know you said the owner pulled off the road, but was that because the bike died or the engine couldnt keep running once it was started? Thanks!!

My small shop is seeing a Honda spring. That was a 2000 750 (5400) original miles. A Honda 1100 beside the work bench and a 750 on deck to be repaired. So, the connector issue is very well appreciated. Thanks for the part number. And you missed the fun part. Test drives in the fine spring sunshine. M.

Same connector problem on my 600VLX, either a manufacturing defect in the original parts Honda used or an improper application of the connector. If it is the latter then replacing the connector with the same type is 'insane', if the former then it should have been a 'Recall'.

I had the same problem with mine. I ordered a connector from an aftermarket place. I put dielectric grease in the inside of the terminals. The dielectric grease helps or may prevent the arching spark inside the terminal. It has been several years since I don't have thus problem.

Thanks im going threw that now .great info

That looks like a 99. I know cause I have that exact bike. And some carb issues. Getting ready to dig into. Thanks for the help.

since the charging system is 3 phase. does it matter when cutting off the connectors, the wires don't have to be matched to each other when soldering them together.

I have owned 3 of these bikes and put over 100,000 miles on 2 of them. Third one is at 71k. common on all 3 bikes, stators quit at about 60k (all 3 bikes and i replace batteries every 2 years whether or not they test good ) I do not have any aftermarket electrical accessories on any of my bikes , coolant hose from the radiator to the overflow bottle dries out and cracks due to its close proximity to the rear cylinder exhaust outlet. if your engine runs hot and pushes coolant into the bottle it cannot pull the coolant back into the radiator because of the charred hose. all 3 bikes needed at least 2 radiator fan switches each. I do always carry an extra. turn signal relays also fail and are quite expensive at the dealership. have been lucky enough to find them on ebay. engines are bullet proof !!

Hey man great video once again! A question: I have a VT1100 c2 with the same issue, wires are very hard around the connector. When I measure resistance in the stator plug it's 0.8 on all combinations... could it still be a connector issue?

Same problem on a 93 1100 shadow. The problem is the crimped connections in the connector, they become loose, and then they arc. There is a lot of power going through that connector, and a loose connection will cause a very hot arc that melts the entire connector. Either solder the wires inside the connector (instead of crimping them), or take the connector out of the equation, and just solder the three wires from the stator to the regulator/rectifier. Note: Any of the 3 wires coming from the stator can be soldered to any of the 3 wires going to the reg/rec, no need for any order. To save the reg/rec from damage from future failure a 30 amp DC breaker (or fuse) can be put inline. Instead of blowing a reg/rec costing big bucks, you only blow a cheap fuse, or have to flip a breaker.

Great content mate... exactly what I needed to know to sort my Sabre.

Thanks for posting up these videos dude! You're like Motorcycle Gandalf! XD

I’ve burned up two of these plugs this season. I was thinking there is an issue with my stator or rectifier but is it safe to eliminate the connector altogether and throw in bullet connectors?

Good man, thanks for info!

But doesn't the connection heat up because of bad stator or regulater? I'm pretty sure a harness with proper connection won't just fry itself. Just askin.

Great informational video, 🇺🇸

First and foremost, like to thank you, Cody, for the many Shadow vt1100 videos that you've done. Those videos have helped me a lot on my sons and my 98 Spirit. You always point out things that others, including the manuals, seem to leave out. Sooooo helpful! Thank you! I am assuming, without knowing, that the repair kit you reference in this video is just a way to replace both the male and female 3-wire connectors with, what appear to be, identical to the ones that melted. You say you never had a comeback and I certainly believe you but I'm wondering if you have any thoughts as to why the replacement three-way connector didn't also melt. And yes I did have the melting connector issue. When that happened, it zapped the regulator/rectifier, which I replaced with China's best LOL. I believe it's male connector because it has the male spades.... At any rate the connector that is part of the regulator/rectifier.... And then used three insulated female crimp Spade connectors (blue, FYI)... And positioned the connector assembly over the air filter so hopefully it gets air constantly moving over it and should not overheat. The other thing I wanted to mention is that I have recently purchased from Amazon two different smart chargers for about $30 each, which have multiple modes, including a repair mode which pulses current. I have found this works quite well to rejuvenate batteries that have sat in a state of discharge for many months. No guarantees, but so far so good! Thought you might like to try one of those if you haven't yet had the opportunity. Much better than putting it on 800 milliamp battery maintainer or a higher amperage charger. Again, thank you for all your great videos and sharing your vast knowledge and expertise, with those of us who don't have it. Even though I've been wrenching for 60 years! Please keep up the Great work, and I wish you all the best. David

I think i have a ground issues on my 1999 Honda VT1100. I am having turning light issues (new to me project bike), i will also now check the connector as you suggest in this video. Where is the ground on the VT1100, are there multiple ground places to the frame?

Hi my VT600 also have that problem im change the re assembled the cables

Late comment, but can you link us to that wiring kit from Honda? I cant seem to find it and don't want to hard wire either

Good to know! I have a 1 owner 86 vt1100c with only 24,000 on it and 0 problems in 34 years.

I really dislike those connectors that are designed to reduce (un)plug effort. They failed/melted on my chevy impala, dodge durango and now I can expect it to happen on my honda shadow sabre. Thanks. Really, thank you for the heads up.

Thanks for sharing

nice one cody

It's so funny I stumbled across this video, 2 days ago I was changing my air filter and that particular plug was visible and mine was melted. I had not lost any power and had no issues just noticed it because it wasn't covered with one of the sleeves I just hard-wired it. If I ever have to replace the regulator I'll deal with buying a new clip then

Afternoon all , Have a question.Want to install a momentary starter button on my 86 Honda cmx 450 I don't know what wires or color to look for,Just the wires to start the bike I will connect it on the handle bars.

I can race my bike up and sounds fine but going thru the gears at about half throttle it cuts out bad input new carbs had them jetted for my Vance n Hines slingshot pipes what would u recomend

Before I finish this video, im about 4 minutes in and this might be my issue. My bike has been giving me an intermittent problem... last week it completely died on me at the light... tried to start it back up and NOTHING.... no lights, sounds nothing. I pull the side cover and once I put my fingers under the tool box and tugged up on it, all my lights came back on... i got a few days of work commute and about 2 to 3 hours of riding on wednesday... today I get to work with zero problems. When I got off and hit the road to get home, she started giving me problems.. im going about 70 when I the tach just shuts off and comes back on, on and off on and off... it was turning off and on over again so I pulled over... I take off normal again and keep it below 50, shes doing ok, good. Once she got me home she started hurting hard... temp light was coming on and off but Im assuming thats because it was trying to cut off I guess... Its late so I didnt get in there to see but this is the first thing Im going to check... I have a 2 year diehard gold agm battery in it so that might be causing the issue

I have a honda vt 1100 shadow just got the other day and wanted to pretty much trun it into a bobber/chopper style is there a kit that will convert the shaft to chain or belt I have to replace the transmission as it is

I have a problem with my VT 1100 C from 93 I did all the static checking‘s on the stator and regulator rectifier(they were fine). All the connections were great. When I did The dynamic check on the stator, all three yellow wires give more volts on idle, But all three wires drop the volts when I rev the bike up. Not very common?!

Same exact thing happened to mine! Died going 70 after that. Afterwards I could jump it and drive it in first gear but as soon as I would try shift to 2nd it would die? I just spliced the wires together and haven’t had any issues since! I saw another video that said water gets under the seat there and causes that…

I have a similar problem. My battery drains after 1 or 2 starts then it turns over but wont start. But after giving it a push start it starts and runs just fine. Could it be my regulator rectifier going bad?

Okay, so is this a problem with the design of this connector, or a problem caused by corrosion, or what? Can it be preempted with some electronic grease? Or is it better to just go ahead and install the GL1200 connector and get it over with? When you say "newer" VT1100's, are there a certain years that experienced this issue? Thanks for the video.

So would this be something that would cause what appears to be misfires? Massive loss of power followed by increases. The smoke issue is what I had and I will be checking that connection soon. But, I did get 100+ miles in on new years day.

my VT600 also melt that wire so i reapir each three of yellow cables i dont know why its melt and some greese on them

Yup had the same issue with mine I used butt connectors on mine

Also. The connector ends up burning out when the stator ends up shortening out. So stator and rectifier still need to be tested.

Nice video. Is that wiring standard Honda quality?

I did heat shrink bullet connectors to replace my fried plug. Seems to be working fine now. Do you answer any questions cuz I just bought a 94 shadow vt1100c and I have a few questions

Love your vids. Very helpful. What would be the equivalent part for a 2007 Honda VT750 Aero? Or would this part work on my 750 too? Thanks

Sounds exactly what happened to my shadow 600. just found that plug melted and I wired it straight just to hear the engine before buyin the part, but I had no luck keeps blowing the ignition fuse and wont even make a sound to start. The high beams light shows all the time without using them. Is it a bas stator?? Or the regulator how can I know??

hello sir. what is the common cause of a bike that would not perform well in rainy days, like the engine starts to loose its power even if the throttle going. I've already change my sparkplug cap. is there something wrong with the carb or the engine?? thanks

Honest question; when I ride my shadow VT 1100 tourer, it sounds like the front piston is knocking a bit... I've checked oil... Radiator fluid.. etc... All seems fine.. How can you tell if the oil pump is bad?? Or is this something worse..? Please advise...!!!!

its been good info bout the tech bike man, can i be ur apprentices.

Ive seen them melt and all weld together and still work

Good info...VT1100C quick throttle roll on stall?

Any video for 04 Sabre VT1100 headlight hi/lo beam switch cleaning or replacement? High beam intermittent/not working, low OK, bulb bench hi//lo test ok. Thanks from Portsmouth.

I have a 1999 1100 ct3 aero it starts fine with the choke on but after the choke is off it back fires like crazy for about 15 to 30 minutes ... Never did that before...any ideas ?. Ty

Wish I could figure out why my wiring harness melted on my 2000 Shadow Ace Deluxe 750. I ordered a new harness with start button and on/off switch but it keeps popping the ignition fuse. At least it hasn’t melted my new harness yet.

I believe some Honda Goldwings also have the same problem, I know my 1200 has toasted the alternator plug

I really like the cover on the tank of the C3 and I can't find it anywhere.

I have a 1100 vstar '04 just replaced battery and ignition switch, now motor turns but won't start. Checked spark at spark plug and nothing. Any ideas would be nice.

I have a '99 vt1100C with a bad stator. I have only one question that isn't clear anywhere. DO I HAVE TO DRAIN THE OIL TO GET THE STATOR COVER OFF OR NOT?

Would I have to worry about this problem for a 96 VT1100C or would this have been replaced already?

So one of those three stator wires burned up on my 88 but about 2-3 inches out of the case Do you know what would be the cause of that? I’m just curious bc where it happened was nowhere really near a connector

this sounds exactly like what my 2002 vt750 ACE is doing. would this be the same fix? just replaced the battery too and now its doing the same thing. just dying...

Same issue with my 05 1100vt but if I rev it the lights will get brighter

I have a 92 Honda Shadow and I replaced the clutch and it's still you drop it and gearing is still don't move can anybody give me an idea what is going on I would appreciate it

I have a 2002 honda shadow spirit vt1100c2 and on my negative wire on starter is sparking what do I do to fix it

Hey if all 3 colors are yellow on both plugs, is it ok the put the bullet connectors in any way ?? any yellow with nay yellow? thankx not good at all on electrical issues.

DUDE!!!!!!!! I have been suffering with that problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On my 1100...

I have a 95 vt1100 and had a problem like this recently, just bought it and took home and was flawlessfor a week.. the next week I took it for a drive and on a back road turn and it died on me never to start again without charging assistance...saw the connection was fried and changed the stator and connection but not yet the rectifier, bike wont start on it's own still

Corroded ground cable cost me two stators two r/r went to Walmart picked up a ground cable at the battery section for $6 replace the ground and now everything is just fine

Had similar somewhat of an issue the same on my 81 gs550l died on the freeway no juice I was wondering why my one of my battery would charge sometimes and sometimes it wouldn't turned out the stator was was shot in Georgia right regular rectifier replace those is still having an issue with one of the fuses not getting juice to both sides of the fuse so I decided to go ahead and replace the harness and I'm currently I have juice on both sides of the one fuse but I have no cluster lights and my turn signals won't work I'm not all that familiar with the ohmmeter in the settings I've done a continuity test on the harness everything turned out good but I do a jumper wire on the relay turn signal relay and harness but I don't know if I knew more about that what settings to use on the ohmmeter to try and track it down but I did what do you think I should do where would be a good place to start

I am going out to check my GoldWing right now

My fiance has a 95 shadow vlx600 has put a new carbs because the last one was no good and had been sitting plus the diaphragm was tore. So he rode it hoping it would solve its problem. It will start up just fine but as soon as he gives it gas it stumbles and sputters and has no acceleration. Fresh fuel filter fuel lines he doesnt know what the problem is can you give any advice please he says its probably electrical because he was touching some wires while it was idling and it caused the bike to idle differnt i dont know

Hey so my 96 vt1100 shadow, the temp light is flashing. Coolant is full. Any ideas

Opinion needed I bought a 02 Honda shadow Sabre 1100 the guy I got it from he said he noticed after he parked it for winter which wasn't long it bogs when you accelerate kinda hard I have put two cans twice in fuel fill up still does it is there a easy fix without taking carbs out

I have a 2007 VT 1100 shadow sabre, would it have the same problem?

I have a 2005 vt1100 shadow sabre will this issue cause my rear cylinder not to fire

Thank u brother. Peace

I have an 06 Sabre 1100, guess I better check that

I am trying to replace a pulse generator on a 84 shadow vt700 how big of a kid is that to do and tips or tricks I am hoping that is don’t have to pull the motor to donit

I have a 2007 Shadow 1100. Wires are melting and mechanic thinks I need a new stator & rectifier $500. Is this connector all I need?

Yes plug in

My bike was running excellent a couple hours later won’t start I cranked it up and a big back fire and wouldn’t restart the battery is new any ideas

This same thing happened on my 2001 Honda vlx 600, luckily I was near a Drug store and pushed it into the parking lot and came back with my truck to pick it up.

Don't cut it back too far ! if it happens again once or twice you won't have no wires left to hookup to! and you'll be digging into the bike to find extra wire..... is really nice to have extra length wyer.

I have an 85 Honda Shadow VT500c. I’m getting a click when I try to start the bike from the (name ?) starter relay, located under the seat, but the bike will not turn over. I have the right Battery and it is new and good. All fuses are good, unless there are fuses I am unaware of. Anyone have any ideas???

Hello Sir. This is maybe not the right place for asking but I do it anyway. I just have bougt a Honda vfcb750s 1982 and it`s ok but.. I think something is wrong with the carborettors. it`s idle but it easy stops at idle also. The other thing is that, when I trottle it and get some rpm on it, it`s smoke a little and it`s smelling fuel in the exhaust I think. it`s a pretty bad smell. I can not see any leaks. Do you have any tips or explanation to give away? It would be great. I have done nothing to it yet, I just got it. The guy was telling me that it baybe needed som adjusting or so but he could not give any strait answer on it. The engine sounds great, no bad sounds. The only thing I am to complain about it`s the sound of it, it`s sounds like a baby moped lol. I had a cb 100 1975 once and that sounded like thunder compare to this one. Baybe I can drill som holes on the exhaust or something hehe. Anyway. Thanx for any help I got.

you are a champ

My 1999 Honda shadow 600vlx had the same issue the bike shop told me they had to saunter the wires and heat shrink it because it would possibly corrode and melt again so they used heat shrinking 3 times after they sauntered it now it runs much better it don’t get hot anymore my bike would kill The battery and just die on me twice a month after getting a new battery

Hey doctor man maybe you can help me out with a carburetor issue. 2000 Honda shadow aero vtc3. Used a sync pro to even out both carbs and adjusted the mixture screws and tried everything. It’s running rough and popping at idle and decelerations. I don’t know the parameters for the bike. But here is the thing, I turn the sync screw between the carbs to give the low end circuit more airflow that’s the high end and it smoothed out. I know it can’t be right though. it doesn’t make sense that if the carbs are balanced that they make the bike run poorly. Can you help me please? There are no vacuum leaks at all I tested all the areas with carb cleaner to no avail.

Ghost in the machine same problem with a 1984 honda 650 nighthawk but bad red wire connectors in front fuse box- poor design by Honda