185s exciter/stator not lasting long

[3wheelrider]

O.k.- I've been thru I believe 6 of them within about 2 1/2 - 3 years. This last one was a new ($40 RM Stator) lasted about 5 rides. I thought it would last longer since it cost more than the others. I've put on 3 USED OEM ones & 3 different new & used aftermarket ones.(no NEW OEM ones for obvious fact that its around $200 for the assembly). Some of the aftermarket ones were actually thicker than OEM...... Now- the only explanation I have is the moisture trapped in the stator/flywheel housing along with the high temps in my storage shed when sitting. Now, I do ride thru LOTS of deep water/mud each time. I have pulled off the pullstart off after riding to see little trickle of water come out -nothing major (only normal right?) I dont belive it ever fills up or anything. I've checked the housing days later to find moisture all around the flywheel etc.... I have my pullstart sealed off for the most part. New OEM handle ,good rope recoil, gasket in place. I've seen them less sealed off without a problem. I dont think its anything else electrical causing it like wiring, conn.,faulty CDI or coil, cap, etc.. O.K.- My question is :has anyone else gone thru this so frequently? Also I noticed the exciters dont seem to be really sealed up( just wrapped in string basically).-Can I try using automotive silicone to seal up just the exciter coil? Or spray WD40 before & after riding everytime? Anyone else done it? I was tempted to spray it with WD40 before but figure it may cause more harm than good (short circuiting?). & the silicone gives off corrosive fumes as it cures so not sure thats a good idea either.................Why doesnt anything happen to the lighting coil? Anyone else gone thru this? Or is it just bad luck? (of which I have plenty) Any other ideas anyone?

[shortline10]

My theory is they just get to hot and fail , poor cooling design at the flywheel . You never here of a 81-85 atc 110 stator going bad and its the same stator (motors run much cooler ). Those 185s motors run very hot . I have a customer that brings me his 200x about every 6 months with a bad stator and as you know its submerged in oil so I dont believe its a moisture issue at all but more of a heat issue . Run a wet clutch synthetic oil and a oil cooler if possible and I think it will last longer . You do have the little cooling fan on the flywheel right ?

[3wheelrider]

Yeah Mike -it has the fan blades & its mounted the right way too. Motor is stock except for a 10.25 to 1 comp. piston & a header which add a little heat I guess. Doesnt higher comp. makes it strain harder to create spark too? Gap was always correct ......I know its not running lean. What about using a little of that special paste/grease (whatever it is) & apply a little behind where the exciter mounts (where it mounts to the round plate). Its the stuff you find/use under an ignition module on a car/truck. Its used to keep heat transfer down. (U know what I'm talkin bout?) -not sure what its called. I just may pull the clutch cover/oil cooler off of the other 185s since its not getting/going anywhere. ......Got exciters? .Thanks

[shortline10]

The high compression piston will for sure make it run hotter than the stock dished style piston . The elect paste isn't the issue IMO , you just need to get the motor temp down . Your not to advanced or retarded on the pulse generator are you ? 93 octane fuel might help as well .
I'm looking for a nice 185s seat foam if you have one ?
Grant should have the stators .

[3wheelrider]

The electr. paste wont help youre saying? I figured it would serve the same purpose.-it was just a thought....No -the pulser is not + or -. Been runnin strictly 92 except for 1 or twice in a pinch & put 87 (ran fine). - I have the seat foam that I got from U - (for the "Warlock" 185s). Just sittin there & no seat cover yet......

[jb2wheels]

Are all your grounds and connections clean, secure and corrosion free?

[3wheelrider]

Are all your grounds and connections clean, secure and corrosion free?

Yeah-its all good harness (untampered & undamage in any way.) low hrs, no corrosion, etc. ,good conn. & ground- its all been gone over multiple times anyway. Wire loomed harness/ heat shrink on the conn. Bike runs thru DEEP water like its not there & no sputtering/or misfiring ever. I do ride it/run it very hard tho- So heat might be culprit like Shortline10 said.

[tri again]

Not sure if it matters but I was running the tractor hard with 8 inches of heat ripples off the
exhaust.
Stared at it for hours and ran low on 'gas'.
Came up to the barn and all I had left was non ethanol fuel.
that we use for the trikes and chainsaws etc.

I figured an extra dollar to get the job done was worth the waste.

lo and behold, the heat waves off the muffler dropped
to UNDER 2 inches high.

I thought alcohol might have a cooling effect but I guess it runs hotter.

[3wheelrider]

Hmmmm.....interesting- but I'm not so sure gasoline is avail. anywhere around here without 10% ethanol. I would be avoiding that 10% ethanol in the other vehicles too if I could. (It hurts MPGs)

[shortline10]

Truck stop at Griffen road and state road 27 sells the ethanol free gas , pump # 13 out back . I buy it their all the time . I run it in the bass boat and the atc's .

Hmmmm.....interesting- but I'm not so sure gasoline is avail. anywhere around here without 10% ethanol. I would be avoiding that 10% ethanol in the other vehicles too if I could. (It hurts MPGs)

[3wheelrider]

Alright -cool. Dont really ever venture that way anymore since Holeylands closed in '08 (I used to pass by that gas station to go riding on the weekends)- but hey...I'd like to run that non-e in the 250R as well. Don't they have like 100 octane or something as well or was it race fuel? I believe I remember correctly?

[shortline10]

I think its like 95 octane at Griffen . I believe the shell station at pines blvd and 27 sells the race fuel but its prob like 8 or 9 bucks a gal .

Alright -cool. Dont really ever venture that way anymore since Holeylands closed in '08 (I used to pass by that gas station to go riding on the weekends)- but hey...I'd like to run that non-e in the 250R as well. Don't they have like 100 octane or something as well or was it race fuel? I believe I remember correctly?

[3wheelrider]

Thanks again Mike.....

[tri again]

small airports for av gas or

boat marina fuel is commonly alcohol free.

google ethanol free gas. I posted a national map a while ago.

outta the way stations in small town cater to logging companies, airplanes and freaks like us.

[3wheelrider]

Thanks for the info....