TOPIC:

I called two suppliers of charging electronics and "My Luck" - in both cases , the tech-support guys had the Monday off! The person I spoke to @ RMStator couldn't address the "soldering" concern and I could sense no value in "pushing" the matter. It IS 10 yrs. old, after all. Subsequently I ordered a new Stator and upgraded regulator from 2 separate suppliers in the U.S. Should have them soon. As Paul pointed out the newer designs of V/R are a MOSFET design:

A MOSFET R/R has a marking with FH on it... The numbers tell the specific output and such... and an older thyristor based R/R is marked SH-*** . SH stands for shunt, and FH for "FET based shunt"... for MOSFET.
Shindengen Mosfet R/R with model # "FH020AA"
Features:
100% New Premium Quality
Voltage Regulator / Rectifier Upgrade Kit
This is a universal regulator/rectifier kit and charging system upgrade kit.
The kit can be used to upgrade most 2 wire and 3 wire stator systems.
This voltage regulator is great for replacing existing undersized or obsolete regulators.
The advanced construction will run cooler than all OEM diode style regulators.
In addition, this rectifier has overheat protection, rather than burn up it will simply turn off for a while and cool off.
This regulator can handle up to 50amp peaks & 30amp continuous 3 phase, 30amp single phase.
Maxi fuse protected, unlike circuit breakers which over time can get weak and be prone to nuisance tripping.
Note: IMPORTANT NOTE - This Kit is NOT For Systems With 5-Wire Stators in Which 2 of Them are for Brushes, Or For Field Control Type Charging Systems, Using Non-Permanent Magnet Rotors

Over simplified: Typical SHUNT regulators using Thyristors, loop unneeded (?) output back to the Alternator. This produces heat ! Heat destroys components over time.
The MOSFET design disconnects the stator from the circuit. No heat.
No mystery in how to connect. The mounting holes in this V/R may require a slight mod to the mounting plate - no concern.

Scotch wrote: "Thanks for the response Phil ! Do you have the model / part # of the Yamaha R1 V/R ?"

Sorry I didn't reply, I was on vacation, it seems you have it sorted though

This may be of interest to you also, it's what made me fit a Mosfet V/R to my 1300 some years ago www.triumphrat.net/speed-triple-forum/10...gulator-upgrade.html

I can't however vouch for how easy it is to fit in the original location on a 1300 as my bike is customised & I mounted it in a different location. However I do remember that Pete F did the same mod on his stock-ish 1300, so hopefully he'll see this & chime in.

Thanks for your reply Phil. Hope you had a good holiday. The attached link was great. Despite having things sorted out and the new stator and V/R arriving soon (from U.S.) I found it informative and well written, albeit familiar, now.
As I indicated, I will snap some photos as I'm doing the swap.

cheers, scotch

I wonder what the difference is between the 79 and 81 VR are since it seems like the 3 wire VR seem fairly universal and interchangeable.