i think i have a wiring fault somewhere between the reg/rec and the car loom on the fireblade! the stator windings are fine, reg/rec is fine but i cant find where the +ve and -Ve wires go to and dont have continuity to ground or any +ve.
can i wire the +ve and -VE from rec directly to battery terminals? even if its just to test? cheers

You saying yor regulator negative does not go to ground?
If so you really do have a problem, but that needs looking at rather than what you are suggesting.
But the answer in theory is yes you can, that is exactly what it should do.

Some more clues would be good.
I'm guessing the main fuse has gone if it keeps some of the bike loom

[Edited on 13/6/13 by ReMan]

basically there are 3 x yellow wires from alternator stator windings which when i stripped the outer black sheath off had literally melted together.
i have fit a new alternator, resistances across windings are fine!
the rectifier showed a short between 2 of the yellow pins so i swapped out the reg/rec for a new one which is fine!
the other 2 wires (+ve and -ve) at the reg/rec are both black. one has continuity to ground and to main +ve the othe seems to go nowhere? cant trace it as its in a huge bunch which go undr trans tunnel and into dash pannel.
ill have to strip the loom back on sunday and see what i can find.

the car starts and runs fine but after a few starts and with no re charging it goes flat quickly

The wire from the +ve on the reg/rec should be identifiable as being pretty big (30+ Amps rating).

On the bikes I have seen (mostly Suzuki) it goes to the master fuse. Normally a 30+ Amp fuse that drives all the other circuits and goes back to the battery.

Yes, black to earth, red straight to +ve on battery on my car, three yellows to the rectifier, that's it.

"one has continuity to ground and to main +ve"
This may indicate you are measuring the -ve wire but there is a low resistance load. Make sure that all your ignition, switches and everything are set off.

"the othe seems to go nowhere? "
This may be your +ve wire, but either the fuse is blown, or actually this is normal, if everething as above is set to off!

As mentioned you need to look a bit harder the main wire and earth should be fairly easy to uidentify due to their size

they are both very small csa. id say 0.75mm squared csa.the spare rec ive got (from another bike) has a much much larger -ve cable. probably 6mm + squared csa
im sure ill sort it this weekend!

[Edited on 14/6/13 by daniel mason]