Motorcycle Repair: 1983 Honda CX 650 Custom Stator replacement, honda cx 650, burn mark

Question
I purchased a 1983 Honda CX 650 Custom that had a bad stator. I replaced the stator and found a burn mark on the plug of the rectifier.Could the rectifier cause the stator to go bad? I am afraid to start the bike for now worried that the rectifier might ruin the new stator. Is this a possibility or do I need to spend more money on a new rectifier?
Thanks
Bryan

Answer
Bryan,

this is a tough call because likely the
burn mark is the result of a poor
connection in the connector.
The stator may have damaged the regulator
or vice versa.
I would be most concerned about the connection
being solid between the two.
If your fuses are intact they should protect
the system from any dead shorts.
If you run the bike make sure it is only
charging about 14 volts at the battery terminals.
If this looks okay, the regulator is likely ok.
If the reading is off, best to get a new regulator.