I bought a well neglected 1986 Savage - it's all corroded, forks pitted & leaky, bad oil leak from the head...you name it.
Anyway, I got it running, and it runs well.  Yesterday, it started running rough and then stopped completely.  Making a long story short, it was a poor connection where the fuse holder plugs into the wiring harness.
In trying to sort out the electrical system, I found the rectifier was very hot to the touch.  The outside temp was 80 deg., so that would account for part of the heat.  The rectifier used to be just a little warm after a 45 minute ride. Does anybody know a danger point in the temperature rise in the rectifier?  I'm trying to understand symptoms of impending disasters.  I have one of those Harbor Freight laser thermometers.  I didn't use it to check the temp, but I will if I can discover the normal operating temp of the rectifier.  Someone please help!

Things I've done so far:
Rebuilt forks
Sealed leaky plug in the head
Added little bullet LED turn signals
Pulled a big dent out of the gas tank & rattle can painted it
Made a 1/4 " thick brass spacer for the gas tank valve
Replaced throttle with a cheap aftermarket one
Replaced the right handlebar switch with a used Volusia part
Cleaned every electrical connection & greased with silicone grease

Yes, connectors are clean and tight.  I checked them.  The battery charge is normal.  I monitor the battery.  My concern is the temperature of the rectifier.  What is the reason for the temperature rise?  How much is too much?
Will a poor connection cause the temp to rise?  I'm concerned because I know the high temp is a symptom of something, but I don't know what.

Sounds reasonable.  Thanks.  I wonder if it would be wise to put in some kind of thermal breaker to open the circuit instead of just generating waste heat?  We would have a little more power and use a little less gas.