Battery Issues

[Dale]

Hi Guys,

I did a search for my problem but the search engine seemed to find everything but ..
Anyway .. I replaced my battery about 4 weeks ago and when I tried to start the bike on Sunday arvo it was dead. I did notice it cranked over a bit slower earlier in the day, but I didn't think much of it.

I have read on the forum where blokes use a trickle charger on bikes that aren't ridden all the time, but mine is a daily driver ..

My mate gave me a 12V 1 amp sealed lead acid battery charger .. is this the beast i'm after ??. Do I have to disconnect my battery leads when I use it ?? Sorry .. I've never been big on maintenance .. but I'm learning

Cheers .. Dale

[ROD]

sounds like you might have more than a battery problem jump start the bike from a car DO NOT start the car and get a reading of what voltage your bike is putting out running as it might not be charging battery fully

[Dale]

sounds like you might have more than a battery problem jump start the bike from a car DO NOT start the car and get a reading of what voltage your bike is putting out running as it might not be charging battery fully

Cheers Rod,
I just got the battery back from the shop where I bought it. They charged it back up and it tested fine. I'll run the bike into my mech and get him to test as I don't really know what I'm looking at. I'll let you know ..

Dale

[Legend]

Dale,

If you ride virtually everyday, then you dont need to trickle charge, I can leave mine uncharged for weeks and it still starts fine.

Can I suggest you disconect your battery overnight and reconnect in the morning, If it starts then somthing within the bike is causing your problems. Reg/Rect, stator, accessories? etc etc.

Do the easy things first.

Leonard.

[Dale]

Dale,

If you ride virtually everyday, then you dont need to trickle charge, I can leave mine uncharged for weeks and it still starts fine.

Can I suggest you disconect your battery overnight and reconnect in the morning, If it starts then somthing within the bike is causing your problems. Reg/Rect, stator, accessories? etc etc.

Do the easy things first.

Leonard.

Thanks Leonard,
Tested bike yesterday and its charging at around 13 volts (my mechanic said it should be about 13.5) @ 4000rpm. He said it may be the reg. Bike is going in for a service shortly so he can check it properly then. Battery is disconnected as we speak .
With any luck it'll have an electrical fire in the mean time and burn to the ground

Cheers .. Dale

[Legend]

With any luck it'll have an electrical fire in the mean time and burn to the ground

Cheers .. Dale

Now Now Dale, it cant be that bad, most problems can be nutted out, except maybe the one's I get, but I bring them upon myself, so I deserve everything I get......

Sounds like your onto it, good luck!


Leonard.

[Throwdown!]

My money is always on the rectifier first - left side of bike under the duck tail. Even if that's okay the connecting plug next to it (or/and the one at the stator end) will probably have melted.

What year bike 99? 00?

[Dale]

My money is always on the rectifier first - left side of bike under the duck tail. Even if that's okay the connecting plug next to it (or/and the one at the stator end) will probably have melted.

What year bike 99? 00?

I'll pull the ducktail off thisarvo and have a look see ..

Bike is 01

[ROD]

Dale,

If you ride virtually everyday, then you dont need to trickle charge, I can leave mine uncharged for weeks and it still starts fine.

Can I suggest you disconect your battery overnight and reconnect in the morning, If it starts then somthing within the bike is causing your problems. Reg/Rect, stator, accessories? etc etc.

Do the easy things first.

Leonard.

Thanks Leonard,
Tested bike yesterday and its charging at around 13 volts (my mechanic said it should be about 13.5) @ 4000rpm. He said it may be the reg. Bike is going in for a service shortly so he can check it properly then. Battery is disconnected as we speak .
With any luck it'll have an electrical fire in the mean time and burn to the ground

Cheers .. Dale

That should be 14.6 V

[Belzybob]

From the Gen II manual, although I doubt that Gen I is much different:

"2) Start the engine and keep it running at 5000 rpm with the dimmer switch (?) turned HI position
3) Measure the DC voltage between the battery + and - terminals....<snip>... If the voltage is not within the specified value inspect the generator and regulator/rectfier"

According to the manual the "specified value" is between 13.5 and 15.5V at 5000 rpm. I'm assuming the dimmer switch means the headlight switch and that the main beam should be on during the test. At 13.5V there wouldn't be much charging going on, so (IMHO) it should be a bare minimum of 13.8V and preferably higher as suggested in the previous post.