Not charging?

[michiganadam]

Got my carb problems fixed yesterday (I have depression issues...). Took it for a test ride followed by around 80 miles of riding. Of course the bike had been sitting for a while and i hadn't charged the battery or anything. Rode it multiple times today. In the middle of the night I took a 2up night ride with my girlfriend. Stopped to stretch our legs andddd...bike wouldnt start. clickclickclickclick. We push started it and got it going, and the headlights got a little brighter as we drove on...we were quite a ways from home too. Made it all the way home. When we got home i shut it off and the lights instantly died. This tells me that the alternator was working atleast somewhat.

I dunno why the battery would just die in the middle of the summer like that. Had no problems starting it whatsoever earlier. How should i diagnose the battery vs the alternator?

Also, i had the battery and battery box removed from the bike while i worked on the carb. The battery cables were all tight. The little connection into the round thing by the battery, which i had disconnected during the work, was still tight and everything....

Thanks in advance.

[Lefty]

Do you have a multimeter, if not you should get one- with the engine runnig, attach the leads to the battery & if it's charging should read 13+ volts.
A service manual will run you through alternator testing.

[J6G1Z]

Lefty is right on with that information.

I'm betting that your battery is giving up the ghost. Below is my "broken record" reply to battery issues.

See if you have a Batteries Plus store nearby your home: http://www.batteriesplus.com/t-storeloc.aspx

Take your fully charged battery there & ask them to load test it. Most likely it is time to replace it. Do yourself a favor & step up to a "Made In The USA" sealed AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) type of battery. Batteries Plus offers two types of AGM batteries. One made in China & one made in the USA. You want the USA manufactured battery. Be prepared to spend some money, but it's worth the extra $'s. While your at it, pick up a "Battery Tender". Batteries Plus offers a $10 off deal when you buy a battery & a Tender at the same time. http://www.batteriesplus.com/product_search/36126-Battery-Tender-Jr-dot-12V-750mAh-DASH--DASH-Deltran-Battery-Charger-DBT021--0123.aspx
The Battery Tender has a "Hard Wire Accessory" that comes with it. It allows you to add the wire to your battery terminals along with your bikes battery leads. Then there is a nice weather proof connector that you can route to an easy to reach location. Now when you park your bike, you can just connect your Battery Tender & plug it into the wall. This set up will provide you with a nice sealed battery that won't vent corrosive fumes onto parts of your bike & should last you a minimum of 5-6+ years of trouble free operation.

Good luck
J.

PS. If you want to go super trick & remove five to ten pounds from your bike, check out AntiGravity Batteries. They are incredibly compact & usually weigh in at 3lbs or less. http://antigravitybatteries.com
Check out the pricing on Amazon.com

[michiganadam]

Yes i have a multimeter, i guess i was tired last night cause i didnt even think about using it. And I'll check out batteries plus. we do in fact have one. Thanks.

[michiganadam]

I trickle charged the battery. Read 12.5 volts or so. Turned the ignition on. And the reading just instantly dropped. 9 volts, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0.....now it's at 0.

Nice.../

[J6G1Z]

Uh-Oh! New battery time.

J.

[Slyphon]

Might be a little off topic, but I saw this guy building his own custom bike... wired one of these LED voltmeters into the bike... always knows when his battery is no good now!

http://www.amazon.com/Keedox%C2%AE-Digital-0-99V-Voltmeter-Meter/dp/B00IM79ZFO/

[J6G1Z]

A volt meter only tells you the state of the battery. An amp meter will tell you the state of your electrical & charging system.


J.

[michiganadam]

Got a different battery. Seems that the bike is overcharging it, mustve cooked the old one. I guess its time for a regulator?

[scottly]

Got a different battery. Seems that the bike is overcharging it, mustve cooked the old one. I guess its time for a regulator?

What voltage are you reading across the battery terminals at 3000 RPM?

[J6G1Z]

Got a different battery. Seems that the bike is overcharging it, mustve cooked the old one. I guess its time for a regulator?

Do you charge the battery over the winter time?

I used to cook my batteries long ago, by trickle charging them through the winter. Then I bought a Battery Tender Jr. Now my batteries last for several years. I also started buying sealed batteries vs. the cheaper open cap wet cell batteries.

I haven't heard of the Regulators causing many problems. I do see that Rick's offers new ones though: http://ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/part/10-109/ODNIb25GVDUwMEFzY290

Good luck
J.

PS: No need to apologize for, or even discuss depression issues. I battle with it off & on throughout the wet & dark winters.

[Slyphon]

I was just reading this article on the Yahoo Group, it appears that dirty Ignition Switches can cause overcharging at the battery. Here's a link to the file: https://xa.yimg.com/df/honda-ascot/Ignition+Switch.pdf

[michiganadam]

I have a battery tender i usually use over the winter and any time i dont run it for a few weeks and...this winter i broke my leg and couldnt do much and it was in a town 30 miles away all winter. Which is bad on a battery of course.