I was having problems with my battery in the winter months, it had barely enough juice to turn over after 1 failed start attempt. I had my battery tender on all the time, but it always felt weak when I started it. I just had a new gel battery installed 3 wks ago and I went on a 55 mile trip last weekend. 2 days later, I could not start my bike. After 1 failed attempt the battery sounded just as weak as the old one. How could a new battery crap out so quick? Is my alternator shot? Is there a drain on the battery somewhere? I am lost. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
Mike in NYC
Battery Problem
Moderator: Moderators
Battery Problem
2004 R1150R Silver
It could be a bunch of things. The battery, the alternator, the starter, possibly a power leak (bad switch or relay somewhere is not really turning off.
Either way once you drain a battery a few to many times, it can go bad fast.
The easiest thing to do is get a new battery, your gonna need one anyway.
The get a voltmeter and check the voltage on the battery when it is fully charged. wait and check it about an hour after the charger is off to get a baseline..
Now install it in the bike and check it again. then check it the next morning and see if the voltage has dropped more than .5v. If so, you have an electrical problem, if not you can now focus on the starter and the alternator.
A bad starter will start the bike, but may draw many more amps than necessary. and of course a bad alternator just won't charge the bike.
Bill
Either way once you drain a battery a few to many times, it can go bad fast.
The easiest thing to do is get a new battery, your gonna need one anyway.
The get a voltmeter and check the voltage on the battery when it is fully charged. wait and check it about an hour after the charger is off to get a baseline..
Now install it in the bike and check it again. then check it the next morning and see if the voltage has dropped more than .5v. If so, you have an electrical problem, if not you can now focus on the starter and the alternator.
A bad starter will start the bike, but may draw many more amps than necessary. and of course a bad alternator just won't charge the bike.
Bill
Turn off ignition
Remove the positive terminal off the battery and connect this lead to
a multimeter set on DC Amps / milliamps connect other multimeter
lead to the positive terminal of the battery
WHAT IS THE READING?
The current draw should be almost nothing just enough to power the clock
around 1-50 milliamps.
If it is 500 milliamps or more 1 amp you have a leak which can be from water in a light globe, kill switch, etc
disconnect fuses one by one to isolate the appropriate circuit
E.G. ammeter drops to zero
good luck
Remove the positive terminal off the battery and connect this lead to
a multimeter set on DC Amps / milliamps connect other multimeter
lead to the positive terminal of the battery
WHAT IS THE READING?
The current draw should be almost nothing just enough to power the clock
around 1-50 milliamps.
If it is 500 milliamps or more 1 amp you have a leak which can be from water in a light globe, kill switch, etc
disconnect fuses one by one to isolate the appropriate circuit
E.G. ammeter drops to zero
good luck