Battery Problem | GTAMotorcycle.com

Battery Problem

H

howardis

Member
Very dissappointing start to the day. All suited up, helmet on, gloves on, a couple engine turns then click click click. Battery dead. Happened once last year and its been on a tender all winter until a couple weeks ago and I've rode a couple times since then.

The optimate 4, charges the battery and doesn't throw any warnings. Is there an easy way to tell if it is the battery or the charging system or do I need to take it in and have the battery tested? If so any ideas where? (I'm in Richmond Hill).

I've got an 07 Bonneville and I think it uses a YTX-12B. Can I pick up an appropriate battery at cdn tire or partsource or somewhere close by? I was hoping to make port dover tomorrow and I wouldn't have time to e-order anything.

Thanks!
Howard
 
Walmart has them as well. Do you have a voltmeter to test the battery and charging system?
 
Thanks. I do have a volmeter but not sure how to test. By the time I get home it will be charged again as it is on the tender right now.

For sizing is it best to bring the battery with or is that a std size?
 
Try a local NAPA store. They carry North American made AGM batteries with a much better warranty than Cdn Tire.
Take a voltage reading across the battery terminals before starting, this should be about 12.7 volts or higher. Start the bike and repeat the test. Voltage should be higher, about 13-15 volts. If it stays the same it is the charging system, if it is higher than the battery is the problem. This is not a substitute for a load test but is a pretty good indicator.
They will likely have a listing for your bike.
 
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OK I took it off the tender and tested. 13.3 and when running 14.1 I figured I'll wait an hour and try again. I tried to get a battery from napa today but only one in the city and I couldn't get there. Grabbed one from cdn tire. I do like those lithium ones though....hmmm.
 
howardis said:
OK I took it off the tender and tested. 13.3 and when running 14.1 I figured I'll wait an hour and try again. I tried to get a battery from napa today but only one in the city and I couldn't get there. Grabbed one from cdn tire. I do like those lithium ones though....hmmm.
Click to expand...
Can you check the voltage at the terminals with the key off, again with the key on, again with the bike at idle and again with the high beams on and the bike at 1/3 of it's redline RPM (5000k rpm for my bike).

Report back numbers and we'll tell you if your stator and regulator/rectifier is good :)

-Jamie M.
 
Rather than try it why not test the system. Something made it die, either the bike isnt charging sufficiently, something drew it down being a parasitic draw or something left on, or a bad connection somewhere. If you do the same thing the same way you will end up with the same results. The tests have been gone ever on this forum various times and requires ten minutes and a 20 dollar multimeter.
 
toysareforboys said:
Can you check the voltage at the terminals with the key off, again with the key on, again with the bike at idle and again with the high beams on and the bike at 1/3 of it's redline RPM (5000k rpm for my bike).

Report back numbers and we'll tell you if your stator and regulator/rectifier is good :)

-Jamie M.
Click to expand...

This morning.
off 12.64
key on and headlight 12.2
idle 14.3
high beam idle 14.2
1/3 redline is a guess no tach 13.1 but noticed idle had dropped a bit before reving.
 
I'm thinking since it dropped from 13.3 to 12.6 overnight that it isn't holding the charge very well. The battery is 5 years old, I don't think it is anything in particular other than it getting a little on the old side. I really appreciate everyones input. If I'm way off let me know, but I'm thinking a new battery is a good idea due to its age no matter what the issue is.
 
5 year old battery? That's the issue. Definitely time to ditch it.
 
howardis said:
This morning.
off 12.64
key on and headlight 12.2
idle 14.3
high beam idle 14.2
1/3 redline is a guess no tach 13.1 but noticed idle had dropped a bit before reving.
Click to expand...
Something is wrong with your charging system. It went from 14.2 at idle with the high beams on down to 13.1 when you revved it up!!

Do you have the service manual for your bike? They usually tell you how to test the stator by the resistance (ohms).

Your battery sounds fine, the voltage drop was acceptable from off to on with headlights.

I agree with howardis as well, sounds like you have a parasitic drain problem too. Do you have many accessories tapped of your batter? Alarm, remote start, etc.

-Jamie M.
 
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