05 Road King won't start

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Sep 4, 2020 | 06:23 PM

#11

arcticharleyman

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From: Ontario East

I slow charged the old battery to 100%, left the charger on, hit Starter , loud "CLACK" and the battery dropped dramatically to 7 VDC, tried it again and dropped to 5VDC. I need a new battery. I just checked the new battery I bought a couple weeks ago for our son's Honda Shadow ACE that I'm doing some work on and it's an ETX14 210cca, not near enough to crank my Road King. Buying a new battery.

Sep 4, 2020 | 07:54 PM

#12

arcticharleyman

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From: Ontario East

Kinda a little out of my way.....and country. By the time I pay all the taxes and customs duties, I would end up paying more and waiting longer for it to be shipped from Cali.
Thanks, anyhow.

Sep 4, 2020 | 09:11 PM

#13

Max Headflow

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From: poway

Sorry Trump hasn't been able to fix it yet. Maybe next term. Find a local for Yuasa...

Sep 4, 2020 | 09:54 PM

#14

Ed Ramberger

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Joined: May 2015

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From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticharleyman

Thank you Ed. I'm not sure what you mean by using the meter properly. I started using meters for building and servicing electronic entertainment systems back about 1976 so I think I know how to use a meter properly. I will check the original battery again to see what it reads while disconnected to the bike and when I activate the starter. I will also reconnect the brand new and fully charged battery that I tried yesterday and see what happens.

Just meant that there is no way a battery should (and I am doubting could at rest) read that high. Have helped a few people with the same questions over time, and it's usually a bad meter and/or mis-use of the meter. Not knowing your skill level, it was just a statement to make sure a quality meter is being used on proper settings and being read properly.

If you have ordered a new battery, my advice would be to check the charging voltage to be safe as soon as it is installed. Also, your last posts indicate voltages completely in line with the initial symptoms. What changed that you are now getting accurate readings?

Sep 4, 2020 | 11:02 PM

#15

Max Headflow

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From: poway

While I would question the battery reading over 16 volts, I do think that they will read higher as they good bad. I've seen weak batteries read over 13 volts after a charge but as soon as you put any load on them they basically drop significantly. I suspect that some of it is due to the internal resistance going up and some thing to do with the internal chemistry inside the battery changing.

For sure tho. when I see something like that it's worth getting another voltmeter or changing the battery in the meter. For 1 if the battery voltage inside DVM is low and the reference voltage that the meter compares to may be low. In that case the meter will read high. Better DVMs will say something when the battery is low where the cheaper one may not. I've got a cheap DVM I bought from radio shack almost 40 years ago that does weird things like that but if I install a new battery, it reads pretty accurately compared to the 2 Flukes I have. One less digit tho.

Sep 5, 2020 | 06:51 PM

#16

arcticharleyman

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From: Ontario East

I changed the battery in my meter and that's how I got the new voltage readings. I also charged the new battery I bought for our son's bike. The readings I get now are definitely right and my battery tests under load as being toast now. I am picking up a new one this coming week. When I install it I'll check the voltage while it's running to see if any damage has occurred to my charging system.
Thanks for everyone's help. I'll post when I have done the install and charging system check.

Sep 5, 2020 | 07:09 PM

#17

duoglider

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Joined: Mar 2009

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From: N. Tx.

Yes, replace the battery. I used to buy my batteries at a motorcycle shop but the last one I got at Batteries & Bulbs for $130 bucks. And its lasted just as long as the higher priced bike shop batteries...3-4 years has been about average over the course of 5 decades of riding. I'm 3.5 years into this one and it's still cranking fine.
Next one will be the exact same battery.

Oct 15, 2020 | 09:43 AM

#18

arcticharleyman

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From: Ontario East

Finally satisfied

Long story short. My girl wouldn't let me ride her. She would turn over once but wasn't in a position for me to mount her. She just wouldn't cooperate so I dug out the meter and found there was lots of juice in the box. Hmmmm. OK, I gave her a long slow shot of revitalizing juice and tried to get her to make that satisfying rumble but she still wouldn't satisfy me. I then took some advice and changed the batteries in my meter and discovered that when I pressed the button that makes her come alive, my girl's power box still wasn't producing the umph to get her motor running. Again, on discussing my dilemma with the great people here, I bought her a new power box, topped up the juice and YEHAWWWW BABYYYY! I flicked her button and away we went. I rode her hard all day, negotiating considerable wetness so I headed for home, completely satisfied. She purred all day and, on occasion, screamed out with joy. I put her away, still wet, but being the nice guy I am, I dried her off and since then she has let me mount up a number of time without complaining. Changing her battery was the key to my woes. Thanks all for helping me get satisfaction from my girl. So.....if you want to please your girl, change her battery at least once in a while.