battery dying please help!
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Stage II
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
battery dying please help!
i put a brand new battery in my '76 ironhead. rode it for about 5 miles. then parked it for a week [dmv problems]. now the battery is dead. don't know if the charging system is working or not, how can i tell?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,085
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From:
limited information.
have you used a digital voltage meter hooked to battery and checked.
These would be some very generic tests with general results that could lead you to an answer.
1-voltage at battery when bike is running..should be over 12..close to 14
(for charging system)
2-voltage at battery when bike is off..should be 12 or over (condition of battery)
3-voltage at battery while cranking..should not drop below 10
(condition of battery and very generic test for cells)
4-voltage at battery with engine off but lights on...should be 12 or over
* with limited info. provided it is difficult to provide more info.
age of battery, alarm?, electrical additions, storage of battery/bike, is battery dried-out..
condition of battery cables, connections
have you used a digital voltage meter hooked to battery and checked.
These would be some very generic tests with general results that could lead you to an answer.
1-voltage at battery when bike is running..should be over 12..close to 14
(for charging system)
2-voltage at battery when bike is off..should be 12 or over (condition of battery)
3-voltage at battery while cranking..should not drop below 10
(condition of battery and very generic test for cells)
4-voltage at battery with engine off but lights on...should be 12 or over
* with limited info. provided it is difficult to provide more info.
age of battery, alarm?, electrical additions, storage of battery/bike, is battery dried-out..
condition of battery cables, connections
Thread Starter
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Stage II
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
ok here the skinny. i bought this 1976 harley sportster, it was all mucked up. put it all back in shape. the battery was dead, as it had sat for about 2 years. replaced the battery with a new one. water level is fine,but if i charge the battery and then leave it sit in the bike for more then one day it goes dead. i was thinking that it might have a direct short? the cables are new. no i have not used a meter, i'll try that today.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,085
Likes: 1,128
From:
OK, these video's below are FREE..look at #9 and #10 to see how to test.
It is possible that either the battery came bad or the charging system has an issue.
The #9 and #10 video should send you in the right direction..Does the bike "ride".
Trying to translate mucked-up..guessing it was left for dead by someone for 2 years.
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_619_mo...le-repair.html
It is possible that either the battery came bad or the charging system has an issue.
The #9 and #10 video should send you in the right direction..Does the bike "ride".
Trying to translate mucked-up..guessing it was left for dead by someone for 2 years.
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_619_mo...le-repair.html
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 58
From: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Direct short should blow a fuse.
If there was no fuse inline and a short happened the battery would get extremely hot and cables would start melting.
Sounds more like something still powered up even with the key off and draining the battery.
Take an amp reading on the positive cable coming from the battery with the key off.
Should read 0 (sometimes a digital meter will jump around a little bit even with no amps present)
If you get a steady reading other than 0 something is drawing current from the battery.
If there was no fuse inline and a short happened the battery would get extremely hot and cables would start melting.
Sounds more like something still powered up even with the key off and draining the battery.
Take an amp reading on the positive cable coming from the battery with the key off.
Should read 0 (sometimes a digital meter will jump around a little bit even with no amps present)
If you get a steady reading other than 0 something is drawing current from the battery.
Last edited by silvrbill; Feb 8, 2010 at 04:09 PM.
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