DEAD BATTERY!
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: West Tennessee
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
Typically a bad ground won't cause a drain like that. There's really only two things that would cause it.....well three but the battery is new and the chances of it being bad is little to none.
One reason would be that you have some circuit that is remaining open after the bike is off. Which is not likely since you said no lights were left on nor did you see any lights.
The second reason for the dead battery would be that the new batter did not have a proper charge befor putting it on the bike. Did you charge the battery prior to installing it and if so what type charger did you use? Was it a trickle charger or an actual charger.
One reason would be that you have some circuit that is remaining open after the bike is off. Which is not likely since you said no lights were left on nor did you see any lights.
The second reason for the dead battery would be that the new batter did not have a proper charge befor putting it on the bike. Did you charge the battery prior to installing it and if so what type charger did you use? Was it a trickle charger or an actual charger.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: West Tennessee
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
Do this just to see. Pull the battery out (I know its a pain). Check the acid levels again just make sure they didn't drop from over spill or evaporation. If they are okay, then if you have a normal battery charger (usually a 2 amp or higher) hook it up to it and let it charge. Keep it off the bike over night. Then check it with a volt meter if you have one to see what charge the battery has. If its 14-12.5 volts your good.
Then put it back on the charger to get it back to a full charge. Then put it back on the bike, hook it up, and let it sit for a couple of hours (like 5 or 6) and then check it again with a voltmeter and see again what the charge is. If the battery reads between 14-12.5 then your okay. If its dropped way below that then there is another problem.
I would place a bet though it was just because of the trickle charger, most trickle chargers are only 1.5 amps. If you use a normal charger it will likely be okay. Make sure that if you hook it up to a normal charger to set it at its lowest setting either 2 or 12 amp. 2 would be the preferred as 12 is quite large for our batteries. Don't ever go over a 12 amp setting!
Then put it back on the charger to get it back to a full charge. Then put it back on the bike, hook it up, and let it sit for a couple of hours (like 5 or 6) and then check it again with a voltmeter and see again what the charge is. If the battery reads between 14-12.5 then your okay. If its dropped way below that then there is another problem.
I would place a bet though it was just because of the trickle charger, most trickle chargers are only 1.5 amps. If you use a normal charger it will likely be okay. Make sure that if you hook it up to a normal charger to set it at its lowest setting either 2 or 12 amp. 2 would be the preferred as 12 is quite large for our batteries. Don't ever go over a 12 amp setting!
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
I would say no about the trickle charger being the problem. 10 hours is generally enough to get mine from dead to full charge. I have to ask though, how do you know it's dead? Just because it won't start, or did you check it with a meter? If you checked it with a meter, disconnect it from the bike, recharge, let it sit over night, and re-check with the meter.That should eliminate the batt. and charger as a problem. If the batt checks out, check for switches that may have shorted, starting with the ignition switch.
However,
If you didn't check with a meter, do it. If it reads good, start looking for an open circuit (bad ground, open circuit breaker, broken or freyed cables, etc.)
Update us on progress often. I would also say that if you havn't done it in the past, sketch your own version of how the bike is wired. It will make tracing the circuits much easier and help you become more familier with your machine.
Here is the one I made for my bike.
Rich
(EDIT: I see that Randy types faster than me)
[IMG]local://upfiles/5737/479FF7F8D2954563ABA63FC3E28BF56A.jpg[/IMG]
However,
If you didn't check with a meter, do it. If it reads good, start looking for an open circuit (bad ground, open circuit breaker, broken or freyed cables, etc.)
Update us on progress often. I would also say that if you havn't done it in the past, sketch your own version of how the bike is wired. It will make tracing the circuits much easier and help you become more familier with your machine.
Here is the one I made for my bike.
Rich
(EDIT: I see that Randy types faster than me)
[IMG]local://upfiles/5737/479FF7F8D2954563ABA63FC3E28BF56A.jpg[/IMG]
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: West Hartford, CT. 06119
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
Gonna re-charge and check with meter and keep you posted!! While pulling things apart I have noticed frayed wires and loose grounds!! These sorts of things will drain the battery??
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: West Hartford, CT. 06119
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
Here are some pics of the beautiful wiring job by the prior owner!
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/A805773862674704ADA459D1B3478817.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/BDF4BFC716DB493F9B24AB7C315FA6D2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/A805773862674704ADA459D1B3478817.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/BDF4BFC716DB493F9B24AB7C315FA6D2.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 775
Likes: 2
From: OC California
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
I see you are running the mechanical regulator. If the battery checks out okay off of the bike (with a meter like Pyro says) it could be the points in the regulator. I had this problem many years ago. Drove me nuts. I have a solid state on the bike now. I am much happier.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: West Tennessee
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
ORIGINAL: sutphen30
Here are some pics of the beautiful wiring job by the prior owner!
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/A805773862674704ADA459D1B3478817.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/BDF4BFC716DB493F9B24AB7C315FA6D2.jpg[/IMG]
Here are some pics of the beautiful wiring job by the prior owner!
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/A805773862674704ADA459D1B3478817.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/60513/BDF4BFC716DB493F9B24AB7C315FA6D2.jpg[/IMG]
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From:
RE: DEAD BATTERY!
If you have a test light you can remove the positive batt cable and hook up the light between the cable and positive batt post. If it lights up with everything off you have a current draw off something. Most likely the voltage regulator or a bad ignition switch.