need help .drains battry every 3 days.
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Stage III
Joined: Dec 2006
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need help .drains battry every 3 days.
what do i check for whenmy battery does not last no more then 3 or so days.and it will not run now .i had to put a hot wire to the coil to get some wind.or can a just wire up a new harnsss.for my 79 xlh 1000.sprtyyy. i checked the gen.it was good.what do do.???????????
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,503
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
tattoobob....check for a short somewhere in your system. Always start with the easy stuff first though. How old is your battery, short in ground wire, points, condenser, coil, coil wires, electrical system...lights, starting system, circuit breaker?
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
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RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
tattoo bob.One way to checkto see if you even havea direct short to test for is to removeonecable from the battery.Dosen't matter whick one just make sure the switch is off.Touch the cable back to the post and if you get any spark at all when the cable makes contact with the post you will know if you have current flowingwhich means youhaveflow fromthe batt(or a direct short).Be sure toflash the gen after you hook the batt back up.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
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RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
tattoobob..........I had the same problem. What is your battery sitting on. Mine was straight on the steel tray so I put a piece of a car rubber inner tube in the battery tray, under the battery. That will help stop normal battery draw to the frame.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 770
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From: East NM
RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
If you try the spark test above and it shows you have something pulling current, take a look at the voltage regulator. I'm pretty sure they were still using the Bosch mechanical regulator in '79. If that's what you have, chances are the cutout relay is stuck closed. You can fix this by cleaning up the contacts with a points file, but it won't last as long as replacing the regulator. I you didn't get any spark, if you have a voltmeter (available cheap at radio shack and autoparts chains), check the voltage across the battery with the engine running. If it's less than 13 or more than 14.5 volts with the engine turning around 2000 rpm's, you have a charging problem. If this checks out OK, make sure the top of the battery is clean, as crud can bleed charge off to the battery cover. If this doesn't fix the problem, chances are the battery is about to go belly up.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
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From: Houston Texas
RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
I assume that you know you must always 'flash the fields' whenever you have had a battery wire disconnected? Failing to do so can result in the regulator points burning up......pg
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Joined: Mar 2007
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RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
tattoobob,
I had the same problem. I checked all the above things that were mentioned. I checked the charging system with the engine running and that checked out. Also, when I took one of the leads off the battery, there was no spark. What I did find was a direct ground, but it wasn't grounded all the time. Check the wiring where it makes sharp turns around the frame and fenders. I found my short where the stoplight wires went through the back fender going to the tail light. The wires had been rubbing on the fender and wore the insulation off the wire. I was able to get enough slack in the wire towrap it with electrical tape. That solved my problem!
I had the same problem. I checked all the above things that were mentioned. I checked the charging system with the engine running and that checked out. Also, when I took one of the leads off the battery, there was no spark. What I did find was a direct ground, but it wasn't grounded all the time. Check the wiring where it makes sharp turns around the frame and fenders. I found my short where the stoplight wires went through the back fender going to the tail light. The wires had been rubbing on the fender and wore the insulation off the wire. I was able to get enough slack in the wire towrap it with electrical tape. That solved my problem!
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
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From:
RE: need help .drains battry every 3 days.
ORIGINAL: paintballoma
whats flashing the fields???
whats flashing the fields???
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