Battery issues maybe more?
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From: Lewisville, TX
Battery issues maybe more?
Hey guys,
About two week ago I went over to a friends to meet up for a ride and I left my ignition switch on and therefore my lights for I guess about 20 min. When it was pointed out to me I turned them off but when I went to start the bike no dice and needed to jump it. Got it going and had no issues with riding all these weeks untill yesterday. The day stared out fine and then we made a pit stop at Reno's Chop Shop, a local biker hang out, and the bike was sitting for several hours with nothing on but when I went to start it the lights came on but all I got were the clicks. We had to jump it again and it fired up after several tries and letting it just sit there charging but my tail light run light wasnt working. On the way home it came on but when I parked the bike in the garage it was off. I recently had a bulb go out and replaced it with no problems. Could the multiple attempts to jump the bike have blown the filiment again or is this a sign of something else? Is it just time to replace the battery even though I bought the bike on 10/10/10? I now have 19.3k miles so there has been a lot of starts and temp changes since I tend to ride year round but I dont know. Hopefully you guys can give some imput. I am planning on replacing the tail light and turn signals with the cycle visions eliminator and just wanted to get some feed back before I pull the trigger today. Thanks guys
About two week ago I went over to a friends to meet up for a ride and I left my ignition switch on and therefore my lights for I guess about 20 min. When it was pointed out to me I turned them off but when I went to start the bike no dice and needed to jump it. Got it going and had no issues with riding all these weeks untill yesterday. The day stared out fine and then we made a pit stop at Reno's Chop Shop, a local biker hang out, and the bike was sitting for several hours with nothing on but when I went to start it the lights came on but all I got were the clicks. We had to jump it again and it fired up after several tries and letting it just sit there charging but my tail light run light wasnt working. On the way home it came on but when I parked the bike in the garage it was off. I recently had a bulb go out and replaced it with no problems. Could the multiple attempts to jump the bike have blown the filiment again or is this a sign of something else? Is it just time to replace the battery even though I bought the bike on 10/10/10? I now have 19.3k miles so there has been a lot of starts and temp changes since I tend to ride year round but I dont know. Hopefully you guys can give some imput. I am planning on replacing the tail light and turn signals with the cycle visions eliminator and just wanted to get some feed back before I pull the trigger today. Thanks guys
Last edited by Miked053; Mar 5, 2012 at 08:48 AM.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
First I'd say to check all U battery bolts/cables, make sure there clean and tight.
Then it depends on how U maintain Ur batter as to how long they last, do U use a tender when not in use. Also if U use a car to jump her that usually is not good for them,
After that, U can also have the batt checked. Normal time in here seems to be 5-6 yrs on the factory batter.
My 07, just this spring I noticed the battery turning slower (Orginal one) after the winter storage. I've always used the tender when she sits a week or longer.
So its time for me to put in a new one after 5ys.
Then it depends on how U maintain Ur batter as to how long they last, do U use a tender when not in use. Also if U use a car to jump her that usually is not good for them,
After that, U can also have the batt checked. Normal time in here seems to be 5-6 yrs on the factory batter.
My 07, just this spring I noticed the battery turning slower (Orginal one) after the winter storage. I've always used the tender when she sits a week or longer.
So its time for me to put in a new one after 5ys.
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From: Lewisville, TX
I dont keep it on a tender because I ride all the time. The bike never sits longer than a few days a week at most cause I do ride it. The terminals are spotless from what I could tell yesterday there is no coorosion or anything of that nature. Yes I had to use a car to jump because that was the only thing avalible to me.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: New Jersey
I kinda did the same thing with mine leaving the ignition switch on. No problems with the brake light but I don't really know because that day I was riding solo.
After that I had problems starting it. It felt like the battery barely had enough juice to kick it over.
So I put it on a 2 amp charger and put a full charge in it. Since then I have no problems. I read somewhere that it takes a long time for the alternator to fully charge a dead battery and if it's not fully charged and you start it again after sitting a few days it will drain it significantly again so you need to push a full fresh charge in it with a battery charger.
I now always keep it on a Battery Tender even though I have been getting rides in this winter. I read that a battery discharges after like a week and with temp changes that makes it worse and also helps shorten battery life.
Go to this site, It will answer all of your questions on batteries:
http://batterytender.com/resources/technical-info
After that I had problems starting it. It felt like the battery barely had enough juice to kick it over.
So I put it on a 2 amp charger and put a full charge in it. Since then I have no problems. I read somewhere that it takes a long time for the alternator to fully charge a dead battery and if it's not fully charged and you start it again after sitting a few days it will drain it significantly again so you need to push a full fresh charge in it with a battery charger.
I now always keep it on a Battery Tender even though I have been getting rides in this winter. I read that a battery discharges after like a week and with temp changes that makes it worse and also helps shorten battery life.
Go to this site, It will answer all of your questions on batteries:
http://batterytender.com/resources/technical-info
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 552
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From: las vegas nv
battery
One thing to keep in mind, the charging system does not kick in until the rpm reaches 3000. Once it reaches that rpm then it will lock in the charging system. I say this because many people think that just starting the bike once in a while and letting it idle charges the battery. But it doesn't unless you blip the throttle to 3000 rpm. I always plug a tender in after every ride it keeps the battery fully charged and most tenders have circuitry to prevent overcharging. I would also take a meter reading across the battery terminals it should read 12 volts anything less and the battery is cooked.
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From: Mansfield, MA
jumping off a running car has been known to fry the stator..
Happened to me... Learned the hard way.
A stator is the heart of the charging system and if it's not working properly your battery won't charge right.
Happened to me... Learned the hard way.
A stator is the heart of the charging system and if it's not working properly your battery won't charge right.
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From: Lewisville, TX
Well I am getting close to the 20k milage maininance and I have a 3 year unlimited service and warentee with the dealership I purchesed the bike from. I will start off by getting a battery tender and then when I go up for my service I will have them check everything out. Anything else guys?