Battery dead..
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 56
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From: Dallas TX
Battery dead..
I was wondering if you all have heard of a short on ur bike causing a dead the battery? Not only will the Bike not start but the battery will never charge again. I have checked all my charging system with a new battery everytime looks as if the bike was running perfect. Thanks for any advise. Anyone from dfw area wanna catch up for local help would be awesome also
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
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From: New Braunfels, Texas
So help me understand..have you just installed a new battery? Did you make sure it was fully charged and the bike still won't start?
Most common problem with a sporty is the battery cables..they need to be cleaned and tightened on both ends...in your case I would replace both of them. I had one that was broken inside from going through the back of the cover.
Most common problem with a sporty is the battery cables..they need to be cleaned and tightened on both ends...in your case I would replace both of them. I had one that was broken inside from going through the back of the cover.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 56
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From: Dallas TX
So help me understand..have you just installed a new battery? Did you make sure it was fully charged and the bike still won't start?
Most common problem with a sporty is the battery cables..they need to be cleaned and tightened on both ends...in your case I would replace both of them. I had one that was broken inside from going through the back of the cover.
Most common problem with a sporty is the battery cables..they need to be cleaned and tightened on both ends...in your case I would replace both of them. I had one that was broken inside from going through the back of the cover.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 56
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From: Dallas TX
I bought a New Battery then it died (2weeks old) I tried to charge it but it wouldn't hold a charge then I put a new one in (warranty) and then I checked the charging system and everything checked out fine.
Could it have been fired from a shirt on the bike?
Could it have been fired from a shirt on the bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
How did you check the charging system? What was the voltage?
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Portsmouth VA
I have a similar problem. The battery was only about two months old and one day it died. cHarley and I have been posting back and forth about it. I still need to buy a new battery, but the negative cable on mine was loose at the battery, causing arcing and now the battery won't hold more than a surface charge. Once the bike is running, the charging system is putting out 14.1-14.5 VDC above 2000 RPM and about 13.8-14.0 VDC at idle. I think the loose cable drained the battery to the point where it can't be charged again. You may have the same problem, those screws at the battery terminals need lock washers.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
We have tips on checking your charging circuit in the DIY Electrical section, as Stickies. Go through the checks described and let us know what you find. Also take a bit more care when you write, so your words make sense!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
A poor connection effects our electrical systems in two ways, at least in the major and most obvious ways. The poor connection will have a voltage drop across it when the alternator is charging the battery. Because the alternator cannot see the actual battery voltage through the voltage drop the alternator increases its output voltage, this can lead to early failure of the diodes in the regulator. The battery on the other side of the poor connection/voltage drop does not receive the full charge current because the current flow is inhibited by the poor connection and it only sees the alternator voltage minus the voltage drop across the poor connection..
When you try to start the bike, the starter never sees the full battery voltage, again due to the voltage drop/poor connection and the fact that the battery is not fully charged. Having a battery sitting around while partially charged is a real life shortener for it. Many folks call almost all electrical failures, "shorts", that is seldom the case except where the battery sulphates over the bottom end of its plates from old age or poor charging or the plates buckle. Shorts may be more common on home wired bikes as mentioned on this subject in the last couple of days. Plates buckling is not as common as it used to be, the plates are better packaged now days.
When you try to start the bike, the starter never sees the full battery voltage, again due to the voltage drop/poor connection and the fact that the battery is not fully charged. Having a battery sitting around while partially charged is a real life shortener for it. Many folks call almost all electrical failures, "shorts", that is seldom the case except where the battery sulphates over the bottom end of its plates from old age or poor charging or the plates buckle. Shorts may be more common on home wired bikes as mentioned on this subject in the last couple of days. Plates buckling is not as common as it used to be, the plates are better packaged now days.
Last edited by 1200Cdriver; Oct 4, 2013 at 08:08 AM.