Starting problems - Bad Battery?
my battery went out sunday, worked fine friday and nothing sunday, it was 5 years old and thats the most I ever got out of a battery most times 3 years and you are right they give no warning that they are going bad they just go out, easy way to tell is put it on a battery tender if the red light starts flashing after a day or so, batterys gone, you can leave it on for a year and it will never take a charge..
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 4
From: New York
I would follow the advice you've been given several times. Your battery has outlived it's life expectancy and will only give you grief....sooner than later. Change it now while it's convenient and see if it makes any difference with your current problem. Don't and it will surely let you down when you least expect it! Doing so will give you the opportunity to check the connections to ensure they are tight. It sounds to me like the switch is bad, When it happens again try jumping out the relay, if that works I think you have found your problem.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I would follow the advice you've been given several times. Your battery has outlived it's life expectancy and will only give you grief....sooner than later. Change it now while it's convenient and see if it makes any difference with your current problem. Don't and it will surely let you down when you least expect it! Doing so will give you the opportunity to check the connections to ensure they are tight. It sounds to me like the switch is bad, When it happens again try jumping out the relay, if that works I think you have found your problem.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Go buy a battery or at least get it tested. Like most have said they don't usually last 6 years and you are going to need one anyway which will most likely solve your problem. Cost $150 / 6 yr. = $25 per yr. / 12 mo. = $2.08 per mo. = 30 days = .069 cents per day.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: South central PA
Cromagnon,
Here's what I'd do if I were you. Get a small BatteryMinder (around $50) and plug it in for a couple weeks, since you apparently don't already have a maintenance charger, and battery maintenance charging should be part of your routine in the off season and hot weather too. You might be able to get another year or 2 out of your OE battery, and if not, use the minder to top off your new AGM (and keep it fresher in the comming yrs.). Your current batt is probably badly sulfated and doesn't have the capacity it used to. The Minder may desulfate it enough to bring back some more capacity (life). Also suggest getting a cheapie digital volt meter to test the resting voltage level (12+ hrs after the charger is taken off) which will give you an idea of the batt charge level/capacity. I'm not so sure about the old standby Deltran Battery Tender because they seem to have a lower voltage in "absorbtion" and "float" modes than is optomin for AGM's, plus there's no desulfating pulse.
Here's what I'd do if I were you. Get a small BatteryMinder (around $50) and plug it in for a couple weeks, since you apparently don't already have a maintenance charger, and battery maintenance charging should be part of your routine in the off season and hot weather too. You might be able to get another year or 2 out of your OE battery, and if not, use the minder to top off your new AGM (and keep it fresher in the comming yrs.). Your current batt is probably badly sulfated and doesn't have the capacity it used to. The Minder may desulfate it enough to bring back some more capacity (life). Also suggest getting a cheapie digital volt meter to test the resting voltage level (12+ hrs after the charger is taken off) which will give you an idea of the batt charge level/capacity. I'm not so sure about the old standby Deltran Battery Tender because they seem to have a lower voltage in "absorbtion" and "float" modes than is optomin for AGM's, plus there's no desulfating pulse.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
6 battery years is like 100 in human years...I'd start digging that grave or get a new battery
Just a hint: A battery tender is your friend. All my toys have them to keep the batteries in good health. Nothing sucks more (as you know) than when you are ready to ride, hit the switch and nothing happens. Battery tenders are good insurance against this.
Good luck.
Just a hint: A battery tender is your friend. All my toys have them to keep the batteries in good health. Nothing sucks more (as you know) than when you are ready to ride, hit the switch and nothing happens. Battery tenders are good insurance against this.
Good luck.
Last edited by equandt; Jan 7, 2011 at 09:18 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
All right, I'm trying to solve this thing. When you turn the console power on, flip on the run switch, will the brake light and directionals illuminate? Or does it have to be running? Somebody check that for me. Like I said all the lights are on but it won't start and the lights don't go dim when I try to start it.
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Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
Always had that thing disarmed. The one time that I turned it on ... took me an hour to figure out how to turn it off lol. I don't think that could be an issue as sometimes it would start. But now it won't although like I said the lights are nice and bright when I turn on the power switch.
I got a voltmeter, just need to get a battery for it ... LOL
I got a voltmeter, just need to get a battery for it ... LOL
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Putnam Co, NY
Everyone is harping on the battery simply because of the age, and while it's a valid issue, it doesn't seem to be causing his issue. He says that when he is finally able to turn over the motor, it starts "with vigor"... that does NOT sound to me like a dead battery, but rather, a connection issue.
I'll throw in another vote for :
1. Bad handlebar switch
2. Loose connection or ground.
I'll throw in another vote for :
1. Bad handlebar switch
2. Loose connection or ground.