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Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 330 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:
Well, that's correct IF your system is only putting out 11.5 volts.
BUT, it almost sounds like your battery has one dead cell, which can happen.
With one dead cell, you'd be left with 2.1 volts x 5 = 10.5 when disconnected and 2.3 volts x 5 = 11.5 running. Pretty coincidental!
It kinda sounds like your bike's charging system is TRYING to work properly.
If you really DO have one dead cell, you could hook up your super-duty automotive battery charger and pump 13.9 volts into the battery, and it'd STILL never get up above that 11.5 ~ 11.75 volts.
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 397 Location: Michigan
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:
Wow, I bought a battery charger and even though my battery was measuring 11.5 volts, it was only 25% charged according to my charger. Im sure this was a big issue with the misfiring.
Im going to check the headlight bulb and see what wattage it is. Is a 35 watt bulb the lowest wattage bulb that will fit on the bike? In Michigan, it's the law to run with the light on all the time. Any tricks to keep it charged longer?
They say the battery doesnt charge until the engine is revving over 2500 rpms. For the most part, Im always over this. And actually when the bike acted up on me, I was doing a steady 55 mph. Hmmm....
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 330 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:28 am Post subject:
It sounds like you're trying to put the cart before the horse.
Your new battery charger shows the battery only 25% charged? How does it know that?? I don't think there's any such thing as a "percent charged" rating. I'm not sure I'd put to much faith in that. Sounds like an advertising gimmick.
Nor should you be looking to put in a smaller wattage bulb at this point.
Resolve the "battery integrity" question first. That is, determine if it is even possible, using your new charger, to get the battery voltage up above 12.5 volts. IE, charge it up on a slow charge for 8 ~ 10 hours, see if it reads above that 11.5 volts threshold we talked about. Leave the battery disconnected and off the charger for a few hours and see if the battery voltage stays up there, or does it rapidly drop back to the 10 ~ 11 volt range. This will tell you if the battery itself is good. If it is, and it takes a charge and remains up above 12.4 volts, then you can move on. If it isn't, you need a new, properly charged battery before you move on.
Do nothing further to the bike or it's electrical systems until you resolve the battery question.
Zillions of CB350s were sold over the years, and they did not (and do not) have a reputation for charging system failures. They may have weak systems by today's standards, but they were (and are) more than adequate to run themselves day after day with the lights on in normal operation without discharging the battery.
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 397 Location: Michigan
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:49 am Post subject:
Okay, had the battery on the charger at 2amps for 12 hours. Took it off the charger and it's reading 13.25 volts. We'll see how much the battery loses over the next couple of hours.
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 397 Location: Michigan
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:
Update:
The battery seemed to plane out around 12.5 volts. So I hooked it up to the bike and also hooked up the multimeter to bike to keep an eye on the voltage. Retimed the bike and off I went. The charging system was working well, and as I kept my speed around 30-40 mph, the voltage was around 13.5.
Then, after about 5 minutes of riding around, same thing started to happen. Losing power, running on one cylinder. At least I know it's not the charging system or the battery. Im still waiting on my new points to arrive. Hopefully they'll be delivered tomorrow. If that doesnt work, Im lost. Since I've replaced the coils, plug wires, condenser.
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 397 Location: Michigan
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject:
Exactly what Im guessing so for the 5th time, I've taken the tank off, removed the petcock and cleaned it all out and didnt see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe there was water in there or something. Who knows. But in the meantime waiting for the new points, I figure it cant hurt anything. Plus, Im bored.
Also adjusted the floats, the right side was a bit on the low side. Dont know if it will make that big of a difference, but it's to spec.
Now the battery has been on the bike all day and it's still reading 12.5 volts. Thank goodness the battery and charging system is good.
Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 397 Location: Michigan
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:
Welp, got some fresh gas in her and synced the carbs. Feels really snappy. Im home alone with my little ones so I cant really take it out on the road to give it a good test run. So far so good though. Im going to feel really dumb if it all turns out to be bad gas. But Im sure I've filled it up with fresh during this whole ordeal. Or maybe it was a combination of the low battery and junk gas. Hmmm...
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