Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name.
Joined: Feb 11, 2008 Posts: 10 Location: New England, USA
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Need some help...battery keeps dying
Hi folks, I have a 1970 XS1 with a new battery. After riding for an hour and a half or so, the bike dies. The battery is drained, so I was assuming it was the alternator, voltage regulator and/or rectifier. However, when I put the leads of my volt meter on the wires connected to the battery terminals while the bike is at idle, I got 13.55Vdc or so. When I rev it, it jumps to 14.5 or so. So am I reading the charger voltage or is that just output of the battery? How do I make sure I'm reading the input to the battery? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to electronics.
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 337 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:54 am Post subject:
Well, that's the proper troubleshooting technique, and those are good numbers!
I have, in the past, connected a cheapie voltmeter's leads to the battery and taped the meter itself to the tank and gone for a long ride. I've watched as the battery voltage slowly dropped from 12.6 volts at the beginning to below 10 by the time I got home. In that case, I had a bad voltage regulator. The repaired bike repeated the same test and remained above 12.8 over the same ride. Not great, but the bike never had a problem after that.
If you do that, and the reading stays as what you've described, I think you got a bad battery even brand new and it just isn't accepting or holding a charge.
Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 337 Location: Orlando, FL
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:
Ha, yeah, I think that's what it was. Kind of like generic masking tape, but with much less sticky adhesive. I used it so it wouldn't damage the paint. The setup worked like a champ. Rode for about 30 miles over 30 - 35 minutes several times with no problems. I just stuck an old dishtowel under there to protect the paint and to protect that valuable $10 meter. Bike in question was a '74 Kawasaki KZ400
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
