 Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Folks:
My 02 still has the OEM battery. This year, I've noticed at idle, my horn barely makes a chirp. Sounds OK revving the motor. Today, after riding 70 miles and it didn't want to crank on the 2nd attempt. Finally, it turned over enough to fire. It rode OK home.
When I got home, I checked the battery terminals and found them to be rock solid tight. With a voltmeter, I checked the battery and found:
Off - 12.66 volts
Running - 12.43 volts.
Guessing my old battery is finally shot. Anything else I should trouble-shoot before replacing? I'm too old to push start this thing and jump on!
Al
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5 |
6 years on a bike battery is awesome! I'm on my third with my '02, the second one didn't have a long life because the charging system was weak from the rectifier to the battery. heres the thread
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5 |
and here is the pic for that thread if you decide to do that mod 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
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Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
while engine running about 1500revs should be about 14 volt
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
I'm a total electrical idiot, so to clarify this mod, I need to:
- Run a fused wire from the positive battery termial (using a ring connector) to the red/black wire on the regulator connector that is under the carb?
If so, seems simple enough. I just happen to have a fused wire leftover from some foglights.
Al
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Update:
While investigating this mod, I found the rear brake switch dangling under the bike. Pretty certain I did not pull it off while removing the battery. If this were coming off one post, but not both, would that cause the battery to run down?
I put the switch back on, brake lights work.
At 1500 idle I have 13.6 the battery. I don't have a tach, so that's guessing. With the driving lights on, and maybe a touch more gas, I get 13.9 volts. (hard to hold the throttle and both volt meter leads)
The bike now starts right up on numerous attempts. I think I'll put it back together and see what happens. I have one more push-start in me if necessary.
I did find my local Autozone has my battery in stock.
Al
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
One wire off that switch should not effect the battery.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 47
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 47 |
Mine went after 8 months on my 06 Speedie - It was recommended that I get an optimate to make sure my new battery stayed at it's best - so far so good apart from a loose terminal the other day the battery has been spot on.
2006 Purple bobbed Speedie with K&N's
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Yup, that does sound like a sick battery. I assume you made sure the connections at both ends of both cables are clean and tight?
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
Yup, that does sound like a sick battery. I assume you made sure the connections at both ends of both cables are clean and tight?
I popped for a new one from Advance Auto ($55). Charged her for about eight hours at 2 amps (14.7 v) when done. Fired right up, solid horn sound at idle. I'll pop the seal off my OEM, bet a few cells were dry.
I'm still curious about that mod to the charging system, but don't understand completely where the two wire leads go. If someone could walk me thru it a little, I'd give that a shot.
Last edited by ssjones; 05/26/2008 12:29 PM.
Al
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
I'm still curious about that mod to the charging system, but don't understand completely where the two wire leads go. If someone could walk me thru it a little, I'd give that a shot.
Al, I'm pretty sure (but not absolutely certain) that one goes to the fuse block to "run the bike" and one goes to the battery for charging...the wire gauge is a bit small for charging purposes which is what the mod is all about.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
It sounds like from the TriumphRat.net thread and Roadworthy's picture that the wire from the battery goes to one at the regulator connector. I'm wondering which side of the connector or does it not matter? Quote:
Quote:
I'm still curious about that mod to the charging system, but don't understand completely where the two wire leads go. If someone could walk me thru it a little, I'd give that a shot.
Al, I'm pretty sure (but not absolutely certain) that one goes to the fuse block to "run the bike" and one goes to the battery for charging...the wire gauge is a bit small for charging purposes which is what the mod is all about.
Al
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5 |
The black/red wire is coming directly from the rectifier, you pull it out before it gets to the connecting block, attach with the spade connector to your new 10 or 12 gauge wire and run that directly to the battery terminal. What this cures is the new wire is big enough to cary the load for charging, and shorter than the small little stock wire that runs inside the wiring harness and is much longer, causing it to burn up prematurely because it gets too hot.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Al, I'll have to admit I haven't studied the regulator side of the connector, only the fuse block side which has two brown leads, that's what I was referring to.
Mikemm03 had his mod hooked directly to the regulator side of the connector. Actually he had the wire out of the regulator's connector, a crimped blade connector attached and shrink wrapped neatly, and then run directly (I presume) to the positive terminal on the battery with a 30 amp fuse in line for safety. That's my plan as an added mod when I install my chopped air box and K&N pods in the very near future. As roadworthy properly states, it's about the gauge of the wire being large enough to properly carry the current to the battery without overheating.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Bad Battery?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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OP
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
OK, maybe it's starting to sink in. Here's a shot of the wire I believe is correct (viewed from the sprocket side of the bike). I just pull that wire from the that block, attach to a fused wire and run that directly to the battery. If that is indeed the correct wire, I'm good. If that is the correct wire (screwdriver blade pointing to it) - is there a more convenient place to attach to? That plug doesn't have much give and space is pretty tight.  Quote:
Al, I'll have to admit I haven't studied the regulator side of the connector, only the fuse block side which has two brown leads, that's what I was referring to. From this pic from Roadworthy, the wire looks black/red,.
Mikemm03 had his mod hooked directly to the regulator side of the connector. Actually he had the wire out of the regulator's connector, a crimped blade connector attached and shrink wrapped neatly, and then run directly (I presume) to the positive terminal on the battery with a 30 amp fuse in line for safety. That's my plan as an added mod when I install my chopped air box and K&N pods in the very near future. As roadworthy properly states, it's about the gauge of the wire being large enough to properly carry the current to the battery without overheating.
Last edited by ssjones; 05/26/2008 4:05 PM.
Al
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