Battery? Electrics?

02-10-2005, 07:34 PM

I have a problem can anybody help?

I use my bike almost daily except for when I went away on my holidays. I didn't use it for nearly two weeks and didn't disconnect my battery, didn't think it was necessary. Anyway, I had trouble starting the bike. It was like the battery was weak. I rode off to work which is about 7 miles and I'm lucky if I get out of third gear, (traffic etc.). Not sure if this is relevant but thought I would mention it.

When I came out of work, my bike wouldn't start, I had to get a push start. It still didn't start but it turned over when I used the ignition. I got it home and put the optimate and it has been fine since.

Anyhow, I rode to Skeg (nearly 100 miles) thinking it may charge up the battery and got on it to go home, I had to get it push started again, it just pumped life into the bike and I started it again with the ignition.

Can anybody give me some advice? Do you think I need a new battery or do you think I may have some sort of electrical fault?

Cheers
Mand

02-10-2005, 07:37 PM

put a multimeter over the battery terminals with the engine running to see if its getting charged, it should read over 13 volts if its charging with the engine running.

if this is the case then i guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing

otherwise its even worserer

02-10-2005, 07:39 PM

Not sure...but it sounds like it's having problem charging the battery. I'd have a look at the cables between generator and battery.

02-10-2005, 07:45 PM

It's dead weird. I stopped mid way on the journey back from Skeg to home and it started up just fine.

Will do the multimeter thingy when I get home tomorrow night, as a matter of interest, why could it be worserer? Are we talking loads of Â£Â£Â£Â£?

02-10-2005, 07:51 PM

Whip your battery off and get it tested ..........if it is more than two years old it may be on its way out .

02-10-2005, 07:52 PM

oooh the horrable things that could break to make it as you say Â£Â£Â£Â£

errm the 'classic' problem is the rectifier/regulator thing or specifically the wires going to it (yellow i think) apparently there only just up to the job, have a look at the connectors on the box o tricks (that does electric stuff) (errm under the head stock ?) they shouldn't be melted (suprisingly)

02-10-2005, 07:54 PM

http://www.ducati-john.co.uk/ducati-points.htm

02-10-2005, 07:57 PM

Thanks all for your help.

Like you say, the battery may have had its day. It just seemed a bit strange how unpredictable it is. I just assumed it would be fine after a long run.

Mand (who has little knowledge of all things electrical).

02-10-2005, 08:09 PM

Do you still have that spare battery moo?

02-10-2005, 08:11 PM

Nope, it is the spare that is on the bike, it has been on the bike for about two years.

Just been talking to Al (he is not watching the box now!) about it and he is going to have a play around with it tomorrow.

Looks like I'm going to work on the doctor tomorrow. Yeee haaa!

crust · 02-10-2005, 08:52 PM

If its a fillable battery with distilled water/acid in it

take it to a car workshop and ask if they have a deep cycling battery charger that can handle bike batteries.

Blokey up the road from me took a couple of old batteries of mine that I thought were knackered and completely revived them.

Only cost a few beers

Crust

02-10-2005, 09:05 PM

I've got a brand new battery never been used, although I've put the acid in it. Bought it for my M750 then sold the bike.

Fred

02-10-2005, 11:49 PM

http://www.knightbatteries.com/home.cfm

Try this Guy Mand .He really knows his batteries

I had loads of problems on my S4 it killed 3 bateries in 2 yrs i put an oddessy one instead and it has bee trouble free since .it feels a hell of a lot more powerfull turning it over

03-10-2005, 09:46 AM

Check the battery terminals are correctly done up before you buy anything. If these are loose they can give the sort of intermittent problem your experiencing. You may find just by tightening them your probs are solved.

If that doesn't work, sounds like the battery has had it and is not holding charge properly. That's why it will still start after a short 20min coffee stop, but not a longer 4hour odd day out.

If it wasn't charging properly, you'd more than likely have had running problems on the way home, or it would have died completely.

03-10-2005, 11:29 AM

Had a similar problem last week and needed to replace rectifier and battery, very expensive. Sounds like a battery fault though. My bike wa running fine for approx 20 miles with lights on as usual when it started to run rough. When I stopped and tried to start the bike the battery was dead so push started ok. Rode it home fine with lights off. Basically the rectifier had cooked the battery (battery was a cheapie). My only advice Mand would be if the battery needs replacing dont buy a cheap one. Get a Yuasa or similar. Good luck.

02-10-2005, 07:34 PM	#1
Mand Guest Posts: n/a	Battery? Electrics? I have a problem can anybody help? I use my bike almost daily except for when I went away on my holidays. I didn't use it for nearly two weeks and didn't disconnect my battery, didn't think it was necessary. Anyway, I had trouble starting the bike. It was like the battery was weak. I rode off to work which is about 7 miles and I'm lucky if I get out of third gear, (traffic etc.). Not sure if this is relevant but thought I would mention it. When I came out of work, my bike wouldn't start, I had to get a push start. It still didn't start but it turned over when I used the ignition. I got it home and put the optimate and it has been fine since. Anyhow, I rode to Skeg (nearly 100 miles) thinking it may charge up the battery and got on it to go home, I had to get it push started again, it just pumped life into the bike and I started it again with the ignition. Can anybody give me some advice? Do you think I need a new battery or do you think I may have some sort of electrical fault? Cheers Mand

02-10-2005, 07:37 PM	#2
Scotty Guest Posts: n/a	put a multimeter over the battery terminals with the engine running to see if its getting charged, it should read over 13 volts if its charging with the engine running. if this is the case then i guess the battery is just tired and needs replacing otherwise its even worserer Last edited by Scotty; 02-10-2005 at 07:49 PM.. Reason: typo typo typo

02-10-2005, 07:39 PM	#3
Pugi Guest Posts: n/a	Not sure...but it sounds like it's having problem charging the battery. I'd have a look at the cables between generator and battery.

02-10-2005, 07:45 PM	#4
Mand Guest Posts: n/a	It's dead weird. I stopped mid way on the journey back from Skeg to home and it started up just fine. Will do the multimeter thingy when I get home tomorrow night, as a matter of interest, why could it be worserer? Are we talking loads of Â£Â£Â£Â£?

02-10-2005, 07:51 PM	#5
logyk Guest Posts: n/a	Whip your battery off and get it tested ..........if it is more than two years old it may be on its way out .

02-10-2005, 07:52 PM	#6
Scotty Guest Posts: n/a	oooh the horrable things that could break to make it as you say Â£Â£Â£Â£ errm the 'classic' problem is the rectifier/regulator thing or specifically the wires going to it (yellow i think) apparently there only just up to the job, have a look at the connectors on the box o tricks (that does electric stuff) (errm under the head stock ?) they shouldn't be melted (suprisingly)

02-10-2005, 07:54 PM	#7
Scotty Guest Posts: n/a	http://www.ducati-john.co.uk/ducati-points.htm

02-10-2005, 07:57 PM	#8
Mand Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks all for your help. Like you say, the battery may have had its day. It just seemed a bit strange how unpredictable it is. I just assumed it would be fine after a long run. Mand (who has little knowledge of all things electrical).

02-10-2005, 08:09 PM	#9
Julie Guest Posts: n/a	Do you still have that spare battery moo?

02-10-2005, 08:11 PM	#10
Mand Guest Posts: n/a	Nope, it is the spare that is on the bike, it has been on the bike for about two years. Just been talking to Al (he is not watching the box now!) about it and he is going to have a play around with it tomorrow. Looks like I'm going to work on the doctor tomorrow. Yeee haaa!

02-10-2005, 08:52 PM	#11
crust rattles when he walks Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: in the comfy chair,moved furniture around Bike: M900 Posts: 1,065	If its a fillable battery with distilled water/acid in it take it to a car workshop and ask if they have a deep cycling battery charger that can handle bike batteries. Blokey up the road from me took a couple of old batteries of mine that I thought were knackered and completely revived them. Only cost a few beers Crust

02-10-2005, 09:05 PM	#12
Fred Guest Posts: n/a	I've got a brand new battery never been used, although I've put the acid in it. Bought it for my M750 then sold the bike. Fred

02-10-2005, 11:49 PM	#13
claicerrig Guest Posts: n/a	http://www.knightbatteries.com/home.cfm Try this Guy Mand .He really knows his batteries I had loads of problems on my S4 it killed 3 bateries in 2 yrs i put an oddessy one instead and it has bee trouble free since .it feels a hell of a lot more powerfull turning it over

03-10-2005, 09:46 AM	#14
The Kevlar Kid Guest Posts: n/a	Check the battery terminals are correctly done up before you buy anything. If these are loose they can give the sort of intermittent problem your experiencing. You may find just by tightening them your probs are solved. If that doesn't work, sounds like the battery has had it and is not holding charge properly. That's why it will still start after a short 20min coffee stop, but not a longer 4hour odd day out. If it wasn't charging properly, you'd more than likely have had running problems on the way home, or it would have died completely.

03-10-2005, 11:29 AM	#15
stuartg Guest Posts: n/a	Had a similar problem last week and needed to replace rectifier and battery, very expensive. Sounds like a battery fault though. My bike wa running fine for approx 20 miles with lights on as usual when it started to run rough. When I stopped and tried to start the bike the battery was dead so push started ok. Rode it home fine with lights off. Basically the rectifier had cooked the battery (battery was a cheapie). My only advice Mand would be if the battery needs replacing dont buy a cheap one. Get a Yuasa or similar. Good luck.