Battery - It could happen to you!

[outlawtorn]

Greetings all,

Quick question, what do I do when the battery on my bike is dead? Can I jump start it with cables and a car battery? Should I try and pick up some speed and put it into gear and start it that way? Please can someone tell what I can do, I've got to get this sorted before Monday morning.

Thanks

[jase]

Don't jump start it from the car, you can try push start, I suggest that you
go buy/borrow a battery charger.

[Monsterbishi]

I've always jumped my bikes off my cars with no worries - Is there a reason why I shouldn't?

[notme]

There's no reason you can't start it off a car.

Just be sure that the car is a standard 12volt system, i.e. not a really really old british car or a truck, and that your bike is 12volt too (same thing - it would have to be really "special" to be something other than 12volt. Maybe that's what you were thinking of Jase?

Oh and DON'T connect the batteries the wrong way around! :niceone:

[crashe]

Ok I accidently left my bike turned on and the battery went DEAD.
So I thought great I can push start it like ya do a car.... WRONG.

I got it started and rode it to most of the way into the city and right on Newton off ramp set of lights the bike died big time. I couldnt do a thing to get it going again, I had to push it up Newton Road to Mt Eden bikes. Huge thanks to the guy that came along and helped me push it up that 1.5 km hill from the lights to Mt Eden Bikes ... my bike is heavy to push...

I did damage to my bike by jump starting it... and they had to replace a part as I cooked the part. So with my bike if the battery goes flat its unhook the battery and recharge it and then rehook everything back up and then ride the bike... So now I make sure that I take the key out....lol

So It depends on some bikes. Some ya cant jump start them.

[notme]

I did damage to my bike by jump starting it... and they had to replace a part as I cooked the part.
.....
So It depends on some bikes. Some ya cant jump start them.

Very true - I should have qualified my statements better :innocent:

What you're talking about crashe is blowing (most likely) your bike's regulator with a spike from jump starting it.

The way to prevent this is with some good quality jumper leads, ones that have spike protection built is. This is sometimes advertised on the leads as "car ecu/computer protection" or similar.

So..... what i should have said above is that you can jump a bike from a car provided that:
1. it's the same voltage battery as the car
2. you use some spike/surge protected leads
3. you make the connections carefully and correctly (can post more detail if anyone is unsure?)

Of course, the absolute BEST thing to do is take the battery out and stick him on a charger, but that guy Murphy and his damn law will ensure that it's when you're running late on Monday morning that the bike won't start !

:done:

[outlawtorn]

Thanks guys, I'm off to the warehouse in the cage to buy me a battery charger.

[カワサキキド]

If you have to jump start it from a cage, make sure it's the cage's engine is not running. This will help prevent over voltage and cooking your rectumfryer.

[crashe]

Very true - I should have qualified my statements better :innocent:

What you're talking about crashe is blowing (most likely) your bike's regulator with a spike from jump starting it.

Yep it was the Regulator.....

Mt Eden Bikes kindly lent me another bike for the night... as they had to work on her...

Since then I have always made sure that I take the key out...I have gotten a tad paranoid since then and I double check my pocket to make sure I have the key out of the bike...lol

[カワサキキド]

Yep it was the Regulator.....

You mean rectifier?

[Dodgyiti]

The electrical spike does not really affect bikes with carbs and points, its the electronic ignition and fuel injected ones that cant handle an unprotected jump start.
Bike batteries generally clap out after 2 years, if it is that old then it will be less dependable.
Why not bump start the thing?
Select 2nd and 3 running steps [ like Superman] bounce on the seat, dump the clutch and - Voila!

[Jeremy]

Once your battery is dead make sure that you replace it pretty quickly. The reason for this is that lead acid batteries when they go dead form 'crust' which means that the battery will forever be slightly damaged. The power of the battery will slowly drop from that point on. A new battery won't cost you that much anyway. Don't be tempted to top up the battery with distilled water as this, (espectially on a bike) is dangerous as worse case scenario is that hydrogen starts to leak which you really don't want to happen.

[Paul in NZ]

The electrical spike does not really affect bikes with carbs and points, its the electronic ignition and fuel injected ones that cant handle an unprotected jump start.
Bike batteries generally clap out after 2 years, if it is that old then it will be less dependable.
Why not bump start the thing?
Select 2nd and 3 running steps [ like Superman] bounce on the seat, dump the clutch and - Voila!

Depends how flat the battery is.

Most modern alternators require some current to excite the coils to produce a charge. Most modern jap cars are nearly impossible to push start.

Paul N

[Mongoose]

Have never had a problem fart starting the Cali from another battery, but bloody hell, push start it?? Plurry hell the thing is about a tad over three times my weight!!
ps, An advantage of carbs and points.

[Skyryder]

I've some car leads that do not have 'spike surge protection.' Can these be fitted or would I have to get new leads.

Skyryder

[Waylander]

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Sorry I just had to do it.....

[カワサキキド]

I've some car leads that do not have 'spike surge protection.' Can these be fitted or would I have to get new leads.

Skyryder
You'll have to get new leads

[crashe]

You mean rectifier?

Oh hell I forget now...lol
But its a small square silver thingee...
I got the old one out in the garage..with my old shocks....
well one is great the other is bent...lol

[Dodgyiti]

Sorry I just had to do it.....

All is forgiven
May the metal gods shine on you today :yeah:

[カワサキキド]

Oh hell I forget now...lol
But its a small square silver thingee...
I got the old one out in the garage..with my old shocks....
well one is great the other is bent...lol
But its a small square silver thingee... covered in heatsink..

[notme]

I've some car leads that do not have 'spike surge protection.' Can these be fitted or would I have to get new leads.

I'd just go get some protected ones (budget allowing of course!)
If they save your bike/car ONCE, it's money well spent. :niceone:

Try repco and look for "ICON SpikeGuard" leads....not trying to toot me own horn or anything here, but I designed the spike protection circuit on those leads....and they're GOOD. :cool: