I'm tired of exercise

[p.dath]

For the second week in a row my bike has broken down with an electrical fault, and need to get towed. While I'm sure regularly pushing the bike is great for my health its a bit tiring.

About 2 weeks ago I had a new cam chain and tensioner fitted. That night I went out riding. The biked started easily (as it always does). I road for about 20 minutes, stopped at a service station to fill up the bike. I could not restart the bike after that.

I could hear the starter motor relay clicking when I pressed the starter button, but there was not enough juice left to even turn the start motor over. I tried crash starting the bike. I could get it to run for a short while, but even when I kept the bike at higher revs it would keep stalling.
Because I could not keep the bike running I decided not to risk it and had it towed back to the original workshop.

I mention the cam chain change only because that was work done the same day, but I don't personally think it is related.

Anyway the workshop said the battery was flat (no surprises there). They charged it up and put it on a load tester, and said the battery tested fine. The checked (and tidied up) the wiring loom, to make sure there was no shorts or electrical issues.
I asked them if the bike was charging the battery and they said they checked that and it was. When they put the battery back into the bike the bike started easily and ran fine.

I have had this bike for a bit over a year, and I have no idea of the age of the battery.

I've been on a few short rides over the week (about 15 minutes) early in the morning when it is quite cold. The bike has been starting and running fine.

Well fuck me. I went out for exactly the same ride as I did the previous week, and the bike died within 2km of where it died last time. I have heated grips (which are wired to the ignition and turn off when the key is off). Part way through the ride I noticed the grips started flashing, which means they are turning off because of low voltage.
At the time I thought the grips had developed a fault, and was thinking grrr.

Anyway, I had to stop at a set of lights shortly on. Bike stalled while stopped at the lights, and same issue. I press the starter button, hear the click of the starter relay, but not enough juice to turn over the starter motor.


Even though the battery tested fine, I'm tempted to get them to replace it since I don't know its age. Even though the bike was starting and running fine prior to the cam chain change.
I also have to say I'm really suspicous that the bike is running off the battery, and that the battery is not getting charged from the bike.


So what do you think? How do you test that the alternator is poking out power and charging the battery?

[crazyhorse]

Check it out - pushing a bike is not a good look

[hayd3n]

plenty of regulator rectifier threads,
pretty much put a volt meter on the the positive/negative terminals, and run bike slowly, wind the revs up and your volt meter should go up in volts, not down, if the volts drop down the regulator is fried, theres plenty on trademe and not exactly a big job

[hayd3n]

Check it out - pushing a bike is not a good look

its nox sexi
(i ran outa gas 5 minutes before work:< monday)

[p.dath]

plenty of regulator rectifier threads,
pretty much put a volt meter on the the positive/negative terminals, and run bike slowly, wind the revs up and your volt meter should go up in volts, not down, if the volts drop down the regulator is fried, theres plenty on trademe and not exactly a big job

The volatge across the battery terminals is not changing with the revs. So I guess that answers that one.

[Reckless]

Change your route sounds like its effecting the bike!


yeh I know all you need is a smart ass when your having bike problems LOL!!!!

[CookMySock]

Theres loads of info on KB about charging faults. Search the "electrical system" section. Since there was recent work on the bike, I'd suggest it was something simple, like a dislodged fuse or connector.

Steve

[notme]

OK first, I have pasted link to this document many times on KB - but here it is again: http://stsamuel.tripod.com/voltage_r...e_shooting.pdf

Do what it says, report back here, and there are many people who are willing to help - BUT some info is needed from you first.

Second -

.................. I noticed the grips started flashing, which means they are turning off because of low voltage.
At the time I thought the grips had developed a fault, and was thinking grrr............

this made me smile, because a few years ago I was road testing a prototype product I designed which was a very simple motorcycle/ATV/quad/cart whatever charging system health light. It started indicating a charging problem on my near new CBR600RR, so of course my first suspicion was that the prototype had developed a fault. Nope, a couple of weeks later the bike wouldn't start - rooted battery! The health indicator was just doing it's job and could have saved me being stranded....

Anyway follow the chart and report back here, you have almost diagnosed the problem yourself by saying that the starter relay clicks but the starter doesn't turn (i bet your headlight is dim too), thus the battery doesn't have enough juice to start the bike. The next question is whether the battery is being given juice and not holding it, or not being given juice.

[Squiggles]

I'd hook up a multimeter and go for a ride