Another bad battery problem

[Beren]

Yay - numb nuts here screwed his battery and now wants advice from someone to help fix the problem.

I went out at the weekend and left the ignition on when I got back

So this morning I bump start the bandit which it does ok - but then it runs very very very rough. I assumed that I had partially flooded the bike and it was failing to run on a couple of cylinders so limped it to a big hill and ran it up to 4-5000rpm on the way down... which in no way solved the issue.

Eventually found out that the dead battery was sucking so much juice that I wasn't getting a spark on all cylinders - but by putting the lights on full beam it dropped the charging preferrence enough so that the bike would run.

Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to now replicate that behaviour in the multi storey car park in town... is there a way I can fix this on the fly before putting the probably dead battery on charge overnight?

-edit- Bearing in mind I also have AA roadside assist, I will be calling them so that I have some tools to use... but having a fix in mind before they arrive would be a good thing!

[Bald Eagle]

I didn't think AA roadside assist referred to bikes

[Beren]

I didn't think AA roadside assist referred to bikes

It certainly does I just called them and booked them to meet me at the car park when I finish work... I get 3 or 4 free call outs a year with protecta.

The problem is that I suspect running the bike with it trying to charge a completely flat battery is not a great plan. Plus I would love to have a fix in mind that I can give the AA guy instead of him taking the potentially easy option of taking me to a garage - as I can't afford a new battery till friday.

[neels]

I had the same problem with my bike when the battery died, I think the fuel injection computer didn't like the alternator output without the battery to smooth it out.

If it's only flat because you drained it, you should be OK once it's charged, or a jump start pack might stuff enough into it to make it run right.

[Beren]

I had the same problem with my bike when the battery died, I think the fuel injection computer didn't like the alternator output without the battery to smooth it out.

If it's only flat because you drained it, you should be OK once it's charged, or a jump start pack might stuff enough into it to make it run right.

Thanks - I am hoping so! More than a bit worried that having done a 50km ride into work it didn't have enough juice in the battery to even turn the engine over when I got to work though. I am hoping that's because I was running in with the lights on full beam specifically to stop the battery from trying to charge though.

[schrodingers cat]

FYI - any time a battery drops under 9.5v it does harm. It may charge up and come back to you but it may not deliver the current load it once did.

Get a 50w bulb to power off the terminals and see what the battery voltage does (multi meter to measure volts) when you power the bulb - basically applying load. Leave the bulb on for 30sec or so. If the battery is dud it will tick down voltage slowly then suddenly 'collapse'

Good luck

[DrunkenMistake]

Take it to your battery centre, they use a special charger to charge it up, they need to use it if it drops below a certain point, otherwise fork out $60 for a new battery or your going to cause problems down the track

[FJRider]

Jumper leads from a car running will put some charge into the battery ... check fluid levels first though ...

[DrunkenMistake]

Can also be bad for the rectifier can it not?

[blue rider]

I didn't think AA roadside assist referred to bikes

they do. if AA Service Officers can't mobilize the '"vehicle" they organize, tow to place or safety or approved repairer.


had my bike towed when i dropped it, was not going to ride with a dangling back brake...

[Beren]

Well I got home ok - a boost charge from the breakdown guy got the bike moving and trickle charging the battery all night left me with a working bike this morning

It has however got up the list of things to replace at the next service...