I need to borrow a trickle charger

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 05:43

Are there any kind souls out there that have a trickle charger that I may borrow?
I am in the process of trying to work out what is wrong with The Grim Reaper (VL250)

One night good as gold to start and ride home, the next night similar time, temp, riding conditions etc the bloody thing wont start. I know the VL are notorious for cold weather problems and not wanting to go anywhere, but that is usually once on the road and riding.
I thought bike was possibly flooded but that rarely happens. So I am thinking maybe the battery has had it. Managed to jump start the bike last night, take it for approx a 20km half hour ride where I noticed it sounds like the choke cable maybe stuck on as it it over revving.... bike was off for approx half hour when I tried to start it again, and it hardly turned over once before giving up and just ticking away..... Because the engine was warm managed to push start the bike no problems. Sounded a little flooded but not as bad as the first time.

So apart from the battery any thing else I should be looking at?

Will prob have to send it off for an expensive service

**Mo NZ** · 31st May 2013, 05:53

If your local to me you can loan mine. Where are you.
How old is your battery? May be time for a new one. A shop will be able to load test it for you.

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 06:23

Originally Posted by Mo NZ

If your local to me you can loan mine. Where are you.

I am in Panmure... Obviously because bike is not going I can't do a pick up from anywhere

**Mo NZ** · 31st May 2013, 07:01

Bumma. Im way south of you (6 hrs ride). Hopefully there is somebody local who can help.
You could remove the battery and have it checked out.
How old is the battery as it sounds like a classic new battery required.

**unstuck** · 31st May 2013, 07:06

Battery should have bugger all to do with the bike flooding, if the battery was fully charged and turning over ok, then you may be getting flooding. Get a new battery, that one sounds shagged. I am guessing you have cleaned all terminals and connections.

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 07:13

Originally Posted by unstuck

I am guessing you have cleaned all terminals and connections.

All scrubbed, no build up of any kind on the terminals... I would assume if the battery was on the way out it would have caused minor problems before an epic fail? I think that is the second battery I have had in the bike since brand new if not it would be approx 6 years old.
The flooding has only just started since a mechanic (not familiar to my bike) turned the fuel tap from PRI (it's normal running position since I first purchased the bike) to ON.....

**unstuck** · 31st May 2013, 07:19

Sounds like you may have a carb issue too then if it is flooding in the on position, what is your starting procedure once flooded.? Batteries are usually only good for a couple of years.

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 07:32

Originally Posted by unstuck

what is your starting procedure once flooded.?

Let it sit for a bit , then try turn it over and once it fires give it shit to blow the fuel through.
VLs do have a dislike for running in the cold... My mechanic put it down to moisture in the carbs, but that is only once the bike is running and doing motorway speeds (that was the case last year and the year before), the bike can't burn the fuel so the bike stalls out.

**Tigadee** · 31st May 2013, 09:17

Got a trickle charger, can drop it off to you.

Send me a PM for address.

**SILVER SUZI** · 31st May 2013, 09:57

Not sure how a trickle charger will help you, unless it's one that test the battery and tells you if it's shagged.

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 10:17

Originally Posted by SILVER SUZI

unless it's one that test the battery and tells you if it's shagged.

Some one is popping over to have a look and test the battery to see if it's shagged.
I am leaning more towards it's the bike that needs to be looked at more than the battery.

**fireball** · 31st May 2013, 15:01

So after getting the battery checked. It is not the problem. Put a brand new batery in aswell to test, bike wont turn over and the battery gets really hot. So possible electrical issue going on I think.