My battery died

[Night Falcon]

Went to start the 690 this morning (first time in 3 weeks) in preparation for next weekends MMMM ride, and it no start problem appears to be a flat battery.

I fitted new Motobatt battery exactly 364 days ago and to date it has been problem free.... anywho... I put it on the charger and tested it at 13.5V so put it back in the ktm but still not enough power in it to even turn it over.

There wasn't even enough power to get the horn to work so I removed the headlight fuse which got the horn to work so am convinced the battery is deceased even though the meter says otherwise. Have emailed the folks who sold me the battery to see if it is warranted so hopefully I can get it sorted by next weekend.

Can anyone tell me if its common for batteries to show full charge even if they are poked? I still have the original battery which I know to be dead so tested that and it showed 10.5 volts and its been sitting under a bench for a year.

[granstar]

Be interested in replies re longitivity. I fitted one to my Triumph, had a short in the wiring and it died after only 300k's. Was fuckd ...so buckled had a job getting it out of the battery box.
Fitted one to my XJ same time and so far so good, must be close to a year now. Have only trickle charged it a few times and only for a few hours. read somewhere to not over charge with the new type chargers that you plug in an leave on, I stand to be corrected if i'm wrong there. I do know with these chargers you still have to check the acid levels on standard batteries as they can run dry = fukd

[Drew]

Hmm, that's the opposite of my Motobatt in the RF. I leave it alone for months on end, and three years later it still starts the old girl.

Sounds like yours is fucked though. Did it still read 13.5 volts after you tried to start the bike?

Ed should be along shortly though, followed by everyone who doesn't like him. So enjoy the quiet while you can.

[Night Falcon]

Hmm, that's the opposite of my Motobatt in the RF. I leave it alone for months on end, and three years later it still starts the old girl.

Sounds like yours is fucked though. Did it still read 13.5 volts after you tried to start the bike?

Ed should be along shortly though, followed by everyone who doesn't like him. So enjoy the quiet while you can.

dropped to 11.95v after first few blasts on the starter....finally levelled off at 11.5V; should be easily enough power to crank the 690 over but it barely activates the starter relay - peeee oaked 1 day before its 1st birfdee

[Kickaha]

Can anyone tell me if this its common for batteries to show full charge even if they are poked?

No it isn't

Test the voltage as you hit the starter button

[Gremlin]

peeee oaked 1 day before its 1st birfdee

A year has 365 days, not 356 Should be covered by warranty easily, normally the aftermarket batteries have a multi-year warranty.

Provided there isn't something else wrong (fuses, wired it correctly?) my only thought is that modern bikes (especially euros) are like cars. If the battery isn't within a specific band, then zip, nada, no start.

[bogan]

Sounds like plate sulphation (seems to charge but reduced power output), a desulphation charger might sort it out as it's not an old battery. Even just a prolonged charge might yeild results but I'd still be looking for a desulphation charger; check specific for MotoBatt stuff though, as there may be warranty clauses relating to such chargers.

[Night Falcon]

No it isn't

Test the voltage as you hit the starter button

cheers will test it tomorrow and report. I know batteries can do odd things when there on the way out but had herd these Absorbed Glass Mat batteries die without much warning.



Go the Crusaders

[Night Falcon]

A year has 365 days, not 356

not every year is the same for us dyslexics....some years there's 563 days other times it 635.....

Provided there isn't something else wrong (fuses, wired it correctly?) my only thought is that modern bikes (especially euros) are like cars. If the battery isn't within a specific band, then zip, nada, no start.

shouldn't be anything else wrong as it was all sweet 3 weeks ago and hasn't been touched since, maybe my long suffering brides been sneekin it out for a few rides or it could be the 690 is just sulking cos the Beta is getting all the attention

[scumdog]

cheers will test it tomorrow and report. I know batteries can do odd things when there on the way out but had herd these Absorbed Glass Mat batteries die without much warning.



Go the Crusaders

'er-indoors Sporty started OK at Clyde, we stopped for piccy taking at the other end of the Cromwell Gorge and when we got back on our bikes (20 minutes after the last start-up) the battery didn't want to know.

Even shorting across both terminals with crescent couldn't produce a spark - it was that dead.

[Akzle]

yeah id go the zapper technique first. Then buy a new batt anyway cos that ones fucked.
Prob has low internal resistance, so shows up v but cunt deliver a.

[pomgolian]

"shouldn't be anything else wrong as it was all sweet 3 weeks ago and hasn't been touched since" Oh how many times i heard that from customers.

Hi Marty as long as your meter is any good stick on on the battery & crank, if the voltage drops quickly the battery is rooted
if not there may be something else wrong, check the earth point then some old fashion diagnosis reqd if still no good, let me know if you need a hand.

[Waipukbiker]

Yeah, A stuffed battery can show a full voltage when its charged, Its when an electrical load is required from it is when the problem shows up, A good battery will only drop 1 to 1.5 volts even under a heavy amp load, Have the headlight on when you crank it over, if the battery is stuffed , the headlight will go very dim, That,s caused by a big voltage drop.
Some of the latest smart chargers can apparently bring a tired battery back to life but after having 1st hand experience at push starting a certain orange beastie, need I say more mate? By the way, going to check out a car in Ayrshire st/dve/place whatever for my daughter tomorrow arvo so might see if your home.

[Night Falcon]

"shouldn't be anything else wrong as it was all sweet 3 weeks ago and hasn't been touched since" Oh how many times i heard that from customers.

Hi Marty as long as your meter is any good stick on on the battery & crank, if the voltage drops quickly the battery is rooted
if not there may be something else wrong, check the earth point then some old fashion diagnosis reqd if still no good, let me know if you need a hand.

cheers Paul....I have a real flash meter with buttons an dials all over it, auto digital readout and its Crusaders colours red and black so got to be reliable Will have a play around tomorrow afternoon but might give ya a call if I get stuck. Bridged the starter relay contacts with a spanner, to test if the starter motor was getting any juice which it was but not enough to make it dance

[Night Falcon]

Yeah, A stuffed battery can show a full voltage when its charged, Its when an electrical load is required from it is when the problem shows up, A good battery will only drop 1 to 1.5 volts even under a heavy amp load, Have the headlight on when you crank it over, if the battery is stuffed , the headlight will go very dim, That,s caused by a big voltage drop.
Some of the latest smart chargers can apparently bring a tired battery back to life but after having 1st hand experience at push starting a certain orange beastie, need I say more mate? By the way, going to check out a car in Ayrshire st/dve/place whatever for my daughter tomorrow arvo so might see if your home.

will have the billy on and the spanners out