| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
Well, went to start the bike today. Turned the key on. The lights were shining strong. Hit the starter and it turned over once then heard the normal clicking of the starter. This of course tells me battery is low. My bike was only sitting for 2 days. What get's me is the lights were shining strong. I'm guessing the AMPs for the battery were low. Is this normal? The voltage is good but the AMPs aren't? The battery is almost 2 years old which I know the life expectancy is about that long for them. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Checked the battery with a voltage meter. 12.39 volts. In the manual that stats that it's only at 50% charge. Could this be a sign that the voltage regulator is going or that the battery is going. Also, what ways are there to check the voltage regulator to see how it's doing? | ||
| Gowindward |
Ryan, I had the same thing happen to me a couple weeks ago. Came out from work and the battery didn't have the beans to get the bike started. I had to jump start it. Went home checked everything out, and snugged the battery terminal connections down and put it on the charger over night. I wouldn't have called the connections loose, but I haven't had a problems since (Knock on wood) You might take a look for any wiring that is grounding out and causing a drain on the battery. To test for something like that you can check and see if there is any current being pulled from the battery when everything is off. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Well, looks like the battery is bad. My charger just gave a fault warning on it telling me it's dead. Sigh... Off to Wal Mart I guess... | ||
| Aldaytona |
Ryan, stop guessing, Signal Dynamics has a Heads-Up voltage monitor and it's only 20 some odd dollars. It installs with only 2 wires and even has a remote LED option. I have them on my Buells and can always see the condition of my charging system. You'll like it! | ||
| Cataract2 |
Thanks Al. I'll look into that. Any link to their site? | ||
| Aldaytona |
Ryan, www.signaldynamics.com, their Back Off brake light module keeps the "mindless masses" in cages off of your *arse as well, money even better spent as well. *thanks to our brothers across the pond | ||
| Gowindward |
I put one of these digital voltmeters on my bike. http://www.digitalmeter.com/cgi-bin/webshop.cgi?config=configspc.txt&uid=yimcmwo b114194118671&command=link--bikemeter | ||
| Cataract2 |
Ok, little more. I got the battery charged up enough to start the bike. It's now at 12.55 volts. I ran the engine up to 3500-4000 rpm. The battery is receiving 13.00-13.50 volts. This would seem to be within spec for the voltage regulators output. I'm guessing the battery is on it's death bed. | ||
| Midknyte |
Hey Al, That Signal Dynamics has a Heads-Up voltage monitor - how does it hook up? Straight to the battery? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Is it hard to get to the stator plug on an XB? It was easy on a tuber. Get it running, put your meter on AC, and see what the voltage is. That would be an icing in the cake data point. | ||
| Freyke |
2-3 years is about all you'll get out of a typical bike battery... If you ride often and you start to hear the dreaded lugging/slow rrr-rrr-rrr-click,click,Plooom, bap - start... Then it's time to start thinking about a new battery... Measuring volts (with no load) does not always tell the whole story.... Otheriwse, it would be possible to start your bike w/6 AAA batteties (2.133 VDC X 6 Cells)... Ohm's law baby.... | ||
| Cataract2 |
Thanks Frey. Well, got a new battery from wally world (aka Wal Mart). Going to charge it up tonight and test it tomorrow. | ||
| Alstroker |
Can you get a battery for the xb at Wal-Mart? Mine is bad too. What is the cross reference number? | ||
| Cataract2 |
Everstart ES14BS at Wal Mart. | ||
| Diablobrian |
the plug for the stator is in front of the drive sprocket behind the plastic cover on the right side of the motor. It isn't too hard to get to. There are several connectors hidden there. | ||
| Sik_s |
I clicked the first link I found for the stock XB battery and the first link for the Wal*Mart battery, and it was $65 to $90. Sounds like the H-D battery is the better deal unless you don't have a dealer within a reasonable distance. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Midknyte, One ground and one switched hot wire, it's that easy. One 1/4" LED that changes color to indicate state of charge, no dial or readout to quit working. Their Back Off brake light module is a one wire installation, add a male and a female spade connection to their unit and unplug the Buell brake light female spade and put the module in series and you're done, no cutting or splicing. | ||
| Midknyte |
Thanks Al. Ok, color me stupid, but where on my [9R] could I find a suitable switched hot wire? First thought that comes to mind is the headlight - it's right there under the faring and super easy to get to, but I'm wondering if the current draw across that line makes in innapropriate... | ||
| Perry |
In looking at the Signal Dynamics Heads up thing, it seems like the voltage ranges are wrong. The voltage chart seemed to show it would show green for 12-15 volts. If you are seeing 12.1 with the engine running you are in trouble, no? Seems like the range is too big for the green. By the time it reads amber you are already below 12 volts. This would be good to show you when your charging system dies suddenly, but not a good indicator of a weak/dying battery or drawing too much power from accessories. Am I missing something on this? | ||
| Creeater |
Gowindward, which one did you get. 1/10 or 1/100 volt resolution | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
Ryan, That's what mine was doing when the stator went out. Pull your primary inspection cover and take a whiff. If you smell burned popcorn, and you aren't making any in the microwave, it's your stator... You should be seeing around 14V when charging. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Is the wal-mart battery absorbed glass mat? My M2 battery lasted at least 4 years. My old yamaha would trash a battery every 18 months though. | ||
| Cataract2 |
2k4, thanks for the info. I pulled my primary and sniffed. Yup, burnt popcorn. Sigh... Seems the stator went out. Guess I gotta call the dealer and get it fixed. | ||
| Diablobrian |
the absorbed glass mat batteries are lighter, higher efficiency, and higher quality that the usual wet cells you get from walmart. Be careful guys. Saving pennies can cost you dollars in the long run. | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
Good thing it's under warranty... | ||
| Cataract2 |
Yeah, gotta like the 2 year warranty. Can't complain though. I have 27,100 miles on the bike. It lasted some time. | ||
| Gowindward |
Creeater, I'm using the 1/10th one. | ||
| Freyke |
Part of the reason for the OEM abzorbed glass mat battery is the fact that the XB batteries do not sit vetical; rather they sit almost horizontal... When the wet cell battieries are sitting in this fashion the anode and electrodes are not fully bathed in the electrolite... not to mention the fact that even though they're maintenance free, they still could leak electrolite (acid)... |
