| Author | Message | ||
     Shwinston |
When I first bought my motorcycle (Jan 4, 2008) I had some battery draining issues, but it got replaced and everything has been fine till now. A day after resetting the SERVICE ODO the battery light came on. I put it on the trickler and it went away. I continued riding it for days without the light ever coming on. Then just this week, it was sitting for two days, because it was raining. Today was sunny, so I went to turn on my bike and it was DEAD. So now it's on the trickler. Any ideas as to what might make it drain so quick? | ||
| Doerman |
The trickle charger does not get it up to full charge if there has been a substantial drain on the battery. I know from personal experience. Use a 6 amp charger and make sure it is all charged up. I have had a dead battery twice. Both a couple of days after the bike had been at the dealer or service. This is a fact: The bike's battery is only 12AH and it does not take long with the key on before it is substantially discharged. This is my conjecture: If the battery does not have a full charge the charging system does not push hard enough to charge it up fully. My conjecture is just that, conjecture. I have not had problems with my battery after a full charge on a real charger (as opposed to trickle charger) after it has been somewhat discharged by either me playing too long with the ODIS or after a service at a dealer. | ||
| Bpt |
BMC has issued a tech tip #396 about battery drain on bikes built before 05/2008. See your dealer and have them pull up this bulletin to help diagnose the issue. | ||
| Ponti1 |
BPT, What is the content of said tech tip (if you wouldn't mind sharing)? Given the May 2009 time frame, I'm wondering if that tip is at all related to the first re-flash that was released? | ||
| Buellborn |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/422076.html?1229617317 | ||
| Bpt |
Instrument cluster with a software version lower than 5.1.1 may cause an intermittent draw on the battery through the security system. Only on bikes built up into May 2008. If the cluster is before that version, the cluster should be replaced. If your bikes build date is 06/2008 or later it does not apply. It also addresses low fuel light coming intermittently on with sufficient fuel on software versions 5.1.1 and 6.0. Software version is on a sticker on the back of the cluster on older versions. On newer versions you can access the version through the data display. This is NOT a recall, only a bulletin specific to the conditions of battery draw and low fuel light. | ||
| Buellborn |
I wonder why they don't recall them? It would kill a third of the stories here. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I wonder why they don't recall them? Intermittent problems. Guys on battery tenders may never even see the parasitic draw. Huge cost to replace all the ICs affected. Plus it gives guys like you another dig at Buell!} | ||
| Bobup |
I am curious about the cluster SW versions... 1) how many versions are there? 2) what are the issues that each version addresses? 3) is it possible to upgrade the software in the cluster? | ||
| Shwinston |
BPT: I'll ask my dealer about that when I take my bike in, thanks. Doerman: After I changed my oil, I turned my bike on (ignition on) to reset the SERVICE ODO and do some other things. I don't exactly how long it was on, but you really think it could drain the battery that fast? I'm inclined to believe you, because it had almost been a year since I had a bad battery replaced. I don't remember what they said, but the original had some problems. The red battery light came on not too long after the reseting of the SERVICE ODO. Then, the sitting for 2-3 days must have just drained it dry. Thoughts anyone? By the way I bought a charger yesterday and it's charging just fine now. Last I looked this morning it was at 86%. I could start it now if I wanted. Would it charge faster with riding it around, or should I just finish the charge? | ||
| Buellborn |
Fresnobuell Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 10:38 pm: ...... Guys on battery tenders may never even see the parasitic draw. Huge cost to replace all the ICs affected. Plus it gives guys like you another dig at Buell I suppose Dr's that keep all their patients on life support technically keeps there death rate down but does not solve the problem either. Why do you lash out at people for reporting the news? Would it be more productive to work on the people writing the news? I offer forth one possible action to increase the customer satisfaction level and improve the brand reputation and you bash people that chose not to ignore anomalies and would prefer a higher level of quality. You treat Buell fans who have not purchased an 1125 series yet that they have no right to speak why you defend to a point of silliness. Who is a better supporter of the Brand? The one that will accept no dialogue on possible opportunities of improvement bind to any possible "negative" recognition of weaknesses? Or those that recognize, propose encourage/demand higher quality. For a company to grow in must continue to attract new customers. Just a fact in the real world. The product continues to improve and you looks silly as you had defended the prior performance as normal or acceptable. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Shane(Shwinston), remember when you turn on the ignition to do any observation or programming of the dash you also have the lights on unless you pull the lights fuse. This drains the battery pretty fast. I always use a two(2) amp charger when I get into the dash for anything as it helps keep the draw from the lights to a minimum and I always do my programming long before a ride to give my battery tender time to top the battery off. Finish your charge and consider using a battery tender anytime when not riding. I have an early 2008 and using these methods have never had any problems. Enjoy a great bike and stay safe. Bob | ||
| Shwinston |
Bob: Thanks for the tip. It has a full charge now. I learned today that putting the kickstand directly on the cement will draw on the battery. A guy at the Harley dealership told me that. He recommended putting it on a puck if it's going to be sitting for long periods of time. Shane | ||
| Zac4mac |
While you're doing that, you can change your muffler bearing grease. | ||
| Mikellyjo |
I learned today that putting the kickstand directly on the cement will draw on the battery. OK, somebody please chime in on this one...cause I have never heard of the kickstand being a drain on the battery. A guy at the Harley dealership told me that. Wait...this kind of explains it. | ||
| Shwinston |
Mikellyjo: It does sound fishy, but he said it had more to do with the newer models. He said that's why they put all the bikes on pucks. The reason it made some sense to me is because when storing batteries it's recommended not to put the battery on cement, but on wood, because it will drain on the cement. I'm not real knowledgeable about this, so yes, someone who knows more about this please chime in. | ||
| Bpt |
The kickstand has nothing to do with battery discharge. Pucks are used so you don't scratch the floor. Batteries are always in a state of discharge, hooked up or not. Modern batteries do not discharge any faster on concrete than other surfaces. It was true at one time, but that was many moons ago. | ||
| Shwinston |
On behalf of the Harley-Davidson employee who related the information about the kickstand: he told me that the guys in the parts department told him that and that he himself had never heard of that before. I was talking to him about my battery drain. So perhaps the parts guys were just perpetuating a motorcycle urban legend. Anywho, I think this is a moot issue. | ||
| Mikellyjo |
AHA...it the ol' I heard from my sisters cousins uncles boyfriends hairstylists mothers parrot. And no I am not calling you HD employees parrots...  I agree that batteries are always in a state of discharge, and have know idea why direct contact with the ground sucks the life out of them with a quickness. Up here in the cold, I put a disconnect on my Jeep batteries so they don't drain as fast with their limited use. Surely...and perhaps it has already been discussed ad nauseam...somebody will pipe to or direct us to a link. | ||
| Crowley |
I think the battery discharges with the stand on the floor because you're not actually riding the bike or even have the motor running. Unless it's being actively charged, a battery is always discharging itself. It was probably being said in jest. | ||
| Dhdjr |
After every ride I hook up the trickle until it shows full charge & use trickle while I'm doing any work on it that involves the ignition being turned on. Seems to work well so far. | ||
| Tonedeath |
this instrument cluster post might help me i will bring my lap top to the dealer tomorow with this post so the service guy wont look at me like the word buell is another language | ||
| Shwinston |
I've had no problems with the battery since I gave it a full charge. I'm convinced it was because I had my bike on too long when I was reseting the service odo. | ||
| Froggy |
Just like food going stale, batteries will loose their charge over time due to many factors. One connected to a bike will discharge slightly faster than one on the shelf because its maintaining the clock and tripometers. I never heard that leaving it on the ground would drain it faster, my guess is that the colder temperature of the ground affects the chemical reaction in the battery. Same way how in the northern states you can come out one day and find your car wont start. | ||
| Usmoto |
I usually keep my bike on a 1 amp charger while it's not being ridden. I've never had a problem with the battery while doing this. I do know from experience and reading that batteries drain on average 1% a month. That's whether it's connected to anything or not. Add that to what ever the bike is drawing and it won't take long to notice the effect. Especially with a 12 amp hour batt. In my opinion the battery amp hour rating is much too small for the bike. In comparison, I work with alarm systems which use mostly 7 amp hour batteries but sometimes 12 amp hour batteries for back up power. Alarm systems draw much less than this bike does. I love Buell's and presently own an 1125 of course but I think the charging system got much less of the build budget than other systems on the bike. I personally am going to put a bigger amp hour batt or possibly add a second batt to the bike. I also want to find a way to up the charging capacity of the bike. Anyone with info on uping the charging system let me know. I heard the rumor about batteries draining when sitting on the cement years ago. I've been in the electronics field for 16 years and I also have a degree in electronics. This one causes me to raise the bull@#$% flag. I don't know who came up with that. As I understand it, it's impossible for an unmodified regular battery to drain into the cement. I'm not from Missouri but I do believe in "show me" so someone will have to show me that a battery drains when sitting on the cement. All in all, there are some problems with this bike. I've owned a few over the last 10 years and they also had problems. This is a brand new design so there are bound to be things that need to be tweeked. With that said, there is nothing so far that would cause me to get rid of the 1125. I mean heck, most of the fixes seem to be minor and are free or covered by the warranty. Buell has top notch equipment in my book and I'll stick with them through whatever comes along. Sorry so long winded. That's my .02 | ||
| Buellborn |
Usmoto, nice post. There have been several guys here that wanted to run additional equipment off their bikes but were unable to so rock and roll in finding an answer. | ||
| Bobup |
is the '09 alternator a drop in replacement for the '08....the '09 puts out more juice | ||
| Zac4mac |
My opinion is the wive's tale started years ago when the lead plates were more fragile. Setting a battery down low, on concrete, the shock(physical) would damage the plates. There is NO electrical explanation to this. I agree, 12 Ah is a bit small, unless there's a kick-starter. I've never been stranded, guess that's what counts. Z (Message edited by zac4mac on January 15, 2009) | ||
| Funktron |
has anyone looked into aftermarket batteries with a better Ah rating? | ||
| Tonedeath |
well the dealer replaced my battery and kept my bike for two weeks. I went to pick my bike up and the check engine light came on right there in the parking lot. I told them about the stator problems and the instrument cluster problems. All they could say was they changed the batterty thats all they could do. |
