Add group to favorites
Back to post list
Send new message to group Search:
Post Subject:
Battery Problem?
Battery Problem?
I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
about 2 years old. Thank you.
I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
about 2 years old. Thank you.
Re: Battery Problem?
On Apr 27, 4:29=EF=BF=BDpm, "Raover" <rao...@comcast . net > wrote:
> I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it=
> is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been o=
n
> a trickle charger and shows that it is charged.
It's probably sulfated...
Years ago, batteries were huge things, with solid metal plates, but
they took up too much space to be compact enough for vehicular use. So
the compact spongy lead battery was developed. It's a lot smaller
because the electrolyte can soak into the spongy lead that is held in
a solid lead grid forming the plate.
If a battery is allowed to sit in a discharged condition, lead sulfate
will form on the spongy lead plates, preventing the battery from
taking a full charge.
However, reading the voltage across the terminals may indicate that
the battery is fully charged and measuring the specific gravity of the
electrolyte may also indicate that the battery is fully charged.
But, when you turn on the ignition key and the battery has to provide
current to the headlights, etc., all you hear is a click as the
surface charge is dissipated.
I couldn't figure out what was happening until somebody explained
"surface charge" to me.
The lead sulfate coating the plates prevents the electrolyte from
coming in contact with sufficient
material to produce sufficient electricity to operate your systems.
Modern maintenance free batteries have a fiberglass matting material
surrounding the plates which is intended to keep the acid/water
electrolyte in intimate contact with the spongy lead plates.
This reduces water loss as the battery is repeatedly charged and
discharged at high temperatures.
The environment under you seat, behind the engine, is an awful place
for a motorcycle battery to live. Motorcycle batteries have very short
service lives when explosed to 120~130 degrees F, as they do under the
seat...
On Apr 27, 4:29=EF=BF=BDpm, "Raover" <rao...@comcast . net > wrote:
> I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it=
> is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been o=
n
> a trickle charger and shows that it is charged.
It's probably sulfated...
Years ago, batteries were huge things, with solid metal plates, but
they took up too much space to be compact enough for vehicular use. So
the compact spongy lead battery was developed. It's a lot smaller
because the electrolyte can soak into the spongy lead that is held in
a solid lead grid forming the plate.
If a battery is allowed to sit in a discharged condition, lead sulfate
will form on the spongy lead plates, preventing the battery from
taking a full charge.
However, reading the voltage across the terminals may indicate that
the battery is fully charged and measuring the specific gravity of the
electrolyte may also indicate that the battery is fully charged.
But, when you turn on the ignition key and the battery has to provide
current to the headlights, etc., all you hear is a click as the
surface charge is dissipated.
I couldn't figure out what was happening until somebody explained
"surface charge" to me.
The lead sulfate coating the plates prevents the electrolyte from
coming in contact with sufficient
material to produce sufficient electricity to operate your systems.
Modern maintenance free batteries have a fiberglass matting material
surrounding the plates which is intended to keep the acid/water
electrolyte in intimate contact with the spongy lead plates.
This reduces water loss as the battery is repeatedly charged and
discharged at high temperatures.
The environment under you seat, behind the engine, is an awful place
for a motorcycle battery to live. Motorcycle batteries have very short
service lives when explosed to 120~130 degrees F, as they do under the
seat...
Re: Battery Problem?
"." <RhiannonX@gmail . com > wrote
>Years ago, batteries were huge things,
And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
asked.
"." <RhiannonX@gmail . com > wrote
>Years ago, batteries were huge things,
And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
asked.
Re: Battery Problem?
Who Me? wrote:
>
> "." <RhiannonX@gmail . com > wrote
>
>> Years ago, batteries were huge things,
>
> And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
>
> Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
> asked.
>
>
>
Thanks from me too, for information I found instructive, also my
personal information content to verbosity ratio meter gives it a very
high score compared to so many posts I see on newsgroups from
self-appointed editors. As so often, it has gone into my permanent
reference file.
Who Me? wrote:
>
> "." <RhiannonX@gmail . com > wrote
>
>> Years ago, batteries were huge things,
>
> And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
>
> Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
> asked.
>
>
>
Thanks from me too, for information I found instructive, also my
personal information content to verbosity ratio meter gives it a very
high score compared to so many posts I see on newsgroups from
self-appointed editors. As so often, it has gone into my permanent
reference file.
Re: Battery Problem?
On Apr 27, 7:55=EF=BF=BDpm, "Who Me?" <hitchhi...@dont.panic> wrote:
> And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
It took me *years* and several dead batteries in my GS1100 to learn
what was going on with the sulfation, and why a sulfated battery would
exhibit signs of being fully charged and then fall flat on its ass
when I turned the ignition switch on.
>
> Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
> asked.
Hopefully, the detailed information that I offer will help the OP
understand what's going on with his battery.
So far as *you* getting anything out of my posts, WTFGAS? I don't
answer questions just to debate with obnoxious strangers.
On Apr 27, 7:55=EF=BF=BDpm, "Who Me?" <hitchhi...@dont.panic> wrote:
> And years ago, a simple question would often elicit a simple answer.
It took me *years* and several dead batteries in my GS1100 to learn
what was going on with the sulfation, and why a sulfated battery would
exhibit signs of being fully charged and then fall flat on its ass
when I turned the ignition switch on.
>
> Thank you again, Krusty, for answering SO many questions that were not
> asked.
Hopefully, the detailed information that I offer will help the OP
understand what's going on with his battery.
So far as *you* getting anything out of my posts, WTFGAS? I don't
answer questions just to debate with obnoxious strangers.
Re: Battery Problem?
. wrote:
> It took me *years* and several dead batteries in my GS1100 to learn
> what was going on ...
<snip>
Right.
Rob.
. wrote:
> It took me *years* and several dead batteries in my GS1100 to learn
> what was going on ...
<snip>
Right.
Rob.
Re: Battery Problem?
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, "Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote:
|>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
|>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
|>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
|>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
Roughly 12v? yeah I did that eyesore thing for a long time, but you
really need a 8-->16volt analog "spring" scale for that stuff, and a
complete Multi DVM Digital Volt Meter is a better investment..say $20...
|>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
|>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
|>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
|>about 2 years old. Thank you.
I didn't know alternator bikes could be disconnected form the
battery as it completes a resistance circuit, the older generator kind can.
Simply charge, drive the battery and see if starts in a few
days... . it doesn't have to be rocket science....
--
Triad Productions-Fantalla©~EZine~ParaNovel
National Association of Assault Research
w w w eb>> * boblacasse.150m. com
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, "Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote:
|>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
|>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
|>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
|>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
Roughly 12v? yeah I did that eyesore thing for a long time, but you
really need a 8-->16volt analog "spring" scale for that stuff, and a
complete Multi DVM Digital Volt Meter is a better investment..say $20...
|>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
|>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
|>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
|>about 2 years old. Thank you.
I didn't know alternator bikes could be disconnected form the
battery as it completes a resistance circuit, the older generator kind can.
Simply charge, drive the battery and see if starts in a few
days... . it doesn't have to be rocket science....
--
Triad Productions-Fantalla©~EZine~ParaNovel
National Association of Assault Research
w w w eb>> * boblacasse.150m. com
Re: Battery Problem?
"Bob" <rkba@armageddon.info> wrote
> Simply charge, drive the battery and see if starts in a few
> days... . it doesn't have to be rocket science....
> --
No but it does require some reading comprehension skill and continuity of
thought.
One or both seems to be lacking here.
"Bob" <rkba@armageddon.info> wrote
> Simply charge, drive the battery and see if starts in a few
> days... . it doesn't have to be rocket science....
> --
No but it does require some reading comprehension skill and continuity of
thought.
One or both seems to be lacking here.
Re: Battery Problem?
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, in rec.motorcycles.tech, "Raover"
<raover@comcast . net > wrote:
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
>about 2 years old. Thank you.
That sounds a lot like a bad battery to me. It might make 12 volts open
circuit, but if you measure it under load (e.g. with the ignition switch on)
I bet the voltage drops right down to nothing. If it isn't sulfated from
discharging in storage, it's probably boiled dry from being overcharged on a
cheap trickle charger. Either way, it's toast. Replace it.
-Scott
--
'73 CB450K
'82 CB900F (x2)
'96 VS800GLX (SWMBO)
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, in rec.motorcycles.tech, "Raover"
<raover@comcast . net > wrote:
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
>about 2 years old. Thank you.
That sounds a lot like a bad battery to me. It might make 12 volts open
circuit, but if you measure it under load (e.g. with the ignition switch on)
I bet the voltage drops right down to nothing. If it isn't sulfated from
discharging in storage, it's probably boiled dry from being overcharged on a
cheap trickle charger. Either way, it's toast. Replace it.
-Scott
--
'73 CB450K
'82 CB900F (x2)
'96 VS800GLX (SWMBO)
Re: Battery Problem?
"Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts.
And where, pray tell, was the meter connected? and when?
This is pretty simple really.
Connect the meter to the battery. Reads ~12V. Turn on the ignition switch;
all lights dead. If the meter still reads 12V at the battery, then you have
a bad connection or blown fuse. If the meter drops below 10V when under a
light load then the battery is toast.
If you do find a loose or corroded main connection somewhere that
substantially fixes the problem, that does not necessarily rule out the
possibility of a bad battery too. Retest.
"Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts.
And where, pray tell, was the meter connected? and when?
This is pretty simple really.
Connect the meter to the battery. Reads ~12V. Turn on the ignition switch;
all lights dead. If the meter still reads 12V at the battery, then you have
a bad connection or blown fuse. If the meter drops below 10V when under a
light load then the battery is toast.
If you do find a loose or corroded main connection somewhere that
substantially fixes the problem, that does not necessarily rule out the
possibility of a bad battery too. Retest.
Re: Battery Problem?
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, "Raover"
<raover@comcast . net > wrote:
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
>about 2 years old. Thank you.
I would put my money in a new battery before doing anything
else. My luck with bike batteries over the last 50 years
has been 2-3 years of reliability before they fail to do the
job. Your info is consistent with a bad battery. Make sure
you check your charging voltage after installing a fully
charged battery. You may also want to do a quick check for
discharge current with the new battery to besure it is not
being drained with everything off.
Lugnut
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:29:55 -0500, "Raover"
<raover@comcast . net > wrote:
>I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
>is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been on
>a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
>roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it starts
>right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
>bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
>something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
>about 2 years old. Thank you.
I would put my money in a new battery before doing anything
else. My luck with bike batteries over the last 50 years
has been 2-3 years of reliability before they fail to do the
job. Your info is consistent with a bad battery. Make sure
you check your charging voltage after installing a fully
charged battery. You may also want to do a quick check for
discharge current with the new battery to besure it is not
being drained with everything off.
Lugnut
Re: Battery Problem?
"Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote in message
news:z-KdnVICQOb kYjVnZ2dnUVZ oimnZ2d@supernews . com ...
> I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
> is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been
on
> a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
> roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it
starts
> right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from
my
> bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
> something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
> about 2 years old. Thank you.
>
12 Volt Battery voltages as indicated by digital voltmeter.
Turn on headlights for one minute to remove surface charge.
Voltages % Charge
=>12.6 full
12.4 75
12.2 50
12.0 25
<12.0 discharged
More than likely the battery is the problem. You can't accurately test the
rest of the system without a fully charged battery that can produce
sufficient current anyway.
"Raover" <raover@comcast . net > wrote in message
news:z-KdnVICQOb kYjVnZ2dnUVZ oimnZ2d@supernews . com ...
> I have a 2002 Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan. When I turn the ignition switch on it
> is totally dead. The horn, lights, etc do not work. The battery has been
on
> a trickle charger and shows that it is charged. My small multimeter shows
> roughly 12 volts. When I jump start the bike using jumper cables, it
starts
> right up and everything works. As soon as I remove the jumper cables from
my
> bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
> something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
> about 2 years old. Thank you.
>
12 Volt Battery voltages as indicated by digital voltmeter.
Turn on headlights for one minute to remove surface charge.
Voltages % Charge
=>12.6 full
12.4 75
12.2 50
12.0 25
<12.0 discharged
More than likely the battery is the problem. You can't accurately test the
rest of the system without a fully charged battery that can produce
sufficient current anyway.
Re: Battery Problem?
Raover <raover@comcast . net > wrote:
> As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
> bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
> something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
> about 2 years old. Thank you.
Buy a new battery.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F, SL125 & SH50
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
"What you're proposing to do will involve a lot of time
and hassle for no tangible benefit."
Raover <raover@comcast . net > wrote:
> As soon as I remove the jumper cables from my
> bike the engine immediately dies. Is this a battery problem or could it be
> something else? The battery is a no-named maintenance free battery that is
> about 2 years old. Thank you.
Buy a new battery.
--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F, SL125 & SH50
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
"What you're proposing to do will involve a lot of time
and hassle for no tangible benefit."
