Hi all - it's been awhile since I've checked in...
Living in California, winterizing my bikes consists of riding them year round. On the occasion that I let them sit for any length of time, I try to fire them up at least once a month. I took out "Pretty Red" (my '97) and hit the starter button and all I got was a fast clicking noise, which I immediately assumed was the starter not fully engaging.
Pretty Red is attached to a Smart Battery Tender (SBT) when in the garage and I have a volt meter mounted near the ignition switch showing a constant display. Oddly, it is showing 12.2 volts on what should be a fully-charged battery... and even that should be enough to kick over the starter. My guess now is that it may read 12.2v but the amperage must be low (that's the extent of my electrical knowledge -- i.e., it's not the voltage but the amps that'll kill ya).
I hooked it back up to the SBT and it read 12.8. It should read 13.0-13.1. So I figure the battery has gone ka-put. It is about 4 years old, so no surprise there.
Every once is awhile, I try starting her up just for the hellofit and get the fast click. Then, one day, she fires up! Woo Hoo! Except, I don't dare ride her. If I stop on a flat surface and she doesn't kick over, I'm hosed.
Still the volt meter reads 12.8 when I hook it back up. It won't take or hold a full charge so, it is clearly time to buy a new battery.
I set up the new battery and install it, then hook up the battery tender. 12.8v! (???) Okay, perhaps it'll read full in a few hours. Nope. Now I suspect there's a short in the system, draining the battery as it is charging. I disconnect the battery from the bike, but re-connect the SBT so that it and the battery are alone to themselves. I figure I'll check on it the next morning. I leave the garage with the SBT red light blinking indicating enough charge to go, but not fully charged.
So what do I see this morning? Red light blinking, 12.8v on the meter. Dang.
Fortunately, I have another, older SBT that I can swap out the plug connector for one with battery clamps on the end. I disconnect the newer SBT and clamp the older SBT leads to the new battery and the volt meter reads: 13.1v.
Sheesh! It never would have occurred to me that the 12.8v reading was all the newer SBT was putting out (i.e., the SBT is ka-put).
I guess the moral of the story is, when you see hoof prints, look for horses (like I did), but don't rule out zebras.
Living in California, winterizing my bikes consists of riding them year round. On the occasion that I let them sit for any length of time, I try to fire them up at least once a month. I took out "Pretty Red" (my '97) and hit the starter button and all I got was a fast clicking noise, which I immediately assumed was the starter not fully engaging.
Pretty Red is attached to a Smart Battery Tender (SBT) when in the garage and I have a volt meter mounted near the ignition switch showing a constant display. Oddly, it is showing 12.2 volts on what should be a fully-charged battery... and even that should be enough to kick over the starter. My guess now is that it may read 12.2v but the amperage must be low (that's the extent of my electrical knowledge -- i.e., it's not the voltage but the amps that'll kill ya).
I hooked it back up to the SBT and it read 12.8. It should read 13.0-13.1. So I figure the battery has gone ka-put. It is about 4 years old, so no surprise there.
Every once is awhile, I try starting her up just for the hellofit and get the fast click. Then, one day, she fires up! Woo Hoo! Except, I don't dare ride her. If I stop on a flat surface and she doesn't kick over, I'm hosed.
Still the volt meter reads 12.8 when I hook it back up. It won't take or hold a full charge so, it is clearly time to buy a new battery.
I set up the new battery and install it, then hook up the battery tender. 12.8v! (???) Okay, perhaps it'll read full in a few hours. Nope. Now I suspect there's a short in the system, draining the battery as it is charging. I disconnect the battery from the bike, but re-connect the SBT so that it and the battery are alone to themselves. I figure I'll check on it the next morning. I leave the garage with the SBT red light blinking indicating enough charge to go, but not fully charged.
So what do I see this morning? Red light blinking, 12.8v on the meter. Dang.
Fortunately, I have another, older SBT that I can swap out the plug connector for one with battery clamps on the end. I disconnect the newer SBT and clamp the older SBT leads to the new battery and the volt meter reads: 13.1v.
Sheesh! It never would have occurred to me that the 12.8v reading was all the newer SBT was putting out (i.e., the SBT is ka-put).
I guess the moral of the story is, when you see hoof prints, look for horses (like I did), but don't rule out zebras.