Is it time for a new Battery?

[1256day]

Bike
year 2008,Bought new in 2010, original battery, Mileage 30K, Mods PC3USB RSW designed pipe, Speedstar Covers and K & N's

Problem
The bike has always been kinda weak turning over. Now that its getting cold, around 32- 38 degrees in the morning, it turns over real slow, dash lights blink, but bike starts.

Battery voltage when bike is cold. 12.68 volts, steady.
Battery voltage when bike is running at idle 14.10 volts, steady.

Turn off ign, voltage drops at a slow steady rate to 12.68 and then holds steady.

I check decompression selinoid fuse, cleaned all battery terminals, starter wires and grounds.
Plus I can hear the decompression selinoid click when I turn on the ign.

I looked up everything about batteries in the Pop Mod data base and even looked for battery voltage on various web sites and couldn't find anything.

What should my battery voltage be?

G

[Jbat]

Now thats how you ask for help! haha, A good rule of thumb for batt voltage is around 12.8, you are pretty close but a new batt will sit around 13.2 for a couple of days so if yours drops at a decent rate to 12.68 I would say its def on the weak side. Sounds like your charging system is doin good at 14.1 volts though...no issues there

BTW, still have your pins, Ill get of my lazy a$$ and get em sent down to you this week

[1256day]

Originally Posted by Jbat

Now thats how you ask for help! haha.

LOL! Yea,,, this was my original post

I have a bike,,,,,,It goes wha,,,,wha,,,,wha,,,,Vrooom" in the morning
BTW it has black wheels. What time is it in Chicago?


Hey when you get around to the pins its all good!

G

[alanh]

Originally Posted by 1256day

Bike
year 2008,Bought new in 2010, original battery, Mileage 30K, Mods PC3USB RSW designed pipe, Speedstar Covers and K & N's

Problem
The bike has always been kinda weak turning over. Now that its getting cold, around 32- 38 degrees in the morning, it turns over real slow, dash lights blink, but bike starts.

Battery voltage when bike is cold. 12.68 volts, steady.
Battery voltage when bike is running at idle 14.10 volts, steady.

Turn off ign, voltage drops at a slow steady rate to 12.68 and then holds steady.

I check decompression selinoid fuse, cleaned all battery terminals, starter wires and grounds.

Plus I can hear the decompression selinoid click when I turn on the ign.

I looked up everything about batteries in the Pop Mod data base and even looked for battery voltage on various web sites and couldn't find anything.

What should my battery voltage be?

G

A fully charged stock battery should be 12.8vdc minimum when isolated (remove one battery terminal after fully charging the battery).

The fact that the charging voltage @ idle is 14.10vdc indicates that the battery is under charged (drawing more amps) and is probably NG.

You can attempt to condition the OEM battery by using a proper tender during the cold weather. I've done that in days gone bye.

added: BTW, that's not the decomp solenoid when you Key-ON .... it's the fuel pump

[1256day]

Thanks Jbat and Alan.

Its been like this since it was new. Durring the summers it was not big deal, it would start right up. But now its getting colder and I know it won't make it thru the winter.

I was wondering about fuel pump Alan. Makes sense.

Now to research for a new battery Ugh,,,that was info overload reading all the posts.

G

[idontknow]

As far as batteries go this guy seems to be the cool kid on the block atm

*Shorai Lithium Ion LFX18A1-BS12

Im running the oddysey 680 which has been amazing for cold weather starts but is a bit of a brick. Those shorai take up less room and weigh next to nothing. Free up some space under that seat.

[akitadog]

Originally Posted by idontknow

As far as batteries go this guy seems to be the cool kid on the block atm

*Shorai Lithium Ion LFX18A1-BS12

Im running the oddysey 680 which has been amazing for cold weather starts but is a bit of a brick. Those shorai take up less room and weigh next to nothing. Free up some space under that seat.

If I'm not mistaken you will need a lithium ion battery maintainer/charger for the lithium ion battery.

[idontknow]

Yeah heres the info related to charging them up.

BatteryStuff Articles | Can I Use a Battery Tender on my Shorai Battery?

[capttwb]

I have the same year bike. The head wrench at the dealer advised me to put 20-50 in it at the 600 mile change. After the first oil change it was a little harder to start and it idled a bit lower with the 20-50. I thought maybe I over filled it, but I put in exactly the amount that was called for. Checked the level after riding it 20 minutes, no revving, just turned it off after about 30 seconds, the level was right between the marks. Could be the oil, what weight are you running? Mine is hard to start now that it is cold and it still has 20-50 in it. I really don't think the battery is bad. It's hard to start, sometimes takes two tries. When I put it on the battery tender the green light comes on in 5 minutes or less, this leads me to believe the battery is fine.

[1256day]

Cat
Yea, i run the same oil, 20 50. Funny thing about the Mojave Desert. The temperature can go from being over 100 week to the teens the next.

Im kinda stuck out here for awhile and trying to zearch this on my phone is a pain
G