right lets get this sorted

[africamadness]

Ok, so over the last few years I have posted about having electrical problems and sorted them and then they have come back but the problems have been spaced apart and so I am going to put all my probs in one thread to see if anyone has an answer.

2 years ago I blew a bulb and fried two batteries before I put in a second hand rectifier and all was good.

Then in the winter this year I had to ride inland(drop in temp made my hands freeze) So reconnected the heated grips that i disconnected when I had the previous issues.

A few weeks back I had a flat battery, but put it down to the bike not been used for about3-4 weeks, so recharged and all good.

Then I noticed that the headlight took about 5 seconds to come on after turning it on by the switch and the indicators were even more non responsive(sometimes 15-20 seconds).

Anyway bought one of those cheap bulb testers on ebay that tells you your charging circuit status, but before I could put it on, I got all the 8's on my trip. I read on the forum that disconnecting the battery for 30seconds clears that and it did.

Then next day I was out on the bike and after being parked up the battery was flat on return.

Bumped the bike to start it and rode to next destination, on route I noticed that the trip was adding miles by the second and after 5 miles it had added nearly 60 miles. Also when standing still, revving the engine the miles kept being added on.

So I tried to ride home butthe bike cut out. I had to get a tow truck home.

So first thing I did was charge the battery up to full(reading was 12.5v) then put it in the bike.

When I turned the ignition on, the neutral,oil etc lights came on then dimmed then when I dipped the clutch, they went bright then dimmed again, I tried to start the bike but nothing and then the trip blanked (flat battery I assumed) I took a reading and 9.5v.

So assumed battery was knackered and possibly/probably the rectifier. and removed the battery.

Anyway I tested the voltage on the battery this morning and its back at 12.5v

I am losing the plot here....wtf

how can a battery gain voltage whilst sitting in my bedroom?

why are the lights and indicators struggling to get power when the trip is getting so many pulses that the miles are piling on?

Is it the rectifier, is it the grips or could there be another issue?

hellllpppppp!!!!!

cheers in advance just dont want to buy a new battery and rectifier and fry the next battery because it was something else and have bought a rectifier unessessarily.

[AlanH]

It sounds like a combination of dead battery and other wiring issues that may well include the regulator/rectifier.

The headlight 'delay' in coming on is indicative of a bad connection. The same applies to the indicators. The dead battery could be due to improper charging (points to regulator rectifier) or a faulty battery. The spurious pulses for the trip meter could be caused by a loose connection.

If it was my bike I would buy a new battery and then work my way through all the loom connectors paying special attention to the 3 way one from the alternator and the main one by the solenoid. Once the loom and the connections have been checked, I'd check out the charging system. This is a good guide: http://www.electrosport.com/media/pd...ng-diagram.pdf

The MOSFET regulator/rectifiers are a fantastic upgrade.

[africamadness]

Right I jumped the battery from the car with jump leads and got the bike running, disconnected the jump leads and the multimeter read 7.5v.

I checked the connectors for the rectifier and they are as clean as a whistle.

So, ordering a battery today and will do the faultfinding test when connected to see if rectifier or stator or bad connections

[Kjell Lindberg]

Also check the ground connection.

It needs to be firmly fastened to the frame, and they have been known to work loose.

[GSPD750]

Right I jumped the battery from the car with jump leads and got the bike running, disconnected the jump leads and the multimeter read 7.5v.

I checked the connectors for the rectifier and they are as clean as a whistle.

So, ordering a battery today and will do the faultfinding test when connected to see if rectifier or stator or bad connections

Ok...with your new battery you have now eliminated one possible source. Make sure it's fully charged and then determine the health
of your charging system by clicking on the following #9 and carry ut exactly as you see in the vid....then get back to us with the readings.
Too easy.... cheers.

[africamadness]

Will do as soon as it arrives, they want 80euros for a no name battery in the shops here, so I have ordered one from eBay

[africamadness]

Ok battery arrived and attached to bike. Started bike and attached multimeter. Reading 13.5, revved to 2.500 reading 13.8, revved to 5k and reading 13.8. Turned lights on and on tickover it was 13.1 revved to 2.5k and 13.5 then to 5k and 13.5. According to the chart the charging system is fine. Am I missing something?

Battery was only 2.5 years old. It was a cheap no name battery. What is the average lifespan of these batteries?

[angelo]

2.5 years - seriously the can last as little as 1 year especially if they rattle about - a cell cam break down easily.