Battery lost power whilst riding

[dxtans]

Hello,

The other night I was riding home from work. Noticed that the throttle was a bit jumpy as I slowed down, then I lost all power to my bike, thus coming to a full stop. Managed to get the bike started with some jump leads from a car, so got home which was about 2 miles away.

Putting a multimeter on the battery it is:
Engine off: 11.8
Engine running ( for 2 mins) : 11.4
Engine running with full beam on: 11.3

Nothing is hitting the 12v mark. So I am guessing it is not charging, am I right ? If so that is where I need help.
Could someone with greater knowledge than I have, advise me on where to look next and where that is.

Thanks
DT

[Strommer]

You'll ned to get the battery up to charge before you can start diagnostics.   That gives time to do more research.  There are some charging system tests you can do.  Do you have the workshop manual?

NB a knacked battery can kill the charging system so you may have two issues.

[greywolf]

Do try seeing if the battery will take and hold a charge first. A shorted cell can look like a charging system problem.

[dxtans]

Hello,
Nope have not charged it so will do that and see.
No manual on hand ,is there a copy on the web somewhere?

Thanks
Dxtans

[Strommer]

Have pm-ed you.

NB if the battery is over three years old it is worth replacing anyway.

[dxtans]

email sent, the bike is 2.5 years old, so battery should be OK / Hopefully

DT

[Strommer]

It's worth getting the battery off the bike and charging, then monitoring how the charge dissipates with nothing connected.  This will rule out shorts or other bike related issues that can mess up your results.

Once it comes off the charger it will be anything up to 12.9v.  This is just the float charge and so you want to wait 12/24 hours for this to dissipate down to 12.6v-ish.  

You want to test voltage regularly over the 24 hours though to see if it is losing charge all on its own.  If it is, then it is a blown cell and a new battery should fix the problem.  If it holds the charge over 24/48 hours then you have other issues and you'll want to refit the battery and start the more fiddly testing.

It shouldn't drop below 12.4v just sitting in the bench - even this is low.  Slightly lower will just be an old battery, a bust cell will be 9.5ish.

[dxtans]

OK , got that,
It is on the charger now, will check it in a couple of hours, maybe will leave it over night.
Strommer, thanks for the volt output check numbers and manual


Thanks
dxtans

[exbandit]

I had the same trouble as yourself on mylast bike.
I mucked about for weeks butin the end a new battery sorted it.
I know they are not cheap but once its been replaced you should be OK.
Paul

[Locky]

Yes 2.5 years the battery could have failed ! Id fit a new one just to be sure and to save another failure in the next 12 months .
Motobatt have good reports and had one on my KTM for 2 years   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motobatt-AGM- ... 564ee66fb0

[dxtans]

Hello,
The bike has done 42K, so yes, I  had thought about about replacing the battery after this failure. Tomorrow when it is fully charged up....just checked the voltage it is @ 12.1 so looking good at the mo, I'll do a ride-about keeping close to my home and check the voltage again after 30mins or so.
To confirm if I need to change the battery it is a 10 AH  battery, right ? Wonder if Halfords do them, need to check.

Strangely my other bike a GSA, the battery lasted 2 years then literally just  conked-out, just out of warranty !

Will keep this thread posted.

Thanks
dxtans

[Strommer]

Def. avoid Halfrauds.  I'm a motobatt convert due to their sealed nature and the 200CCA.  My second battery (Yuasa) lasted about 6 months after it developed a leak.  Most sellers delivery next day.

I really would get the battery off the bike to test - otherwise you are prolonging the uncertainty.  2.5 years is an early fail but def. not a rare one if it is the battery.

Be aware that a bad charging system can knacker a good battery so it is worth being methodical.

[Locky]

I hate using halfords for anything but I would if I had to , I think they stock Bosch batteries but try hold out for a Motobatt if you can .

[mr_diver]

halfords wanted £56 for a bosh one. I went to the local bike shop and got one for 42.

[dxtans]

OK, well it's the generator coil. 3 of the copper coils are black and falling a part when you inspect them....great!



dxtans

[greywolf]

You can add your experience to the poll at http://www.stromtrooper.com/information ... -bike.html

Were the shorted windings near the top of the stator?

[dxtans]

Yup all at the top , what a good guess on your part greywolf !

Now looking at whether to have it re-coiled or buy a after market one,, Def will not be a Suzuki one !

dxtans

[greywolf]

I am no longer guessing. I believe I have enough evidence to indicate stator failure comes from overheating at the upper coils that get less cooling oil. A better system would be to have an oil pump driven jet spraying cooling oil on the upper coils as well as the splash cooling that does much better on the lower coils.

In the meantime, keep the oil level at the top mark. If I was going to take a trip far away from where I could get a new stator, I would replace the regulator with a series type mounted in the air stream. They dissipate more heat through the regulator rectifier cooling fins rather than relying on the oil to cool the stator.

The CE-605 SB is one possibility.

[dxtans]

OK, thanks for the heads up on the oil level

Can anyone recommend an online site to buy a stato for the strom

Thanks
Dxtans

[dxtans]

Hello,
Got the generator coil mended @ £60, now back in.

Dxtans