Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week

Slimbob
Junior Member

Posts: 19

Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 30, 2012 4:50:57 GMT -5

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Post by Slimbob on Aug 30, 2012 4:50:57 GMT -5

All,
Mostly Stock 77 650-D

My bike has been running great since I put the Pamco Electtronic ignition on her. I checked the water in the battery at beginning of the riding season. About 2 months ago.

Last Thursday I was on my way to work and noticed the horn was very weak. And my reserve lighting warning light was on. But still able to switch between low and high beams.

I checked the the battery voltage and was down to 11.5 off, 12.5 idling, and 13+ >2K RPM. Water Level was down below the tops of the plates in several cells. Filled with bottled drinking water. No Distilled available. Kick started @ 5PM and drove home. Figured the 22 mi ride would charge the battery.

Didn't try to ride until Saturday night. Battery was bone dead.

Pulled battery and put on Smart trickle charger for 2 days. Put the battery back in and all was well on a 10 mi ride. One thing I noticed was there was a relay that would click when I re-attached the battery as I touched the - cable to the post. Think it was the Reserve Lighting module.

That was last night. Figured the RL module was probably bad and the battery would be dead in the morning. NO!

Rode to work this morning and bike was running good. All is good.

Do these RL relay modules go intermittent? There should not be any voltage feeding the RL module with the key off. Is it possible for this module to drain the battery? Can't think of anything else that might have caused this. Ignition switch maybe not breaking the connection fully?

Any ideas? Don't want to get left on the side of the road. I should probably replace the RL module at least, since the waring light is on most of the time. Are Mike's replacement modules ok or should I source elsewhere?

Any other ideas what could be cooking the battery and then not charge it and drain it in 2 days?

Thanks in advance,
Slimbob

Next:
Bike ran ok for several days. No issues. After leaving sit for a week, the battery is dead again.

Heard the relay pull again when I attached the second battery cable (key was off). Ordering a new Reserve Ligting module today.

Can I disconnect the reserve lighting module without affecting the operation of the bike? Something is draining the battery when it is sitting.

Don't know why power would be getting to the module when the key is off. Will pick up a digital meter and connect to monitor voltage at high speed.

Thanks,
Slimbob

Last Edit: Aug 30, 2012 4:51:20 GMT -5 by Slimbob

Slimbob
1977 XS-650D

grizld1
Esteemed Elder!

Posts: 1,534

Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 30, 2012 10:54:36 GMT -5

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Post by grizld1 on Aug 30, 2012 10:54:36 GMT -5

Part of your problem could simply be maintenance; water level needs to be inspected more frequently than once a season.

If the battery is actually cooking, the grief could be in the rectifier; if a diode goes bad it may pass unrectified AC to the battery. Unplug the rectifier and check for resistance between the white wires and the ground wire with the + lead of the tester on the white wires and the - lead of the tester on ground; then check with the tester lead reversed (- on whites, + on ground). You should have no resistance with one tester hookup and infinite resistance with the other. Then repeat the procedure, this time hooking up to check between whites and the output wire. Again, you should get infinite resistance one way and no resistance the other.

The safety relay is easily bypassed by disconnecting it and jumping two leads in the connector--blue/black to blue/yellow, if I remember correctly.

If a relay clicks when you connect the battery with the key off, use the volt meter setting on the multitester to find out what's hot, starting at the key switch. Probe the key switch connector and look for voltage passing out with the key switch off. If you don't find the grief there, use your ear to find the clicking relay and follow its trigger wire until you find out where it's getting power.

Last Edit: Aug 30, 2012 15:55:21 GMT -5 by grizld1

Slimbob
Junior Member

Posts: 19

Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 30, 2012 14:22:30 GMT -5

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Post by Slimbob on Aug 30, 2012 14:22:30 GMT -5

grizld1

That's some good info. I'll try that tonight. Hope the bike starts after work. I got brave this morning. But like I said it seems to be ok if run every other day or so.

Will post results.

Slimbob

Slimbob
1977 XS-650D

grizld1
Esteemed Elder!

Posts: 1,534

Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 30, 2012 15:59:53 GMT -5

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Post by grizld1 on Aug 30, 2012 15:59:53 GMT -5

If you need to ride the bike while you get the problem sorted out and are worried about the battery draining while it's parked, just flip the seat and disconnect the ground wire from the battery. Good luck with the troubleshooting--the gremlins can hide but they can't run, and with a meter and some patience, you'll catch those rascals.

pineywoods Junior Member Posts: 29	Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 30, 2012 17:46:53 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by pineywoods on Aug 30, 2012 17:46:53 GMT -5 "The gremlins can hide but they can't run" Sweet! Ain't english fun?

Slimbob Junior Member Posts: 19	Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week Aug 31, 2012 8:46:30 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Slimbob on Aug 31, 2012 8:46:30 GMT -5 Duh, Why didn't I think of that? I picked up a digital meter on the way home last night. Can now measure current flow with key on and key off. Will have some time this W.E. Thanks again Grizld1!
	Slimbob 1977 XS-650D

Battery dead after sitting a few days to a week

Post by Slimbob on Aug 30, 2012 4:50:57 GMT -5

Post by grizld1 on Aug 30, 2012 10:54:36 GMT -5

Post by Slimbob on Aug 30, 2012 14:22:30 GMT -5

Post by grizld1 on Aug 30, 2012 15:59:53 GMT -5

Post by pineywoods on Aug 30, 2012 17:46:53 GMT -5

Post by Slimbob on Aug 31, 2012 8:46:30 GMT -5