my bike has been sitting for about three weeks, and the outside temperature has dropped to 6 C. I went to start it today, and the bike wouldn't start.. the lights came on, but not enough juice to start the bike. I push started the bike and went for a 40 min ride, but after a stop, i went to restart and it wouldn't start. I taught after a push start and after riding around for some time the battery would re charge...is that not the case?
thanks.
This will get better answers in Tech
Alternators are not battery chargers. They will maintain a charged battery but not charge a dead one. Use a battery charger and try again. Cold weather is a weak battery's worst enemy.
They will charge a battery... but it takes a while. Like said above, throw a battery charger on it and see if it hold the charge. You might have drained the battery somehow and let it get cold = kaput battery
A 40 minute ride should have recharged the battery unless you were stuck in traffic and wearing heated gear. First step is charge the battery and load test. Any decent shop should be able to load test it for you or you could use the less accurate, but pretty good "shade tree" method. Fully charge battery, disable ignition, operate starter motor with a voltmeter across the battery. Voltage should stay over 9.6 volts.*
See this for charging system diagnosis:
http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/fault-finding-guide.php (http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/fault-finding-guide.php)
Also check that your battery cable connections and engine ground are clean and tight.
*Oh, if your bike does not have a sealed battery check the water level first
The answer to your original question depends upon the year of your Monster. The older single phase systems do have regulator problems, but if the regulator failed you'd notice the magic smoke escaping the regulator body and you'd know immediately it was at fault. They also had a problem melting the leads from the alternator to the regulator, and the fix for that is replacement of the leads with heavier ones. They were also known for grounding problems.
The later three phase systems are much more reliable.
Check the electrolyte. If it's low, top it off with distilled water or premixed electrolyte.
Charge the battery.
Check the voltage of the system with the engine running and the revs over 2k or so.....it should be about 14 volts.
If it's less than 14 volts, you probably have a system problem...check ground connections first, then plugged connections. If it's more, you're regulator is frying the electrolyte out of your battery and prematurely murdering it. If it's between 13.5 and 14.5 volts, your battery is probably dying.
Hope this helps.
If your charging system was at fault you wouldnt have gotten very far from push starting the bike. Its very possible the battery isnt up to snuff
I'm having a similar problem to the OP
My battery went flat a few weeks ago due to non-usage, since then I've charged it up several times using my charger, then gone out for a short ride.
Each time, the bike starts just fine during the ride and immediately after, but the next day the battery will be dead again. I will then put it back on the charger and repeat the cycle.
At first I thought it was because I wasn't riding it long enough to charge the battery, but last weekend I rode it for about an hour in the morning. By 8pm that night it refused to start.
I then had the battery tested and was told it was fine
So last night I threw it back in and went for another hour long ride...this time I on the freeway. It seemed to have fixed the issue as I was able to start the bike this morning, and ride it to work. But during my lunch break, I tried to start it and it was dead again.....really frustrating
It essentially stayed charged overnight, but won't remain charged for the 4hrs I parked it at the office? what gives?
Is my charging system screwed or do I just need to ride it longer?
Quote from: gh0stie on July 27, 2011, 11:56:58 AM
I'm having a similar problem to the OP
My battery went flat a few weeks ago due to non-usage, since then I've charged it up several times using my charger, then gone out for a short ride.
Each time, the bike starts just fine during the ride and immediately after, but the next day the battery will be dead again. I will then put it back on the charger and repeat the cycle.
At first I thought it was because I wasn't riding it long enough to charge the battery, but last weekend I rode it for about an hour in the morning. By 8pm that night it refused to start.
I then had the battery tested and was told it was fine
So last night I threw it back in and went for another hour long ride...this time I on the freeway. It seemed to have fixed the issue as I was able to start the bike this morning, and ride it to work. But during my lunch break, I tried to start it and it was dead again.....really frustrating
It essentially stayed charged overnight, but won't remain charged for the 4hrs I parked it at the office? what gives?
Is my charging system screwed or do I just need to ride it longer?
Assuming the battery was tested properly and you are charging at 13.4-14.5 volts at 3K RPM the next step is to check to see if anything is draining the battery. Connect an ammeter in series with with negative on the battery. Look for less than .5 amps. More? Your battery is draining. If you have an old carbie just hooking up a test light will work. The light should not light.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't own an Anmeter.....is this something I can have done at the local parts store?
What's a "carbie"?
Thanks
Quote from: gh0stie on July 27, 2011, 01:49:38 PM
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't own an Anmeter.....is this something I can have done at the local parts store?
Theoretically, but I wouldn't trust them. It would be better to visit a bike shop and pay for diagnosis or you could by a cheap digital multimeter for about $25.
What's a "carbie"?
A bike with carburetors.
Thanks
As an alternative, you could
Ride your bike.
Park it. Make sure it starts. Shut it off.
Disconnect the neg battery lead, let the bike sit for a day. or two.
Reconnect neg lead - no start? Battery toast. Starts? Something drawing down your battery -
time for an ammeter.
Never hurts to check battery, starter, and ground connections.
Quote from: csp808 on October 13, 2009, 03:14:38 PM
If your charging system was at fault you wouldnt have gotten very far from push starting the bike. Its very possible the battery isnt up to snuff
With my ST2, I was able to ride 150+ miles on a freshly charged battery and a fried stator (not charging). I did pull the headlight fuse, though. I have no idea how long I rode on the bike prior to it finally dying the first time, though. A fresh battery can get you a pretty good distance, with or without the headlight lit up.