Starting and Battery Problems

[TrevOwnz]

So I thought my problem was the battery was bad because it wasn't starting my bike unless I jumped it. So I bought a new battery 3 months ago and it's been having problems. So I took it to walmart and pepboys and it's reading...

Walmart- 12.41V, 291 measured CCA, 250 CCA rated, temp 78*F
Pepboys- 239 CCA, 12.35V, 100% recharge. It said my state of charge is low and check for proper charging system outlet.

I did have to fill it up with distilled water a while back and then I recharged it with a bike battery charger with a auto shut off but then the acid started coming out of the top.

Now my brother and a friend that works at pepboys said if the battery is reading fine it's my starter needing more power than the battery can give so I need to test my starter which I have no clue how to do.

The bike wants to turn over and does sound like it will fire but doesn't. After trying several times the lights on the dash start to dim down and it starts to turn less and less.

Any ideas guys? How much would a starter run me if it was the problem.

[Ddan]

Check the battery and starter connections, as well as the grounds.  Make sure they are clean and tight.  Be careful with the starter connection, you don't want to let the stud turn or you will be buying a new starter.  Check the output voltage from the regulator, you should get 14v or a bit more at 3500 RPM.

[TrevOwnz]

I  know how to ride a bike but I don't know the first thing about working on one. I can check the connections but I have a feeling I wont know what I'm looking. Ahh I feel like a idiot asking but I guess you have to find out at some point. What is a stub and how do I check a regulator. Honestly don't even know where my starter is located. I'm a pretty young guy trying to learn as I go.

[Scotzman]

I don't know if you have a dealer/service place nearby that can diagnose it, possibly for free. When I had a starter problem a while back, I was throwing money at all the wrong things until the Duc dealer found the stator was jacked. There's a way to read the output on this as well, but...

[Howie]

So I thought my problem was the battery was bad because it wasn't starting my bike unless I jumped it. So I bought a new battery 3 months ago and it's been having problems. So I took it to walmart and pepboys and it's reading...

Walmart- 12.41V, 291 measured CCA, 250 CCA rated, temp 78*F
Pepboys- 239 CCA, 12.35V, 100% recharge. It said my state of charge is low and check for proper charging system outlet.

I did have to fill it up with distilled water a while back and then I recharged it with a bike battery charger with a auto shut off but then the acid started coming out of the top.

Now my brother and a friend that works at pepboys said if the battery is reading fine it's my starter needing more power than the battery can give so I need to test my starter which I have no clue how to do.

The bike wants to turn over and does sound like it will fire but doesn't. After trying several times the lights on the dash start to dim down and it starts to turn less and less.

Any ideas guys? How much would a starter run me if it was the problem.

More than likely you are suffering from high resistance at a connection or a bad ground.  You don't even want to know what a starter costs.  If you do a search I have many posts on starter circuit testing.  Howley also posted a great diagram.

Since you have been working on your brake light since 12/3 maybe you should consider taking the bike to a shop.  Oh, please stay away from Pep Boys.

[floyd turbo]

Make sure that your battery was load tested.  I have seen batteries pass on the new electronic testers and fail miserably under a load.

[Howie]

Floyd is correct.  Sometimes bad batteries will sneak through the new electronic (AC resistance testers.  And the one I have used is way optimistic on AGM batteries.  Load testing is much more decisive.

[TrevOwnz]

I only went to pepboys because my friend works there and said don't trust walmarts hand held tester use ours as a double check. I only go there for oil for my '68 beetle.

Also I don't know where to load test a battery and if I take my bike to Ducati to take a look at my bike how much would it run me or should I go to a local guy?

[Howie]

Hourly labor rates vary from location to location.  Most shops charge by the clock for electrical trouble shooting.  For an older bike a good independent shop should be fine and a little less expensive.  Post in your local board for recommendations.

[TrevOwnz]

Put the battery back in and hit the carb with a little spray cause the bikes been sitting for a while and it fired right up then I took my hand off the throttle to grab something and I wasn't able to keep it going and it cut off. Wasn't able to get the bike to start again.

I think it's just a fuel problem, the carb isn't tuned right and it's sucking more air than fuel.

Does this sound like it might be right?