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Message started by mekyjesy on 01/18/06 at 16:58:58

Title: Battery charging problems
Post by mekyjesy on 01/18/06 at 16:58:58

Hello,
My 95 Savage has a charging problem. I charge the battery on my charger overnight, and if I ride two days in a row (50 mile round trip each) I have to charge it again the second day. It seems the battery is not charging, or the alternater/generator is defective. Where is the alt on this bike and is it hard/expensive to replace? The battery is only 1.5 years old. This is my first street bike, what is the normal battery life for a bike? This seem awful quick to need a replacement, but I don't know. When the battery is caharged on the charger, it turns over quickly and fires right up, so it seems the battery will charge, but again, I'm no expert.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/18/06 at 17:20:22

I'd sure rule out the battery first - it may very well charge - just won't hold a charge - the system on the savage just doesn't have enough surplus juice to deal with a flakey battery very well. I'd sure get another just for grins. 1 1/2 years isn't a long time for these batteries but unless the water has been keep upto snuff always they can sure kick out that quick(or quicker)

So far as where is the generator - you see the big round cap with a slot in it just aft of the left (port) side drivers foot peg - it's right under there.

and welcome to the site

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by RadarORiley on 01/18/06 at 17:35:22

Can't repeat it too often---check the water in the battery. The charger causes the water level to decrease with each charge, or that is what we've found on our bikes. Hubby is in charge of doing that and he checks them often, we use Battery Tender Pluses on both of ours,and I keep it pluged up when I don't ride very often. It is suppose to increase the battery life.
Let me know if this helps.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Steve530 on 01/18/06 at 17:35:25

If you have a voltmeter, put the leads across the battery terminals. Should be 12 V or higher. Start the engine and rev it up, voltage should be more than 14 V @ 5000 rpm and less than 15.5 V.

Steve

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by torque on 01/18/06 at 17:40:20

the most common reason for battery charging problems is a simple fix,check the rectifier connections under the seat,i believe its the yellow wires with the black clip.if they are apart plug them back up and wrap it with electical tape.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/18/06 at 17:41:46

or just go get a new maint free sealed agm battery

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Jim_R on 01/18/06 at 18:09:33

I need a new battery. Do they have any sealed batteries that can fit the stock box?

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by mekyjesy on 01/18/06 at 18:11:32

Okay, I checked the battery, and it appears to be somewhat dry. I remember I had to put some acid solution in it when I bought it. Does water go in it now, or do I need the acid? It is a Wal Mart battery and I have not had any problems with their car batteries in the past.

Eric

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Steve530 on 01/18/06 at 18:17:32

Distilled water if you have it, regular water if you don't.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Steve530 on 01/18/06 at 18:21:14

Jim_R wrote:

I need a new battery. Do they have any sealed batteries that can fit the stock box?

I haven't used on of these, but saw it posted here. They do have the size for our bikes.

http://www.bigcrank.com

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by bentwheel on 01/18/06 at 18:35:33

Steve530 wrote:

Distilled water if you have it, regular water if you don't.

If you don't have any distilled water in your lab, go outside and get some snow.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Steve530 on 01/18/06 at 18:38:00

bentwheel wrote:

If you don't have any distilled water in your lab, go outside and get some snow.

It's a lot easier to find distilled water than snow around here. :)

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/18/06 at 18:44:12

Jim_R wrote:

I need a new battery. Do they have any sealed batteries that can fit the stock box?

I believe the ext-15l - think that was the size - from bigcrank.com will - have a couple on the way - we'll see

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/18/06 at 18:44:44

Steve530 wrote:

It's a lot easier to find distilled water than snow around here. :)

that's a good thing!

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/18/06 at 18:46:30

mekyjesy wrote:

If you have any of the fancy bottled water - that seems to work ok

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Steve530 on 01/18/06 at 18:58:28

Tap water will work.

I guess what we didn't say is that jsut the water evaporates.

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by SAMM on 01/18/06 at 19:04:51

Some places in the world you cant use tap water !!!

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by klx650sm2002 on 01/19/06 at 00:37:07

My battery is charging at 0.5 A on the charger is this as full as it gets, thanks

Clive W :D

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Reelthing on 01/19/06 at 05:07:51

I'd sure think so - the old rule use to be when the charger drop'd to under half it's rating the battery was full - but now with smarter chargers it might be doing something - they send a pluse trying to clean the plates and such

Title: . The plates corrode Re: Battery charging problems
Post by theikeman on 01/19/06 at 07:32:21

If the plates inside your battery have been exposed to air for a long time, they are history, no amount of water, distilled or otherwise can fix that. Rather than taking a chance on being stranded somewhere (no kickstarter) I'd spring for a new battery. Call it comfort insurance ...
Ike
:D

Title: Re: Battery charging problems
Post by Digger on 01/19/06 at 08:43:45

Meky,

If you decide you need a new battery, I strongly suggest one of the maintenance-free varieties of battery. Your life will be a lot simpler. IMO, mx-free batteries are one of the best things to happen in the motorcycle world in the 35-or-so years I've been riding.

And, after you get your new battery....

Minority Opinion Here: I don't use Battery Tender-type products. I've no doubt they work well when they work correctly. The problem is that it is difficult to verify they are working as designed.

My solution: I've installed a "charging platform" on the ceiling of my garage. Line current runs into a cheap timer (like those used to turn lights on and off). The timer is hooked up to three different $20 one amp battery chargers (bought at Auto Zone). The lines from the battery chargers drape down and are connected to my three road bikes. The timer comes on for 30 minutes each night.

Advantages: The batteries are getting zapped each night. Thirty minutes at one amp will definitely not overcharge any batteries, even the small battery in my Suzuki Savage. Probably(?) cheaper than three Battery Tenders. Most importantly, I can verify myself that the timer works and that each of the chargers are working correctly by just a few simple tests.