SuzukiSavage.com - Battery charging problems

mekyjesy

Ex Member

Battery charging problems
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.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reelthing

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Fish or ride that is
the question

Posts: 5397
Houston,Tx
Gender: male

Re: Battery charging problems
Reply #1 - 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

Back to top

IP Logged

RadarORiley

Serious Thumper

Offline

No one notices how
you ride until you
fall off.

Posts: 863
West Of Weatherford, Texas
Gender: female

Re: Battery charging problems
Reply #2 - 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.

Back to top

Radar O'Riley

IP Logged

Steve530 Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Posts: 452 Knoxville, TN Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #3 - 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
Back to top	'97 Black / 1/2 white spacer 155 main jet / 55 pilot jet / Dyna muffler snorkel removed / K&N drop in / seat raised Slipstreamer SS30 windshield IP Logged

torque Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline 2008 nightster,flat od green and black Posts: 748 rock hill,S.C. Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #4 - 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.
Back to top	IP Logged

Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #5 - 01/18/06 at 17:41:46 or just go get a new maint free sealed agm battery
Back to top	IP Logged

Jim_R Ex Member	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #6 - 01/18/06 at 18:09:33 I need a new battery. Do they have any sealed batteries that can fit the stock box?
Back to top	IP Logged

mekyjesy Ex Member	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #7 - 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
Back to top	IP Logged

Steve530 Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Posts: 452 Knoxville, TN Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #8 - 01/18/06 at 18:17:32 Distilled water if you have it, regular water if you don't.
Back to top	'97 Black / 1/2 white spacer 155 main jet / 55 pilot jet / Dyna muffler snorkel removed / K&N drop in / seat raised Slipstreamer SS30 windshield IP Logged

Steve530 Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Posts: 452 Knoxville, TN Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #9 - 01/18/06 at 18:21:14 Jim_R wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: 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
Back to top	'97 Black / 1/2 white spacer 155 main jet / 55 pilot jet / Dyna muffler snorkel removed / K&N drop in / seat raised Slipstreamer SS30 windshield IP Logged

bentwheel Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ride free, citizen Posts: 658 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #10 - 01/18/06 at 18:35:33 Steve530 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: 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.
Back to top	Bentwheel FSO 2006 Suzuki 650 V-Strom 1977 Yamaha XS360 1972 Honda CL175 IP Logged

Steve530 Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Posts: 452 Knoxville, TN Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #11 - 01/18/06 at 18:38:00 bentwheel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: 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.
Back to top	'97 Black / 1/2 white spacer 155 main jet / 55 pilot jet / Dyna muffler snorkel removed / K&N drop in / seat raised Slipstreamer SS30 windshield IP Logged

Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #12 - 01/18/06 at 18:44:12 Jim_R wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: 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
Back to top	IP Logged

Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Battery charging problems Reply #13 - 01/18/06 at 18:44:44 Steve530 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: It's a lot easier to find distilled water than snow around here. that's a good thing!
Back to top	IP Logged

Reelthing

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Fish or ride that is
the question

Posts: 5397
Houston,Tx
Gender: male

Re: Battery charging problems
Reply #14 - 01/18/06 at 18:46:30

mekyjesy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

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

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

Back to top

IP Logged