SuzukiSavage.com - Battery and charging.

norm92de

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Battery and charging.
07/11/16 at 11:10:09

Yesterday I went for a Sunday morning ride on the local back roads.
Mileage was about 90 just puttering around at 45-50 mph.
The bike was started three times during this time.
When I got home I hooked up the .75 amp Battery Tender Jr. and was surprised that it took 5 hours to get a solid green indication.
The bike was not hooked up before the ride so I am not sure of the exact state of charge when I left home.

Today I hooked up my meter to check the output of the alternator. Revving the engine to about 3000 rpm I got 14.6 volts.

The bike is a 2014 and was purchased new, the battery was presumably installed in late 2013 and of course prepped by the dealer. I haven't checked the specific gravity of the electrolyte yet but it is properly topped up.

Puzzled, in El Paso. Any thoughts. Huh

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2014 S40. Raptor. idle mixture adj.Needle raised one notch. 4000' altitude. Stock jets. Shell Rotella synthetic.

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Kenny G

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Re: Battery and charging.
Reply #1 - 07/11/16 at 11:22:19

Norm,

Even if I am riding for a whole day, when I return home and plug into the Battery Tender it takes quite a while for the solid green light.

When I received my S40 from the dealer there was only about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the battery. I found that I had to remove the battery quite often to keep the fluid level to where it should be so I purchased a Yuasa Maintenance Free Battery from Amazon.

The Amazon pricing was about $40.00 less than the best price I could find locally. None of the usual suspects had one in stock. I received my Amazon shipment in 2 days.

https://www.amazon.com/Yuasa-YUAM62H4L-YTX14AHL-BS-Battery/dp/B0018F3MP6/ref=...

Kenny G

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stewmills

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Re: Battery and charging.
Reply #2 - 07/11/16 at 11:38:15

+1 on the AGM sealed battery. I have one (from a retailer with a considerable discount coupon) and it's been great!

I think the biggest risk on the AGM is that when they quit, they quit! But that's no biggie for me as 90% of my riding is what I consider "local," and when I'm not local I'm riding with friends/groups and have help nearby if needed.

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norm92de Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1180 El Paso TX Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #3 - 07/11/16 at 11:42:36 Thanks for the info guys. I have a Yuasa AGM on my Triumph and have been pleased with the performance. Only two batteries since 2005! I wonder how much longer this one will last.
Back to top	2014 S40. Raptor. idle mixture adj.Needle raised one notch. 4000' altitude. Stock jets. Shell Rotella synthetic. IP Logged

Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #4 - 07/11/16 at 18:09:38 Wait... the stock battery isn't maintenance free? Do I need to check the electrolyte level?
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #5 - 07/11/16 at 19:17:49 Kris01 wrote on 07/11/16 at 18:09:38: Wait... the stock battery isn't maintenance free? Do I need to check the electrolyte level? yep, they dumped in favor of auto suspension leveling.
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #6 - 07/11/16 at 19:35:28 Cheapskates!
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

stewmills Serious Thumper Offline Imagination is more important than knowledge Posts: 2641 Auburn, AL Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #7 - 07/11/16 at 20:00:15 Kris01 wrote on 07/11/16 at 18:09:38: Do I need to check the electrolyte level? Yes. If they're low, put some Pedialyte in there. JUST KIDDING!!!
Back to top	2008 \| 152/52.5–Air Mix 3/4 \| Rotella T4 \| Seat Lift w/Sheepskin \| Speedo Rattle \| Rear Pulley Shim \| 140/90-15 Rear \| Kaw Front Pulley \| Relocated Rear Signals FREEDOM ISN'T FREE! IP Logged

Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #8 - 07/11/16 at 20:38:44 Smells wonderful. Ever tasted it? Bleccch!
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

batman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3806 osceola new york Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #9 - 07/11/16 at 20:52:31 If these batteries seem to take a few hours to become fully charged,isn"t it because the charging rate is backing off as they near full charge?I believe they're made to do this to prevent over chargeing
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #10 - 07/11/16 at 20:54:59 I think so. I can fully charge the battery, unplug the charger and go eat dinner, come back and charge it again for 20 minutes or so before it's full again.
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

batman

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osceola new york
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Re: Battery and charging.
Reply #11 - 07/12/16 at 20:21:35

When you arrive home in your car you slap a battery charger on that puppy? the natural state of your battery is 12 volts guys! The output of your charger is about 13.5-14.5 (same as the bike's charging system)it has to be higher to overcome the12v in your batt.)so when you place it on your batt it's not telling you the batt. needs charging, it's telling you it's not13.5v! let the bike sit a few days if it doesn't start you don't need to charge it you need a new battery.My batt (lead/acid cheapo) doesn't see a charger all season 3yrs old .If you don't have a sealed batteries I hope your check your level often,your not charging but overcharging your battery

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norm92de

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El Paso TX
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Re: Battery and charging.
Reply #12 - 07/12/16 at 21:28:04

Today I rode the Suzuki for an hour. When I came home it took 6.5 hours on the battery tender to get a green light.
I started my Triumph in the garage, twice, and it took the tender 20 minutes to get a solid green light. Dunno what that means but my Triumph with a Yuasa maintenance free battery that is 4 years old never takes more than 30 ' to recharge. I think the Zuk battery is on its last legs, although it has never failed to start the bike. Undecided

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2014 S40. Raptor. idle mixture adj.Needle raised one notch. 4000' altitude. Stock jets. Shell Rotella synthetic.

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batman

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osceola new york
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Re: Battery and charging.
Reply #13 - 07/12/16 at 22:45:55

Norm do you own a volt meter? If you do next time you return from a ride check your battery's voltage before charging ,if it is in excess of 12volts it doesn't need charging! Your charger output is 13.5 (check this voltage also) is raising the battery volt higher toward 13.5 as it does so the chargers voltage is fixed making it's job harder and harder,and slower and slower ,6.5 hours get it? oh! and your trumpet doesn't have a compression release,maybe it take less juice to start?

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norm92de Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1180 El Paso TX Gender:	Re: Battery and charging. Reply #14 - 07/13/16 at 07:32:57 Batman. I will check the voltage after returning from a ride, I have never done that. I simply put the charger on it. The triumph battery behaves differently than the Suzuki's does as I described in my post. Norm.
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