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  1. #1
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    Default Dead battery ... probably?

    Well it happened. After years of reliable service it happened, our Spyder is dead.

    We recently moved and the battery tenders got packed into boxes. I last rode it two weeks ago from the old house to the new place. It has been sitting unplugged from the tender since then. I did start it one time to move it from one side of the garage to the other, but otherwise it sat.

    We've had the same battery in it for probably 5 years, most of the time on a Battery Tender (tm). It's not our regular ride, so it sits more than it gets ridden. But I do use it a few times a month just to run errands or a two up ride. Fast forward to Friday when sweetie wanted to use it for a grocery run. She turned the key and the dash cycled through it's boot up sequence, and then went blank. Not even the "click" of the starter solenoid.

    I plugged in the Battery Tender and a few hours later attempted to start it, same results, one cycle of boot up and then nothing, even with the Tender plugged in. The fender running lights glow dimly before flickering out. Tonight I hooked up the big charger, and set it to 25A starting amperage, figuring if that could jump start a car it should start a Spyder. Turned the key, fender lights glowed faintly, the dash lit up through the boot sequence, and I heard a click of the starter solenoid, but then everything went dark again. This is the troubling part, since most vehicles it's possible to at least get the motor to turn over while jump starting. Is there a special trick to jump starting a dead Spyder?

    I haven't unpacked my multimeter yet, so I can't take a voltage reading across the terminals. I do know that the battery doesn't seem to hold a charge, not even for one start. As soon as I unplug the charger it doesn't even have enough juice to cycle the instrument boot sequence. Battery terminals are tight. So I am assuming a completely dead battery. Hopefully that is the only issue and not something like a fried regulator/rectifier/stator. (998 Rotax twin Spyders don't have alternators do they?)

    Anyone been through this?
    Last edited by asp125; 10-22-2017 at 10:41 PM.
    When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
    Current stable: 09 Thruxton / 09 FZ6
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    JLohPhotos
    ... Motorcycles are kind of like Baskin Robbins... You're looking at 31 flavors of ice cream, don't you kind of want to know what they all taste like?...
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  2. #2
    Very Active Member Chupaca's Avatar
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    Default Possibly....

    Remember a maintainer will not charge a battery next I would check all connections from battery to ground straps. Have the battery chatged and load tested. If it's oem 5 years is a good run...
    Gene and Ilana De Laney
    Mt. Helix, California

    ​2012 RS sm5
    2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black

  3. #3
    Very Active Member 4 MARIE's Avatar
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    You can do all the CPR or charging or measuring that you want.
    It still smells like you are kicking a dead horse.
    5, maybe 6 years on this battery? you were walking on borrowed time anyway,
    and you are lucky it didn't quit on the road somewhere.
    Flatlander, Navy Veteran, Widower
    Loved my 2014 RTS SE6 Pearl white
    but have a new love now,
    my 2017 RTS SE6 Champagne metallic (Champ)

  4. #4
    Very Active Member ofdave's Avatar
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    Default

    time for a new one
    you got your money's worth from the last one!



    2017 F3, SM6-basic black, plain and simple

  5. #5
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    Default It's alive, aliiiiive!!

    Just to close this thread. Replaced the battery, started right up! Put a voltmeter across the terminals and revved it to 4000rpm. It read 13.9V so looks like the stator/rectifier isn't dead.
    When life throws you curves, aim for the apex
    Current stable: 09 Thruxton / 09 FZ6
    Sold List: 97 Ninja500R, 03 SV650K3, 01 Ducati 750Sport Dark, 73 CB350/4, 03 F650GSA, 08 Gixxer600, 03 Gixxer600, 91 VFR750F, 09 KLX250, 06 Thruxton 900, 08 Spyder RS , 12 Street TripleR, 15 RC390, 02 VFR800, 09 KLX250S, 10 F650GS
    JLohPhotos
    ... Motorcycles are kind of like Baskin Robbins... You're looking at 31 flavors of ice cream, don't you kind of want to know what they all taste like?...
    2008 GS , Millennium Yellow

  6. #6
    Active Member sylvester's Avatar
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    Hell i'm charging a new battery right now on a 17 f3tl 6 months old would take a charge nothing connected was only gone 5 days came home started wifes spyder started right up mine screen not lit charged 24 hours nothing ordered a new one from amazon dealer is fighting with GRP trying to get it replaced if he gets it done i'll keep it as a spare

  7. #7
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chupaca View Post
    Remember a maintainer will not charge a battery
    Totally wrong.

    Anything that will "maintain" a battery will also charge it.......up to a point.
    Most will do little or nothing for a really dead battery though or one that has developed a defect.

    Sounds to me like you have a battery going bad OR one of the connections is loose.

    If the battery was healthy and connections tight, it should easily sit two weeks and still start right up.

    Edit: I see the problem has been solved. Now would be a good time to check the voltage while on the "tender" too. Either too high or too low will not be good for the new battery.
    Last edited by Easy Rider; 11-11-2017 at 10:01 AM.

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