Battery or alternator

[ahh-cool]

I have been having a problem with my RT. After a heavy rain it would not start. I replaced the battery today with a lithium battery.
I drove it about 3 miles and stopped for a half hour and my battery was dead. I put the old battery back and drove it home, again I got about 3 miles and it died.
I'm thinking it could be the alternator. After changing the battery do I need to reset anything? Before installing both batteries I charged them up and they were both fully charged.
What do I need to check to see what the problem is?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

B or A

It certainly sounds like the alternator isn't re-charging your Batteries ........sorry but I don't know how you would test for that ........... someone will chime in or send a PM to BillyBovine >>>>> Mike :thumbup:

 

[oldguyinTX]

Your 2012 does not have an alternator, it has a magneto. Very different, and much lower wattage output. I agree with Mike, Billy would know the difference in output between the two.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

OUT-PUT

Your 2012 does not have an alternator, it has a magneto. Very different, and much lower wattage output. I agree with Mike, Billy would know the difference in output between the two.

Thanks, I didn't know it was a 2012 Spyder ..... the Magneto is about 600 watts the Alternator is 1200 .... PM Billy ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[BoilerAnimal]

The magneto will charge your battery without any problems IF it is working properly. Back in July my wife and I were starting out on a long ride to eat and ride around in Indiana before our Spyder decided otherwise.

We only got about 50 miles before "Low Battery Voltage" came up on the screen. Made it about 3 more miles to a convenience store before all kinds of lights and warnings came on.

Thought, no prayed, it was a bad battery but it wasn't. We put a new Duracell battery in because it was all we could get that would work. That battery allowed us to ride maybe 40-50 miles before the same thing happened.

Long story short, our dealer found our stator had shorted out. A month later we had it fixed good as new. Thankfully, it happened 10 days before our BEST warranty expired. It was covered but if it wasn't, it would have been about $1700 to repair.

The tech told us that the electronics on the Spyder will zap a battery, even a new one, quickly if it isn't getting charged. Hope yours is something simple. Good luck!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

GOOD MAGNETO

The magneto will charge your battery without any problems IF it is working properly. Back in July my wife and I were starting out on a long ride to eat and ride around in Indiana before our Spyder decided otherwise.

We only got about 50 miles before "Low Battery Voltage" came up on the screen. Made it about 3 more miles to a convenience store before all kinds of lights and warnings came on.

Thought, no prayed, it was a bad battery but it wasn't. We put a new Duracell battery in because it was all we could get that would work. That battery allowed us to ride maybe 40-50 miles before the same thing happened.

Long story short, our dealer found our stator had shorted out. A month later we had it fixed good as new. Thankfully, it happened 10 days before our BEST warranty expired. It was covered but if it wasn't, it would have been about $1700 to repair.

The tech told us that the electronics on the Spyder will zap a battery, even a new one, quickly if it isn't getting charged. Hope yours is something simple. Good luck!

On the Magneto .... only if you stay above 4500 rpm's .... below that and it won't replace the charge in your battery .... that's what I've read on this Forum .....Mike :thumbup:

 

[ahh-cool]

thanks guys, I'll pm billy

 

[Chupaca]

Magneto...

The 14's got the alernators the rest of us have stators and rectifiers. Fastest test is simply put a voltmeter on the battery and test the output from the stator. If you have a cigarette lighter you can get a plug in voltmeter for a few bucks. You should have over 12 volts even at idle and when revved up close to 14 volts. If there is no change then you need to move to the components. Check stator, rectifier and battery.. can be anyone or all. :gaah:

 

[BajaRon]

A bad magneto can actually suck the power from a battery. That is what it sounds like to me.

 

[ahh-cool]

Fixed! I had this guy put in the battery since I'm on the road and don't have all my tools or space to do it. He forgot to put the small ground wire on the battery

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Fixed! I had this guy put in the battery since I'm on the road and don't have all my tools or space to do it. He forgot to put the small ground wire on the battery

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:........mike :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Stefan,
Glad to hear that your bike is working properly again! :2thumbs:

 

[Easy Rider]

Your 2012 does not have an alternator, it has a magneto. Very different, and much lower wattage output. I agree with Mike, Billy would know the difference in output between the two.

The mechanics of the charging mechanism makes no difference and neither does the "wattage".
If the system isn't putting out at least 13.2 volts at idle it won't keep the battery charged......no matter what kind of battery it is.

So.....a simple voltmeter test of the voltage at the battery while running should give a really good clue.

 

[Bob Denman]

Dwight's point was that the magnetos that were used in the 998s did an "Okay" job. of keeping things charged up.
But the 1330's alternator does a much better job! :thumbup:

 

[OlJim]

Volt Meter

Deltran makes a really neat volt meter that plugs into the pigtail for your Battery Tender.

 

[Lew L]

Lithium battery

I'm interested to see how the Li battery holds up in your Spyder. I have one in my V-Max. It has worked great for years and weighs NOTHING. Lets us knowhow it holds up.

Kaos