Rant Vent

[Pandy]

Well, the windshield support event was successfully concluded and a big thanks to all for the suggestions and encouragement. So now that's over and I have the battery crapping out again. Put it on the maintainer as usual, a 1.75 amp I have used for a year, fire it up, and click click with the usual light show on the display. Wait about an hour and vroom..up and running. So, ride it for about an hour, shut it down, click click etc... Get it home, charge battery, see 13.4 vdc at jumper posts. Let sit overnight, next morning, ~13.3 vdc. Fires up, 14.1 at the terminals, quick rev test, maintains 14.1. Shut down, fire up, shut off...click click and expletives. Reason for rant..battery is about 1 1/2 years old, always on a maintainer when not being used. Now to pursue battery connection cleaning and inspection and all that is entailed Tupperware wise. I just put the sorry s.o.b. back together, now this battery will be removed and put on bench for inspection and charging ..no> 2 amp. Read through lots of battery/charging posts so this provoked the rant and vent. The little blue bas**rd has 46K and as mentioned, year and a half this battery. I am really good now at removing mirrors. Looking at an 2011 or 2012 Burgman Executive with a hitch kit. Man am I pi**ed! More on this later after clean and inspect. That is if anyone is listening.
Fuming...Patrick

 

[NancysToy]

I'd be looking elsewhere than the battery...battery connections, or more likely a loose/corroded rear frame ground. JMHO

You battery seems to pass the normal tests, although it could fail a load test. If it tests OK, your problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Pandy]

Yep, while I have it apart, if it's a battery/charging connection it will be cleaned and greased. Yes, especially the rear frame ground. Thanks,Scotty.

 

[Chupaca]

Have to agree..!!

Connections like Scotty said. Battery seems fine....good luck..!! :thumbup:

 

[3 Wheel Addict]

Who made the battery? Even good batteries can go crap out. We are an interstate battery dealer and their motorcycle batteries only have a 6 month warranty now?? Shame Optima don't make bike batteries....

 

[Jeriatric]

Suggestion. Since it'll be out. Have it load tested.

 

[Pandy]

In reply to 3WA

The battery is a replacement from the dealer. Didn't cost any more that a non-factory unit. First battery failed about the time of the radio drain fiasco. Out of warranty, of course.
Patrick

 

[Bob Denman]

Patrick,
Please let us know what you find up under there! :shocked:
Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[wb4lrk]

Optima battery.

Who made the battery? Even good batteries can go crap out. We are an interstate battery dealer and their motorcycle batteries only have a 6 month warranty now?? Shame Optima don't make bike batteries....

I have seen Goldwing GL1500 with an Optima battery. I don't think Optima calls it a motorcycle battery, but it works. At least in Goldwing GL1500s. I am not sure but I think it is an Optima PC800. I have no idea if this battery would fit or work in a Spyder.

 

[Huddleston]

Battery Tender Lithium Battery

Pandy, I'm not trying to hijack your thread. I was looking at batteries and ran across this one that I had never seen, and wondered if you had considered it. http://batterytender.com/battery_info/

 

[jerpinoy]

Try to get your battery replace with new one.(warranty?) Some battery will fail prematurely if you hooked up a battery tender all the time.

 

[Pandy]

It is my humble opinion that with the gelcell batteries a 1.75a battery maintainer is not a good idea.
And, if you have had it for years there is a chance.it is cooking your battery.

Having said that, it still sounds like a bad connection somewhere or possibly a bad starter solenoid.

I looked again, it is a 1.25 amp. Still too much? Made by Deltran but with a BMW label. Perhaps a smidgen Teutonic?

Patrick

 

[CycleChamp]

Only one of the reasons I got rid of my Spyder!

[QUOTE=Looking at an 2011 or 2012 Burgman Executive with a hitch kit. Man am I pi**ed!

Only one of the reasons I got rid of my 2011 Spyder RT.
BTW:I traded it in on a 2013 AN650 Burgman (They have dropped the "Executive" title) and actually walked out with cash in my pocket! First time that ever happened! This will make my 3rd Burgman650 (The last one was a 2009 Model) and I was always pleased with them. And if you prefer 3 wheels, there is a Company now making a "genuine" trike, not just adding two wheels. Here's the link to them for anyone interested.
Falcon Trikes Sale<[email protected]>
Since I am getting a little longer in the teeth, I may end up doing that transformation one of these days.

 

[Bob Denman]

Wellll... They're cute; but now you're only riding a Suzuki! :joke:

 

[NancysToy]

It is my humble opinion that with the gelcell batteries a 1.75a battery maintainer is not a good idea.
And, if you have had it for years there is a chance.it is cooking your battery.

Having said that, it still sounds like a bad connection somewhere or possibly a bad starter solenoid.

The OEM battery is AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat), not gel. Gel cells are very sensitive to overcharging, but AGM batteries actually like a bit more max current than the average battery, according to what I have read. The large AGM battery of the Spyder should be very tolerant.

probably not

and while Scotty is out banging nails into boards I think he would totally disagree with me and my crackpot theory 112 about the too bigness of battery maintainers.

at least I think he has in the past.

I like a 1.0 to 1.25 amp maintner best on a large battery, and reserve the 0.75 amp units for the smaller juice boxes, especially the gel variety. The 0.75 amp units work OK, but take longer to bring up a low battery. The larger chargers...at least the good, smart maintainers, cut back very intelligently, an have never damaged one of my AGM or Gel batteries, but they can cook a lead-acid battery dry.

BTW, I have never seen a battery maintainer put out anything near its rated amperage. Maybe my batteries were just never that low. If there is any doubt in anyone's mind, I'd suggest they stick with the smaller units, but some of the more complex charging patterns and recovery features are not available in a small capaity, simple maintainer like the Battery Tender Jr. If you want desulphation features or pulse charging mode, you will have to sneak up the ladder a rung or two. (Note the convenient construction analogy. )

 

[Pandy]

New Battery

Removed battery and charged on bench. When charger removed have ~13.44VDC. Went straightaway to load test. Didn't survive one second of load teat BAM! 10.2 VDC. So, purchased new battery and installed. Click Vroom!. End of story until next time. Many thanks for all the suggestions, support, and ears.
Sincerely, Patrick