Think I screwed up!!

[Spyderjockey]

I noticed this afternoon that my running lights were on. Went over to the bike and sure enough the key was on, but I don't remember turning the key on. I did push the bike out of the garage because I was sharpening my mower deck blades and didn't want to get the dust and grime all over the Spyder. I think I may have turned the key on to check the time and never turned it off........never did anything like that before. Anyway I've had the trickle charger on the battery, but it doesn't seem to be charging. The battery is the original battery and I've had the Spyder since April of 2008. The battery has never given an iota of trouble, but draining it the way I did may have just been too much for it.:dontknow:

 

[spydaman60]

five years is a good life for a battery anyway you look at it. if it isn't charging you can bet it's time for a new one!

 

[SpyderAnn01]

On the bright side it happened in your driveway and not on a trip!

 

[NancysToy]

The battery doesn't owe you a thing, so it may be wise to replace it. Before you do, however, you might take a look at the battery connections inside the body for tightness and cleanliness. Please also be aware that if you ran the battery down too far, most smart charger/maintainers won't charge it. there has to be sufficient residual voltage. Bring the voltage back up with a small standard charger (2 amps or less), or try to jump start the Spyder to get the battery back up with the magneto.

 

[Chupaca]

Yeah..!!

you did, but just a little. If you can get the battery out take it to a shop to charge and test. If it's borderline get a new one and thank the old one for it's service..!! :thumbup:

 

[rick_w]

Charger?

A lot of trickle chargers will not charge if your battery voltage is below a certain level.
You may want to put a regular charger on it and go from there. If you were not having any problems it may be ok for a while longer. Trickle chargers for the most part are designed as maintainers.
I forget to put the trickle charger on our Vette once in a while, if it has not been driven for several weeks and the voltage goes way down (5 Volts) the Battery Tender will not bring it up.
Rick

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

Batteries are cheap compared to a flatbed tow home. Get a new one and be on the road for the next five years! You must be doing something right in spite of this little hiccup.:bowdown:

 

[wyliec]

Jim,

I took my original battery out in March 2011; purchased spyder in Jan. 2009. There was around 12,000 miles on removal and nothing was wrong with it. It's been sitting on a shelf in my storage room. If you think it's still good and can be charged, you can have it. I'd bring it to you; but, my spyder will be in the shop for a few days.

I also have soft saddlebags, if you know anyone that wants them, free.

Another item I have that I've never used is a 25' cord for a battery tender. Free to you.

Give me a few more minutes and I might come up with something else.

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

Since when would a little :bdh: stop a thread ?

 

[Spyderjockey]

This is :bdh:

The term trickle charger and battery maintainer are used more or less interchangeably.

But there is a difference between a trickle charger and a battery maintainer.
Trickle chargers are just battery chargers that supply a small current.
Battery maintainers, for lack of a better term, exercise the battery.

Sorry Roger, I did hook the battery to my "battery maintainer" and not a "trickle charger"pps: The good news is that over night the baattery seems to have come up to a full charge. Will have to see if the battery will still be reliable or if it is time indeed for a new battery. Like Spydaman60 said 5 years is a good run for a battery.

 

[Bob Denman]

Jim,
MIght this be the time to start looking to retire "Old Reliable", and get that next 80,000-plus mile Spyder? :thumbup:

 

[Spyderjockey]

Ron you are a very generous person

Jim,

I took my original battery out in March 2011; purchased spyder in Jan. 2009. There was around 12,000 miles on removal and nothing was wrong with it. It's been sitting on a shelf in my storage room. If you think it's still good and can be charged, you can have it. I'd bring it to you; but, my spyder will be in the shop for a few days.

I also have soft saddlebags, if you know anyone that wants them, free.

Another item I have that I've never used is a 25' cord for a battery tender. Free to you.

Give me a few more minutes and I might come up with something else.

Thank you Ron for your very generous offer. I think for now the battery is all right. I have the Corbin bags......just wondering though if the soft bags would work on a 2 wheeler or if they are Spyder specific. I know some one that might be interested that has a 2 wheeler. Just wondering about your Spyder......hope nothing serious.

Thanks again Ron, like I said you are a very generous and nice person!!:thumbup:

 

[wyliec]

Thank you Ron for your very generous offer. I think for now the battery is all right. I have the Corbin bags......just wondering though if the soft bags would work on a 2 wheeler or if they are Spyder specific. I know some one that might be interested that has a 2 wheeler. Just wondering about your Spyder......hope nothing serious.

Thanks again Ron, like I said you are a very generous and nice person!!:thumbup:

The bags aren't spyder specific and will work on a 2 wheeler. I had extensions put on the straps; but, I'm sure those can be removed. Give them to whomever you want.

My spyder has a slight shifting problem; it's in my other thread. They're busy at Ingles; so, it will set for a few days. I could actually have it towed under the BEST or AAA. But, it's half the fun not knowing if the spyder will get worse and leave me stranded along the side of the road.

 

[WackyDan]

Still on my original 2008 battery. Always on the trickle charger. It is on the list to replace proactively for the last year or so, but I just haven't had the hard luggage racks off yet.

 

[fjcady]

battery

I did the same thing i removed it and put on a real charger and it came back
:yes::yes::yes::yes:

 

[Spyderjockey]

Just wanted to say that my battery seems to have had no ill effects from running it way down. I have been out on it a couple of times today for a total of about 120 miles and have started it many times today and the Spyder starts right up and and it cranks over really fast like it always has. Thanks for all the replies to my post.....you guys are great!!

 

[Bob Denman]

:2thumbs: Glad to hear that your battery is a real fighter!! :2thumbs:

 

[rnet]

Sorry Roger, I did hook the battery to my "battery maintainer" and not a "trickle charger"pps: The good news is that over night the baattery seems to have come up to a full charge. Will have to see if the battery will still be reliable or if it is time indeed for a new battery. Like Spydaman60 said 5 years is a good run for a battery.

Jim, I did the same thing this spring, only I was messing with the display for about 12 minutes at a gas station and when I went to start, no go. It happened when I was on the way to Lake George this spring to meet up with Randy and Robert to plan spyderquest. Anyway it did come back to life, but I have already bought a new one and it will be installed before my 2009 spyder goes on the cruise ship.