Battery Issue ?

[Jerry]

TopCat:

Perhaps 'internal reisistance' is the wrong term. I took my old cables apart and found corrosion between the wires and the lugs as well as between the wires. Problem is that heat and moisture in the cable ends will give rise to corrosion over time. Heat is from the current draw when starting the engine. This affects both ends of the cable, doubling the problem.

There are ways of making battery cables that include soldering the ends once they are crimped or aplying some type of wterproof coating over the crimped ends. My cables were not of this construction. Once I replaced the old cables I found I had easier starting, faster cranking speeds, faster turn signals at idle, and generally better over-all electrical system performance.

I did not have a good meter at the time, so did not run any resistance checks against the old and new units, but I do believe that many hard-starting, charging, and turn signal problems may be related to old battery cables. Replacing them should be a standard practice on these bikes. Its $20.00 or so well spent.

[TopCatGr58]

TopCat:

Perhaps 'internal reisistance' is the wrong term. I took my old cables apart and found corrosion between the wires and the lugs as well as between the wires. Problem is that heat and moisture in the cable ends will give rise to corrosion over time. Heat is from the current draw when starting the engine. This affects both ends of the cable, doubling the problem.

There are ways of making battery cables that include soldering the ends once they are crimped or aplying some type of wterproof coating over the crimped ends.

Hey Jerry,

I was merely having FUN with the thread, after reading the Crimping vs. soldering thread, and was also thinking about what might be happening to these cables and their connectors...similar to the worries that LarryM was complaining about with his MARINE application, and general concerns about corrosion getting into our connections!

But it's a good thing that you have brought this hidden problem to our attention. I know I haven't replaced my OEM battery cables. I live here in Tidewater, VA area, near the eastern seaboard, not right on the ocean, but still plenty of humidity and sea air in the atmosphere. SO...this is good info and another thing to add to our collective troubleshooting processes for folks with Electrical Gremlins!!
T.C.

[Larrym]

The Tidewater Wild Life

I live here in Tidewater, VA area, near the eastern seaboard, not right on the ocean, but still plenty of humidity and sea air in the atmosphere.

Where TC dwells amongst a few other friends who came out of the sea:

......

Somehow I don't think saltwater corrosion is that high on the "Threat" list.