bad battery?

[kevxs]

hi guys i was having trouble starting my bike it would barley crank over so i push started it to get home from work. i charged the battery up, it was showing 12.5 volts, i put it on the bike, turn on the igniton and the voltage drops to 8 volts (my headlight turns on with the ignition, no rlu) then i go to crank it over and all i get is a clicking sound and the voltage drops to 3 or 4. im thinking my battery is shot but want to confirm before i order a new one.

thanks!

[DGXSER]

I would say you are correct. Go to the local Walmart or similar and you can get one for about $50.

[kevxs]

just checked walmart, any idea which one I need?

http://www.walmart.ca/canada-estore/...=Power+Sports#

[DGXSER]

The only way I know is to lok for the one that is rated for 12V, matches the amp rating of the one I pulled out, and matches the post layout for our bikes. I am sure one of the more electrically inclined will have a much better selection process for you.

[Rooster]

I know this is going to sound bad but use the little book with the battery display it really does actually cover the XS back to 1978. And when it says in the instructions to charge it REAALLY slow for up to 16 hours they really mean it. the reason why some of the guys i've met with problems after only having a new battery for a few months is some guy "at the store" put it on a quick charger and roasted it first time out of the box. the motor cycle battery is only able to handle the inrush current similar to what the alternator put out but if you overheat it on initial charge it'll never perform to optimum and likely it'll fail right away.

[kevxs]

yeah i have a 2 amp charger but the guy at the motorcycle store i just called said that 2amps is probably even a bit much. hes recommending that i buy a battery tender which they have on sale for $35 and keep in on all winter. any thoughts? if it makes my battery last a few more years it seems worth the investment

[GLoweVA]

This is the one I've been looking at. I haven't bought it yet because my SG isn't ready just yet.
EverStart ES50N18LA3 (~$50 at walmart)

[CaptonZap]

yeah i have a 2 amp charger but the guy at the motorcycle store i just called said that 2amps is probably even a bit much. hes recommending that i buy a battery tender which they have on sale for $35 and keep in on all winter. any thoughts? if it makes my battery last a few more years it seems worth the investment

If you have a Harbor Freight near you, go there and get their battery maintainer, on sale now,

http://http://www.harborfreight.com/...ger-42292.html

Buy two, they are cheap, and put out less than an amp.
DO NOT try to charge a battery that is low, they will burn out trying to charge it. If the voltage is 12.5, which a new dry charged battery should be, they will do the rest. CZ

[DGXSER]

Those little tenders are nice to have aroudn and good for the battery over the cold winter.

[BA80]

Also, you need to check the electolite level often. I put a new one in this spring and I checked it about 3 weeks ago and it was VERY low.

That'll kill a battery.

When you need to correct the level DON'T use acid, refill with distilled water. $.88 a gallon at wally world.

[kevxs]

This is the one I've been looking at. I haven't bought it yet because my SG isn't ready just yet.
EverStart ES50N18LA3 (~$50 at walmart)

can't find this one on the website and theres no harbour freight up here. a $50 battery in the states is probably $80 here, the joys of being in the small canadian market.

i already ordered one for $80 from the local shop, i'll be charged and ready for pickup tomorrow.

thanks as always guys!

[crazy steve]

Don't depend on a shop to properly activate your battery, they very rarely do. Wherever you get a battery, use your 2 amp charger and charge the battery for at least 12 hours before putting it into use.

[trdriver71]

the paid 50 for my battery. you can also get a battery maintainer at canadian tire they come on sale often for 20- 25 bucks you could also check princess auto as well.

[Rooster]

Crazy steve is right the local shops that sell bikes are some of the worst for screwing up a new battery cause they have 18 year olds that dad never taught how to do anything being sent to do the job with half assed training by a "tech" who barely knows more but is damn sure your the idiot if you question they're methods. Local shop in my area sells a battery activated by a quick charger to some dude with a VTX and sends him off to be a happy rider, I meet happy rider on the side of the road with what seems like the typical XS bad voltage regulator symptoms. I diagnose it to the battery as I have all my tools in my work truck. I take "happy rider" to the local shop where the battery was bought and took battery with us leaving the VTX to fend for itself and were promptly told that we were full of crap and that the new battery wasn't the problem only "happy dude" for working on his own bike. I asked what the charging practice was at the shop then asked for a new battery in a box, pulled out the instructions and explained to the "tech" and his boss how the manufacturer says to do it for warranty purposes and we end up leaving the shop with a new uncharged battery that "happy dude" was going to put on his "battery tender" to charge and by the time we were back to the VTX his two buddies had his bike loaded on a trailer and they left a little happier knowing some one gave a rip to help out. "happy dude" texted me the other day to say thanks again and the bike has been trouble free for over two months.