Battery again

[Big-G]

Guy's any help on this please. I'm sorry for duplicating this in other forums but I'm struggling to get an answer. I have a HP2 sport. I upgraded the battery only in April after the old one died in the winter even though on a charger.
I was only out on it 2 weeks ago all being fine but yesterday click, click etc. What is more interesting the time clock had 0.00. Leaving the charger on for 24hrs the battery was showing 12.9v but still didn't start the bike and dropped straight to 11.7v but again the clock had 0.00 even though it had been connected to the charger. I can only assume it zero'd when I diconected the charger lead. The actual chargers (I've tried 2) show the battery as stong in as little as 5 minutes and maintain 12.5v minimum.
In contrast the GS starts 12 months pa without a charger.
Please can any of you technical guys help. Many thanks
Garry

 

[fizzer]

have you tried a jump start of the car.if it starts with a jump then the battery is goosed,if it still dosnt start then probs a starter motor.
even new batterys go wrong from time to time.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Sounds like a duff battery. It'll be under warranty if it's under 12 months old. What make is it?

 

[richtel]

Make double sure the battery terminals and leads are making good contact- also the starter terminals.

 

[morty]

charge it & discharge test the battery,only way to be sure battery is fecked

 

[morty]

If you can't discharge test your battery,switch on main beam & try to crank it over,if lights go out your batts flat or fecked.if they just dip ever so slightly it ain't your batt.
Not an exact science but a good indicator.no light pun intended.
then it's its a case of getting out the fluke.

 

[Big-G]

Thanks for all the information. I have the battery on charge all week while I'm away even though it says fully charged. I'll get down to all the testing Saturday (if it ever stops raining)
What I have noticed is when it clicks as dead it is not the dead battery light on but the engine sign. Also volts drop as soon as the key is turned on.
I can't go by the light as it knocks this off to start anyway.
I'll be back soon.
G

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Thanks for all the information. I have the battery on charge all week while I'm away even though it says fully charged. I'll get down to all the testing Saturday (if it ever stops raining)
What I have noticed is when it clicks as dead it is not the dead battery light on but the engine sign. Also volts drop as soon as the key is turned on.
I can't go by the light as it knocks this off to start anyway.
I'll be back soon.
G

Main beam works without the engine running. Try that one.

 

[Big-G]

Right guy's, I've now had a chance to test all your advice.
The bike will not start after the battery has been bench charged all week and is showing over 12.5V all the time.
The bike will start straight away when jumped from the car, but when the engine is running the donar batterycharge is over 14v.
Yes the main beam goes out when trying to start the bike.
I've also recharged the battery which shows green/maintain after only a couple of minutes and tried on a standard GS 1200 and still no start but I'm wondering if it is because the battery is too weak just to crank.
I'm using a YUASA YTZ14S 11.8Ah(20HR) / 230 CCA which replaced a ETZ12SB only in March. If I get this replaced under warranty will the same battery be strong enough for the bike.
Thanks
G

 

[drinkingparrot]

A battery straight of the charger should show over 13.5 v, and not drop much under 12.8v if it's healthy when left to stand a while. I think one of the cells is down on yur battery, especially if it's struggling to turn your bike over.

 

[morty]

would be very surprised if it was not your battery,as mentioned 1 or more cells may have gone.very common for a knackered battery to show good volts & thats what causes the confusion,then you apply some sort of load,ie lights,starting your engine etc.& nothing happens,thats why you have to discharge test them.fit an odyssey if you've got the dough.never had a bad one yet.
Standard Gs battery is 13.0ah & their quite hard on the battery.

 

[Big-G]

Thanks again all. I'm returning the battery and it is to be exchanged FOC but I have also asked the dealer if there is an upgrade at extra cost. I'm not sure what they might suggest.
What I find odd is that the GS needs 14Ah but they only fit 12Ah to the HP, which I assume is very similar on cranking requirements.
My buddy has just ordered a Lithium to fit his Tuono as that struggles with a YTX12SB but at £400+ I think I'll give that one a miss.
I'll let you know the outcome and thanks again.
G

 

[morty]

Just thought i would mention this.if you connect the terminals the wrong way around & leave it on charge it will feck the battery.You will have good volts but put load on and you'll get nothing.Older chargers will charge regardless of polarity, where as new ones will recognize this & not charge & probably indicate x connections via led's.
And yes it's easily done,dark garage,not paying attention & you won't even realize you've done it until its too late.
Oh & just so you know, they can test the battery to confirm mr customer has fecked up.

 

[Big-G]

To B or not to BS

Hi Guy's, sorry for the delay but finally fitted my dealer replaced battery today.
Guess what, started 1st time (3 engine cranks)
Ran it out for 70 miles, stopped for coffee and it started again 30mins later.
It is showing 26v on the meter so will keep monitoring but one thing I noticed. This is an S battery as opposed to a BS, does anyone know the difference.
Anyway, I now won't be using the bike for two weeks. Do I leave on the Oxford charger or not and see what happens when it next gets turned on.
Cheers
G

 

[morty]

battery will be fine,2 weeks is nothing but i usually just plug mine in & let it do its thing.

 

[Big-G]

Hi Guy's, sorry for the delay but finally fitted my dealer replaced battery today.
Guess what, started 1st time (3 engine cranks)
Ran it out for 70 miles, stopped for coffee and it started again 30mins later.
It is showing 26v on the meter so will keep monitoring but one thing I noticed. This is an S battery as opposed to a BS, does anyone know the difference.
Anyway, I now won't be using the bike for two weeks. Do I leave on the Oxford charger or not and see what happens when it next gets turned on.
Cheers
G

Sorry, should read 2.6 v not 26v and now after riding this has gone up to 2.8v.
As for 2 weeks being ok, that was the time from running to flat with my last battery. Lets see what happens and if I do have some sort of drain.
Thanks
G