Electrical / starter diagnosis assistance please

[Zebedee]

Right folks, I'm having a barrel of laughs here

I am what seems like decades off the beaten track in Namibia with a poorly Airhead (80 GS).

The bike has just come back after having the diode board replaced, and now the bugger won't start.

When I finally got the bike back the battery was completely flat, so I plugged the charger (BMW) in and the led's progressively ticked up to full ... woo hoo

So I prodded the starter but all I get is the solenoid clicking rapidly and nothing else.

After a 2 second burst, plugging the charger back in the led's are reading empty.

So, based on that info, and taking things logically what is the considered opinion?

My guess is that the battery is stuffed, but I've got no way of testing it, other than the indication from the charger.

So, on the assumption that it is the battery, what's a sensible minimum capacity for a temporary replacement battery (minimum overnight temeratures are close to 20°C)?

I don't need a lecture about "factory knows best", or that Oddesy 680's are the mutt's nuts. I've already said I'm off the beatten track here, and I'm desperate to get some use out of the bike before I leave the country at the end of next month, so I want something for a short term fix.

On the up side, I can get a 14Ah battery off the shelf from the local Yamaha dirtbike dealer, and if that's got the grunt to turn over a high compression thumper it should have the power to spin a low compression airhead, right?

Other options are levely to take a week to get here ...

Come on guys ... give me something to smile about

 

[bumpmuncher]

have you checked the electrolyte levels in your present battery. have you tried a jump start (fron any 12v vehicle) will confirm if the starter is working IIRC the odesey 680 is a 16ah battery. i would have thought the 14ah battery will work on a warm bike but may struggle from cold (ok if you can get a jumpstart when cold) how about 2 in parallel =28ah more than enough current. or just kick start or bumpstart it

that is of course as long as they havent cocked up the fitting of the diode board and thats what is causing the flat battery.


there should be someone along soon with another idea

 

[Rob Farmer]

Jump start from another vehicle sounds like the best option. Once it's running you can test the charging. if it comes to it and 14AH batteries are available you may be able to buy two of them and wire them in parallel to get you away (assuming two will fit in the battery tray)

OOps! just spotted bumpmuncher parallel suggestion. Did that just appear??

 

[Zebedee]

Cheers guys …

Yup, I checked the electrolyte levels in the battery and they are fine, however I welcome the suggestion to check it because I’m getting so hacked off with the whole “African Experience” that my frustrations are starting to get the better of my limited capabilities for diagnosis.

When the “auto-electricians” returned the bike (after 4 weeks), the battery was so flat that the solenoid wouldn’t even click, however Rosie bump started beautifully and the charge light went off as soon as the engine started running. On that basis I am assuming that the “auto-electricians” installed the diode board correctly, but we all know about assumptions, right.

As for why the battery is flat, I’m assuming that it’s just tired and “old” like the bike’s owner, though I’m not discounting the possibility that there is a short somewhere, probably created when a couple of accessories have been wired into the system. However, that’s a problem for another day.

Parallel batteries I’m liking the idea of, especially as I’m going to have to do some “giggery-pokkery” to sort out the terminals … and if 2 x 14 Ah are going to too big then there there’s always the option to step down to 2 x 10 etc …

As I say, thanks for the suggestions. I’m feeling like we’re making progress …



John

 

[SJRoome]

Just fit the Yamaha battery

Hi

The AH rating of the battery is not critical. The key parameter for starting performance is the maximum output current. You need a battery with a very high output current rating like the Odessey so that the engine is turned over fast enough to start when its 10 degrees below zero and the oil is like treacle. Not likely to be a problem in africa.

If two seconds of turning over the starter drained the old battery it is kaput. If the auto electricians had put anything on the bike that could drain a healthy battery in two seconds you would see smoke and probably flames.

Just put one Yamaha battery in, stop worrying about it and have some fun on the bike.


Steve

 

[Zebedee]

Thanks again guys,

As you say Steve, little chance of sub zero temperatures here (I wouldn't be here if there was ).

My main concern is that I was going to do something stoopid out of desperation

The Yam battery will be fitted tomorrow ...

 

[JJH]

I agree with SJRoome about fitting the yamaha battery but just try jump starting the bike first just to rule out the starter. JJH

 

[Zebedee]

Well gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to report that the single Yam 14 Ah battery spins the motor like a good 'un

I'm not sure I would recommend the substitution for winter use in the UK, but right here, right now it's just what the doctor ordered

Once again, thanks for the assistance



John

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

You are welcome. Have fun.

Steve