HELP! Bike dead after battery replacement

[Ragnar]

Trying to help out a friend who's stuck...

Bike is a F650 GS (not Dakar) '06 reg.

She rode it to a petrol station the other morning, filled up with fuel and then the bike wouldn't start - it cranked the starter slowly a few times when she hit the button, but I think the battery was basically dead - combination of short journeys and the cold probably.

She pushed the bike to work and left it there.. Now a 'mate' turned up with a new battery and swapped it out. They switched the bike on and it all looked good - the instrument panel lit up etc. However, when they hit the start button the bike cranked the starter but it suddenly went completely dead - no lights on the dash anymore and it will no longer try to start at all.

Sounds to me like they they blew a main fuse, but I can't find any reference to where that might be. They've checked the fuse box under the seat (has 8 fuses) but they all look good.

Anything else I can tell them to check?

Thanks,
David.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Check the connections to the battery. Check the earth/ground connection to the frame. Check that the substitute battery is ok...

 

[gwigglesworth]

Is the battery getting charged? i.e. has the Alternator stopped working or over generating (although I would expect a warning light)

 

[Ragnar]

Check the connections to the battery. Check the earth/ground connection to the frame. Check that the substitute battery is ok...

Good ideas - Will check those when I get there tomorrow

 

[Ragnar]

Is the battery getting charged? i.e. has the Alternator stopped working or over generating (although I would expect a warning light)

I think it's fine, but she uses it mostly just to go to work and back - must be all of a mile and a quarter. Suspect she sticks the heated grips on too - plus this sudden cold weather probably killed it. It started a bit sluggishly when she rode it to the garage apparently.

I'm more worried about what's been done to it by the mate at this point because now it's totally dead

 

[motoscot]

dead battery

if the battery goes flat that fast its either a charging fault
or this model suffers from starter motor / starter clutch problems
either of these problems can flatten a battery very quickly

hope this helps

Steve

 

[Ragnar]

if the battery goes flat that fast its either a charging fault
or this model suffers from starter motor / starter clutch problems
either of these problems can flatten a battery very quickly

hope this helps

Steve

Cheers Steve. I can easily test for a charging fault once it's up & running. How do I test or check for starter motor issues??

 

[motoscot]

dead battery

If the starter clutch is the problem = you will hear it when you press the start button , it will turn starter sometimes without turning engine , then with a few bangs (mechanical noise from the R/H side of the engine ) it will start to turn engine intermittantly
it is very obvious when this is the problem
for the starter motor = you need to put a meter across the battery and check for current drain when cranking
its more common for the starter clutch to cause the problem though
and this puts a big strain on even a fully charged battery

if you get stuck you can phone for a chat if you like

Steve www.motoscot.co.uk

 

[Ragnar]

Ah, I understand. Sounds easy to check for both.

Thanks!
David.