Help on my battery / alternator

[ian6760]

I need a bit of advice please; my 2000 single spark 1150 is letting me down on starting now the weather has got colder. I have checked the voltage on the battery when every thing is off and it’s at 12.02 volts. When the engine is running it drops to 11.82 volts.
Everything seems tight and clean on the battery, and I’ve popped the covers off the alternator connections and they are clean and tight.

Any ideas? Thanks Ian

 

[pablo666]

I do believe that those voltage levels are indicating the battery is fecked!

I believe a good battery should give out 14 v or so unloaded and fully charged.

Do a search It's been mentioned here before

 

[D6]

yup crap battery, should be at least 13 v after a night disconnected

 

[Steptoe]

I'm a bit confused by your description -

Are you measuring the battery voltage with the engine running. If so it should read at least around 14 volts if the alternator is charging the battery.

If the alternator isn't charging you'll only get about 15-25 miles before the bike will stop

 

[littleredrooster]

I do believe that those voltage levels are indicating the battery is fecked!

No it doesn't. It indicates that it isn't charging. The fault is more likely to be with your alternator.

Edit: Beaten again by his Highness!

 

[ian6760]

Crap £5 multy meter

Thanks for the replies. Mr Steptoe the meter readings confused me as well, so after seeing your reply I did the same test on the SWMBO’s car and it looks like the meter is fecked, because that gave the same sort of reading (Lower voltage with the engine running.)
I will get another meter sorted and post some real readings ASAP. Hope I didn’t waste anybodies time.
I must admit I had the same problem last year but I was given an old car to take me though the winter, so I locked up the bike until March and banged a new battery on it when I put it back on the road, it has been fine until now. You basically get one chance for it to fire then its fine for the rest of the day. Plus 9 times out of 10 the clock resets back to 00:00 on the morning start up.

Thanks Ian.

 

[Pukmeister]

It could be both the alternator AND the battery.

If your battery has been left undercharged for a long time (due to alternator fault?), the plates are most likely now coated with lead sulphate and unless you can 'shock charge' it (desulphate) the chances are it is fecked as well.

Shock charging (forced amps) often kills off whatevers left of a dying battery or seriously reduces its capacity anyway, consider replacing it if you find it won't hold a charge. I would recommend an upgrade to a Hawker Odyssey pure lead AGM cell, motorworks sell them and they can withstand deep charge/discharge cycles. Not the cheapest but certainly reliable.

 

[motobiker]

I would recommend an upgrade to a Hawker Odyssey pure lead AGM cell, motorworks sell them and they can withstand deep charge/discharge cycles. Not the cheapest but certainly reliable.

I wouldn't - next battery I will follow the advice of the expert and replace with a BMW Gel Battery - less money - same lifespan - slots straight in.


QUOTE=Steptoe I have an odyessy PC 680 fitted - and if i were you i'd save your money and fit a cheaper make - made no difference to my bike whatsoever - ABS light never used to flash with the old BM battery -

But it does with the odyssey , not all the time, maybe once a week - and it doesn't turn over as fast for as long, as the old battery - I'll be going back to the Gel type of battery -[/QUOTE]

 

[Pukmeister]

Pretty much any brand of compatible 12 volt battery based on your budget will do the job provided the alternator keeps it topped up properly, what improved my 1200 by increasing its storage capacity obviously didn't work so well on the 1100/1150 bikes. Horses for courses.

 

[Flipfly]

I wouldn't - next battery I will follow the advice of the expert and replace with a BMW Gel Battery - less money - same lifespan - slots straight in.


QUOTE=Steptoe I have an odyessy PC 680 fitted - and if i were you i'd save your money and fit a cheaper make - made no difference to my bike whatsoever - ABS light never used to flash with the old BM battery -

But it does with the odyssey , not all the time, maybe once a week - and it doesn't turn over as fast for as long, as the old battery - I'll be going back to the Gel type of battery -

[/quote]

Completely the opposite results to what I found with my old 1150. Changing to a Hawker, the bike turned over quicker, the HID's fired up straight away and the thing could be left for weeks with no trickle charge and she just fired up

 

[Steptoe]

Completely the opposite results to what I found with my old 1150. Changing to a Hawker, the bike turned over quicker, the HID's fired up straight away and the thing could be left for weeks with no trickle charge and she just fired up

Hawker, vastly overrated, vastly overpriced.
People are replacing a battery that is knackered, so get the exaggerated impression that the new battery is stupendous.

As is the case with most GS "extras" that have reams of self advertising
bumpf and cost more money than is necessary , a case of the emperors new clothes.