I replaced my battery about a month ago with a big crank and did not hook up to battery tender, didn't think I needed to. Went out yesturday to fire up bike and nothing. 6 volts on voltmeter. Read a post about checking the battery draw with test light, but that was a sportser, can I use the same technique on my bike.
Thanks for any help with this

 

Can't comment on checking the battery with a test light. Why don't you just hook it up to a tender for a day & then see if it works.

 

I know mine won't last 2 weeks without being charged or ridden. I think it's the security system that draws power constantly. Put it on the tender for a day and it will probably be fine.

 

The security system and radio clock and presets are two draws on the battery that are not turned off with the key. If you've added other items like an amplifier, or gps you have to make sure the power to them is off when parked. A multimeter is a more precise tool for locating voltage draw, then just a test light tho.,,,

 

pull the battery.

charge it with a charger


load test it


if it passes then we look for a load which is "on" when the bike is off.

the sec & radio draw almost nothing and the bike should be good for months.

although a trickle charger is better.

you may have a duff battery, you may have an electrical problem.

you may have a dirty battery- clean the casing electrons can flow between the _ and + poles through damp dirt on the case

anything contacting the battery poles? I had a pal years ago and his "custom" seat pan could deform and make contact with the battery poles


once the battery is known good.

we need t check the voltage regulator...power should NOT drain back through the VR from the battery- we chack that with a multimeter in ammeter mode to see if a diode has failed in the voltage regulator ( a diode is a "one-way" electron flow device...electroc=ns can only flow in one direction...that keeps the battery from discharging, it is possible for a diode to fail in the VR and the battery to drain

an ammeter is put between the battery and the bike....all the fuses are pulled.

there should be 0 amp current draw.

put in the maxi fuse then keep adding fuses until you see the ammeter reading rise...that'll be a circuit which is drawing power.

track each circuit and how much power is drawn when the bike is off and we can see if there is a fault.

electricity is as simple and logical as plumbing, but you have to be methodical.
we are looking for a "dripping tap"

mike

 

Ok, what kind of amps should I see from the voltage regulator.

 

You should see ZERO milliamps from battery + back to regulator when the bike is off- which can be checked with most multi meters.

mike

 

Ok, thanks will check tomorrow