Battery died

[Breeze]

I just changed to a H4 Ultra 9003 bulb this morning. Took it out for a ride and it quit 7 miles later due to a dead battery. I jumped it and got it home but had to keep it above 2000 RPM's. I tested the battery and it is good. Could it be the be the brighter bulb? The old one looked a little dim last night.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Breeze

[John U.]

Sounds like a coincidence to me. A brighter bulb won't make that kind of radical difference in the battery/charging system. I think you should test the alternator output, if good look for a short.

[Valkpilot]

Sounds like a coincidence to me. A brighter bulb won't make that kind of radical difference in the battery/charging system. I think you should test the alternator output, if good look for a short.

+1

Once the bike is started the alternator runs the bike.  If it died after a few miles, it sounds like the alternator is not putting out enough juice.

[Breeze]

I think both of you are on to something. I charged the battery and am going to see what happens after I put it back in. I just thought there might have been a common problem in my case. Thanks to both of you for the help. I did notice that the headlight was a little dim last night, that's why I changed it. it could have been that it was loosing charge before I changed the bulb. the bike only has 25,800 miles on it.  Thanks again for the input.

[Thunderbolt]

It is to the right of the small fuses under a plastic cover.  There is a spare in the cover if it is blown.  More likely the alternator has failed.  There is a Gold Wing alternator that will work if you turn the front cover 120 degree's.  I can't seem to find the part no. right now, but maybe someone has it.  It is less expensive than the Valk alternator.

[Chrisj CMA]

If the fusable link (55A fuse) isint blown and the alternator is putting out 14V, then Id say its still a bad battery.  How old is it?  More than 4 years then its suspect.

[Breeze]

Thanks to both of you for the response. I have to do a little banking , then I'll look at the fuse. I charged the battery last nite and took it for a short ride, and I will see if the battery held the charge. I would have to bother the guy I bought the bike from to see how old the battery is. All I can tell you about the battery is : it's a Diehard. After I tested it I took it to Advanced and they said it tested good too. I be back on in a few hours. Thanks again for your help.

[Breeze]

After I got back, I check and cleaned all the electrical connections from the battery to the 55 amp fuse. Tested the alternator, and it's putting out 13.5 amps at idle and at 2500 rpm just a tad higher(almost 14 amps) All fuses are good. It seems to be good. My battery may have been a little low, and I was in stop and go traffic. I'm going to ride today as soon as the roads dry out, and will get back with a report. I can't thank you guy's enough for the support. This is a good 4m and has a lot of good people who can "feel your pain".

[R J]

Here is a very helpful link you might want to save for future reference.

http://www.jkozloski.com/generic_parts.htm

[Breeze]

That is  valuable link. Thanks for the heads up RJ.

[Breeze]

Charged and tested the battery , and it's holding a charge and a load when load tested. Battery is good. Does any one know where to look next. It seems to be something weak in the charging system.  With only 25800 miles on it I find it hard to believe it's an  alternator.  I don't have a service manual yet. Any way to test just the alternator ?  Any help would be appreciated greatly.   Thanks

[Chrisj CMA]

Charged and tested the battery , and it's holding a charge and a load when load tested. Battery is good. Does any one know where to look next. It seems to be something weak in the charging system.  With only 25800 miles on it I find it hard to believe it's an  alternator.  I don't have a service manual yet. Any way to test just the alternator ?  Any help would be appreciated greatly.   Thanks

might get a volt meter.  That way you can keep an eye on the output over time.  If the Voltage regulator is intermittent bad it could cut out the charging when it shouldnt......just thinking out loud. 

Heres my version of a volt meter (from a boating catalog)

[Breeze]

Thanks for the input. I am getting a volt meter asap. I had to buy an alternator. You probably already know about this guy but what a find.          http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/resp3jbj/   $175 plus shipping. If you have never been on his site, it would be worth hearing what he says about 1996 and later alternators from Honda. He has rebuilt over 800 GL 1500's alone.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Breeze, I've noticed on my I/S that sometimes after a lot (5 or6 times) of starting and stopping running errands and only riding a miles or to between the next stop my battery will seem a little low. These bikes need riding between starts to recover the  battery. I've been told it takes 20 minutes of riding to charge the battery after one start. I don't know how true that is but it makes since to me.

[Breeze]

That's what kind of ride it was. The only thing is, is that the night before I noticed that my head light wasn't as bright. so I figured I'd change it to a silverlight ultra. Once I went through everything It didn't charge the battery above 12.5v at start up or revved at 2500. I took it for a longer ride at 60 mph for 15 min and it didn't charge it back to where it was, so I think for sure that it is the alternator. I already ordered one and took my old one out. Thanks for the reply. I am learning a lot from people like you, who have owned these bikes for a while.

[gordonv]

I don't have a service manual yet.    Thanks

Check out Valkyrie Norway, for the pdf of the manual.
http://valkyrienorway.com/download.html

I always like a paper copy too. I posted this guy in another forum (easier for me to find the link there), where I bought a new copy of the service manual.
http://hondashadowacetourer.yuku.com/topic/12127/Service-Manual

(if it doesn't work, let me know, so I can delete the posting)

[Breeze]

Thanks, that will be very helpful. A lot cheaper than I've seen them for.