Battery Failed

[RP#62]

Well, went to leave work the other day and the bike wouldn't start.  No click, no lights, no nuthin.  Key on, my digital meter was showing 12.5 volts.  When starter button depressed, voltage dropped below 5 volts.  Got a jump and drove home.  I noticed that the voltage at highway speed was 13.4 volts rather than the 14.2 it normally shows.  Evidently the dead battery presents a pretty good load on the alternator.

Its amazing how fast modern batteries go from good to bad with little or no intermediate stage.  I had noticed that morning leaving for work, it started right up as normal, and in my normal glance at the gages, system voltage was the normal 14 or so volts on the way in.  Whatever failed did so while the bike was baking out in the Arizona sun while I was in the office.  I guess I can't complain, this battery was 7 years and 2 months old.  The last three summers were in the 100+ heat of the desert. 

I don't know if its coincidence or not, but the only thing I had noticed was different was that it didn't want to start immediately on hot starts, i.e. starting when the motor is already up to operating temps, like when you stop for gas on a trip. It started fine cold.  When we did the Kitt Peak ride a month or so ago, I had difficultly getting it to start after filling up.  It would crank over great, but not fire.  I found then that if I gave it no throttle, and let it crank a second or so, then released the start button, it would start right up.  All my rides since then have been to an from work, i.e. cold starts, and like I said, it started right up each time up until Friday.

-RP

[MP]

"then released the start button" and it would start.

That is a key indicator that the battery or something is weak in the system.  You get a little surge in power just as you remove the load.  May be enough to start it.

MP

[Thunderbolt]

doesn't seem like it has been that long since y'all moved West.  I had to get a new battery for my 97 green and cream a few years ago, Iris wouldn't push start me anymore. 

[RP#62]

"then released the start button" and it would start.

That is a key indicator that the battery or something is weak in the system.  You get a little surge in power just as you remove the load.  May be enough to start it.

MP

What was odd was that it was only like this on hot starts.  On cold starts, it started normal.
-RP

[Brad]

I have a friend here in northern Nevada who is a route driver for Interstate battery.  When we have the first week of 100 degree plus temps he is a happy man.  He sells every battery that is on his truck when we get the first real hot spell.  Interesting enough the same things happens during the first real cold of the winter.  Get a few days in a row where it doesn't get above freezing and he sells out again.

[Robert]

Brad has the right idea, the heat really cooks the battery even if the battery has water. Sometimes I think the heat is worse than the cold. They can just drop dead or take a charge enough to get you going then die next time wont hold a full charge or wont hold a full charge under load. So far this week as the temp is climbing three batteries went dead. One was dead from the alternator being bad charged it and it only came up to 10.5 volts.

[franco6]

RP#62. batteries come and go.  since you ride in arizona how s the heat afecting the valk ? do you have a temp gauge? here in TX they are running hot ! looking for ways to keep cool. and yes the green and cream is the coolest!

[RP#62]

RP#62. batteries come and go.  since you ride in arizona how s the heat afecting the valk ? do you have a temp gauge? here in TX they are running hot ! looking for ways to keep cool. and yes the green and cream is the coolest!

I think the heat has more of an affect on the rider than the Valk.  I've got oil temp and coolant temp gages.  Oil temp at highway speeds and ambient temps in the 100s runs around 210-220°.  Coolant temp runs around 160-180.  I've found that when ambient temps go above 108°, you're cooler when you're not moving than you are with the wind in your face. 
-RP