is this a battery or what-new development

[doubleminded]

I have a 98 tourer,26,000 miles.In july i replaced the battery.Cranks over great,rodes great.Rode it yesterday.Go out this morning and it cranked slw,then clicl clicl click.waited a few minutes,cranked a little then click click click like a dead battery.Put it on my charger,and its charging.It shouldnt need charging.I cant find my manual anywhere.Im thinking its a bad new battery.Input appreciated.


I have had lots of input on this bike.I am going to have to jump it off again and take it to the dealer tomorrow.probably the alternator,battery wont hold charge.I am not one to deal with this kind of undependability.I owe 4900 on it.its for sale.

[franco6]

did you fully charge the new battery, low volts overnight? before installing?    .02

[doubleminded]

did you fully charge the new battery, low volts overnight? before installing?    .02

Yes,and it has been working fine for a month.I just put the battery back in,only took an hour for the charger to switch from charging to storage.The bike turned over real fast then strted cranking real slow again and then stopped,click click click.

[SideCar]

I know this is something you have likely done, but just in case, check the cables to make sure juice is getting through. Then, once you have it running, use a voltmeter to see what kind of charging you're getting to the battery.  That should help you rule out the charging system.  If it is ok and the battery takes a charge, check to see if you have some drain when it is turned off.

[doubleminded]

I am going to jump it off in morning,take it to the dealer.i am thinking alternator.dont know if my 1 yr warranty will cover tht.this is second time the bike has left me stranded.last time i replaced the battery.i cant have an unreliable bike.i will trade it off if need be.

[doubleminded]

been there ...    
bad connections ... no battery charge       
remove battery cable ends one at a time ...
both ends ... don't forget ground cable at the valkyrie      
clean with a soft wire brush and or emory cloth ...
every thing under the side cover ....
fuses ... relays ... all conections you can get to ...      
everything ... anything 'lectric ... add a little dielectric grease at reassemble
every time you change a bulb ... add the white grease
on everything... worked for the big yellow
no such trouble since                 $0.02
easy stuff first ... always


Thanks brother.good advice.

[doubleminded]

Since i cant do anything until tomorrow i did what i could to determine the problem.I took the right side frame cover off.no loose wires or dirty connections.in my manual it looks like the alternator can be removed by removing 2 bolts,and a white 2 pin connector.then you can inspect the brushes.you can check voltage of the stator but there are no tests for the regulator rectifier.if nothing can be found wrong with any of the alternator tests,you assume its the regulator.youhave to unsolder it from the stator.if your iron is too hot you can damage a good regulator,important when installin a new one.I cant solder,unsolder,or volt test anything.Thats beyond my ability.But it does look like you dont have to remove the engine to check the alternator,starter,or replace the alternator and or stator and or regulator. Correct?  I wonder how long it would take a honda tech to do these checks and how long it would take to get replacement parts and how much of the bill will my 1 year warranty cover.

[T.P.]

I bought a new Yuasa glass mat battery from Interstate Batteries this last March,  I didn't fill and charge it until the middle of April,  I had to take it back two days before leaving for Inzane in July, they tested it with a load on it and it failed with a dead cell.  the new ones can go bad.  T.P.

[doubleminded]

I bought a new Yuasa glass mat battery from Interstate Batteries the last March,  I didn't fill and charge it until the middle of April,  I had to take it back two days before leaving for Inzane in July, they tested it with a load on it and it failed with a dead cell.  the new ones can go bad.  T.P.

Im thinking you might be right.I for one want to try simple stuff first.

[RainMaker]

did you fully charge the new battery, low volts overnight? before installing?    .02

Yes,and it has been working fine for a month.I just put the battery back in,only took an hour for the charger to switch from charging to storage.The bike turned over real fast then strted cranking real slow again and then stopped,click click click.

The fact that it spun fast, then slow, then nothing would indicate that your connections must have been good for the initial fast spin.  Since your bike didn't run, the alternator would not be in question.  It really sounds like you got a dud battery.  Not sure where you got it, but it it came from Wally World, they aren't good quality.  Any Wally World motorcycle battery I've bought would last one year.  That is, the good ones.  The Yuasa batteries, though, are great.  I'm on my second one - first one went 9 years and I pulled it just because it was old.  It worked on my test bed for another year and finally lost a cell.

If you know of anyone with a Valk who is willing to swap with you for a bit, the answer would come pretty quickly.

But my .02 is on the new battery being a dud.

RM

[doubleminded]

did you fully charge the new battery, low volts overnight? before installing?    .02

Yes,and it has been working fine for a month.I just put the battery back in,only took an hour for the charger to switch from charging to storage.The bike turned over real fast then strted cranking real slow again and then stopped,click click click.

The fact that it spun fast, then slow, then nothing would indicate that your connections must have been good for the initial fast spin.  Since your bike didn't run, the alternator would not be in question.  It really sounds like you got a dud battery.  Not sure where you got it, but it it came from Wally World, they aren't good quality.  Any Wally World motorcycle battery I've bought would last one year.  That is, the good ones.  The Yuasa batteries, though, are great.  I'm on my second one - first one went 9 years and I pulled it just because it was old.  It worked on my test bed for another year and finally lost a cell.

If you know of anyone with a Valk who is willing to swap with you for a bit, the answer would come pretty quickly.

But my .02 is on the new battery being a dud.

RM

It was at the honda dealer,on a shelf with lots o others.I had to add the electrolyte and charge it for 10 hours.1 month later it does it again.Thats why i am leaning towards battery,but why did it work right for a month?i suppose it could be weak just from sitting there in a box for who knows how long.I dont know.I will keep you all posted.

[Rocketman]

Definitely not the alternator.  If it was the alternator, it would crank and run for quite a while.  I ran my I/S >30 miles, with three separate starts, with a stone dead alternator.  It really sounds like your battery is not taking a charge, or at least, only taking a tiny bit of a charge.

Mark

[doubleminded]

Definitely not the alternator.  If it was the alternator, it would crank and run for quite a while.  I ran my I/S >30 miles, with three separate starts, with a stone dead alternator.  It really sounds like your battery is not taking a charge, or at least, only taking a tiny bit of a charge.

Mark

I agree.I left the battery on charger all night.it went from charging to storage.I pulled it of the charger this morning just to see.After 2 hours i hooked the charger back up.It went from charged to charging again so i think its the battery too.I am waiting for the stealer to open.

[doubleminded]

I took the batteryto the dealer.they said nothing wrong with it.i put it in the bike.1/100th of a second on the starter and it started.i rode the bike 20 miles.went out later to check.once again it started fine.we'll see.

[Rocketman]

Crud on the connectors?  Maybe something that got shifted around when you took the battery out, and now it's "fixed"?
I'd clean 'em up, and keep an eye on it.  If it doesn't reappear, call it good.

[T.P.]

I took the batteryto the dealer.they said nothing wrong with it.

Did they put a load on it ? if not take it to a battery store.

[doubleminded]

I took the batteryto the dealer.they said nothing wrong with it.

Did they put a load on it ? if not take it to a battery store.

Yes,they did.heres what i think.Its been too hot to ride here.For many days i didnt ride,the bike was uncovered.I think that killed the battery,not riding and the heat boiling it inside.Now with 61 degree mornings i expect that problem to be remedied.17 bikes,i like this one the best.24 mpg,but man its fun to ride.

[Disco]

24 mpg

Unless you are relentlessly flogging it, that's considerably lower than what most of us average.

[doubleminded]

24 mpg

Unless you are relentlessly flogging it, that's considerably lower than what most of us average.

No i really dont flog it.And the bike runs totally smooth.it has those loud cobras on it.I got 27.7 one time.

[doubleminded]

I am taking the bike to the dealer in the morning.I thought i had the problem solved since the battery is not the problem,or at least thats what the parts guy says.I went out,motor spun fast,thought it was going to start,then it started cranking slow then click click click.Something is draining the battery,or the charging system is not putting a charge in the battery.dont know which.I dont trust them.One time they said i had 4 quarts too much oil in my goldwing.I had just changed it not an hour before.They said the bike was not safe to ride on the street.even wrote it on the ticket.I had to trade the bike off because if i had a wreck the insurance company could say how come you were riding a bike that a dealer says it is not safe to ride on the street.So i am taking it to them with trepidation.

[RainMaker]

If you have that much trepidation, take it to a different dealer.  Al Lamb's Dallas Honda is our sponsor and they know Hondas.  Let them take a look at this battery situation. 

Also, once the motor is spinning "fast", let off the button and see if it runs.  If you are waiting for it to fire up while your finger is on the starter button, that might be the problem.

Send me a PM - where are you located in Denton?  I might take a ride up in the morning to see this and maybe we can try a temporary battery swap to see if it is indeed the battery.

RainMaker

[doubleminded]

If you have that much trepidation, take it to a different dealer.  Al Lamb's Dallas Honda is our sponsor and they know Hondas.  Let them take a look at this battery situation. 

Also, once the motor is spinning "fast", let off the button and see if it runs.  If you are waiting for it to fire up while your finger is on the starter button, that might be the problem.

Send me a PM - where are you located in Denton?  I might take a ride up in the morning to see this and maybe we can try a temporary battery swap to see if it is indeed the battery.

RainMaker

yeeha! It was the battery.The parts guy said Im sory sir,im going to talk to the parts guy,the battery has a bad cell in it.changed to a new battery and varoom its fixed.back on my sweet bike again.You are one heck of a nice guy for offering though.i appreciate all the guys here.This is my last bike,and this is the one i intend riding till im 80.So Im glad its going again,especially with this cooler weather.I sure would like to go to a wrench party if we ever have one again.

[RainMaker]

Glad it's running. But that dealer would be removed from my Rolodex after having so much trouble in getting a simple problem like a bad battery solved.

Houdini will let us know about the next wrench party, but I think it's coming up within the next few weeks.

RM

[doubleminded]

Glad it's running. But that dealer would be removed from my Rolodex after having so much trouble in getting a simple problem like a bad battery solved.

Houdini will let us know about the next wrench party, but I think it's coming up within the next few weeks.

RM

I make out my schedule 1 month in advance,once its posted i cant change it.i hope im off when we have the wrench party.

[T.P.]

I bought a new Yuasa glass mat battery from Interstate Batteries the last March,  I didn't fill and charge it until the middle of April,  I had to take it back two days before leaving for Inzane in July, they tested it with a load on it and it failed with a dead cell.  the new ones can go bad.  T.P.

I knew it was the battery, because I just went through the same crap    T.P.

[doubleminded]

I bought a new Yuasa glass mat battery from Interstate Batteries the last March,  I didn't fill and charge it until the middle of April,  I had to take it back two days before leaving for Inzane in July, they tested it with a load on it and it failed with a dead cell.  the new ones can go bad.  T.P.

I knew it was the battery, because I just went through the same crap    T.P.

Yep,5 minutes to install,keeps you from being stranded.

[Gear Jammer]

Had the same thing happen, only it DID leave me on the side of the road.       Thanks to a GW rider with cables, I got home.     I now keep jumpers in my bags.  American Express, Glock and cables,,, don't leave home without them 

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I'm with you Bobby. I made a small set of cables from an old ex. cord and some small clamps. They stay in my left bag all the time. I've only had to use them once for my bike, but have helped several people with them.

[doubleminded]

Had the same thing happen, only it DID leave me on the side of the road.       Thanks to a GW rider with cables, I got home.     I now keep jumpers in my bags.  American Express, Glock and cables,,, don't leave home without them 

heck,with the glock you can makem give you all the rest.

[Houdini]

sure would like to go to a wrench party if we ever have one again.

We will

Houdini will let us know about the next wrench party, but I think it's coming up within the next few weeks.

The next WP is going to be at Ghillie's; I waiting to hear from him on the date his shop is available.

I make out my schedule 1 month in advance,once its posted i cant change it.i hope im off when we have the wrench party.

Ron, the best way to handle this is to volunteer your driveway on the weekends you have available and we'll pick one that the most folks can attend.  All wrench parties are hosted by members that volunteer their time and space for the cause.  It's also a good way to get the work done you need because many of us show up just to help and have no need to work on our own bikes.

[doubleminded]

Thanks Houdini.I sure want to come to the next one.

[Ghillie]

Ok, took a hard look at my calender. The best I can do is the second weekend in October. This month is out for me all the way through to Oct 3.