Following from my Charging circuit thread...

[deliriousthun...]

Put the new battery in the bike today. The bike has been stood outside for a couple of months so it took a bit of work to get it going, but eventually I managed to get it running pretty happily. I checked the voltage across the battery before leaving the house: over 14 volts.

Got fuel, went for a quick ride to give the engine a good run before selling the bike. On the course of the ride, I had to stop for lights a couple of times and I let it idle, all was well.

On the way back, (probably done about 7 or 8 miles by this point I imagine), I stopped at lights and it idled happily for probably 30 seconds, then spluttered and died, I couldn't get anything out of it again. Not even a dead battery ticking noise.

Got the AA out, jumpstarted it with a booster pack thing, and it was still putting over 14v across the battery I'm not sure if I trusts his meter though.

When I got home I checked my battery voltage and it was just over 8 volts His meter said it was about 13v, but then he did disconnect the jumpleads and let it idle for a few minutes, which might have drained it a fair bit, but 5 volts would be a bit extreme.

Anyway, that's it, another brand new battery dead

As long as the booster pack was attached it read that there were 14v across the terminals. Let's bear in mind that the booster pack puts out 12v.

So what the heck is going on Please help, this bike is becoming the bane of my life
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Tom

[stinkwheel]

I once rode a bike from Carlisle to Whitby on battery power alone.

It sounds like it must be actively dumping charge. Maybe a short circuit somewhere? Ought to be blowing the fuse if that's the case though.

As I remember, you checked the stator coils and the connections for the reg/rec.

If it were me, I'd be temporarily fitting my ammeter on the bars so I could see what it's up to in terms of charging. The ammeter will show + and - so you can see if there is power going in or out and how much of it. It would also show if something is drawing a load of power.

You need a proper ammeter for this though, one that goes up to at least 30A, not just a multimeter which only measure in the milliamp range.

Where are you? Might be someone nearby can give you a hand.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[deliriousthun...]

I checked the resistance across each of the 3 white wires where the reg/rec joins the loom. That's how you check the stator coils right?

I also hooked the bike up to the car battery, and checked all the cabling and battery voltage was getting through everywhere it was supposed to.

I don't have an ammeter, and would have problems using one even if I could get access to it I think. The battery is absolutely knackered again. Brand new battery as well £30 down the toilet

I'd have to buy another battery, charge it up, and likely kill it as well.

Think I might sell the bike as a non-runner, with an explanation of the problem. Can't quite make my mind up how much to ask for it though. 20 years old, in relatively good condition apart from this fault. One of the fork seals is weeping, and could do with a general service, but is operational.

Would £300 be too much do you think?

I just can't bear the though of spending more time and/or money on it.

Thanks,
Tom
____________________
Tom

[P.addy]

hey mate, my gs was a bitch and did something that sounds exactly like this..

Might not work, but you might aswell try.

Find your starter solenoid, should be attached to the + on the battery..is on all my bikes.
Should have like a 20A fuse.. pull it, spray some WD40 in there, make sure its clean and replace with a new 100% working 20A fuse.

Recharge battery on proper charger for atleast 12 hours..
Then try going for a ride, just round the block, lights on etc

Even if you can get it started, put lights on full beam, indicators on... then rev it (do all this in your garden btw) see if your light dims? Thats what the mechanics did to test it was recharging and not the alternator/charging system at fault

[stinkwheel]

I doubt the battery is knackered, it'll just need charging up again.

There isn't something stupid happening like the battery terminal touching the frame when you go over a bump or something?

I wonder if it would help if you understood exactly what's happening better?

I've tried to put everything you need to know about how the charging system works and how you test it in one picture (don't worry about my time, I'm on call tonight and bored).

Are you anywhere near Cumbria or York? I could pop over and have a look at it for you sometime if you are (can't garauntee when though).

It's worth noting that the SRX400 and 600 are well known for the wiring going rotten with age. Are all the lights etc. working as they should?
https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=68016
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.