Won't start without a quick charge?

[roguegeek]

Is it normal to have to hook up your battery to a charger every morning for about 5 minutes to get it started? Because I have to. I would think you can expect these things to start up whenever you want them to without any extra help. It's not like I can carry a battery charger with me everywhere I go. :dunno:

What do I need to do to fix the problem? Is it a matter of just getting another battery on there? If so, what do you guys recommend that I get so I don't have to deal with this problem anymore? Thanx.

[Eklipse]

That's not normal. Is your battery more than two years old? I know car batteries need replacing every few years generally.

Here's a link to a recent thread that has some battery discussion.

[John Bates]

Is it normal to have to hook up your battery to a charger every morning for about 5 minutes to get it started? .

No.

It could be your battery or it could be your charging circuit.

If you don't know the history of the bike then have both checked.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer:

Go here for battery info.

For charging circuit testing email me and I'll send you a test procedure.

[roguegeek]

I am unsure of the complete history of the '97 GS. I know that it has only gone 500 miles (out of its 6000 total miles) in the last 18 months and that the battery (a standard Yuasa) is about 2 years old. From looking at the previous post, I guess the same standard Yuasa YB10L-B2 battery is being recommended to me. I think I'll go pick one of those up and try it first before anything else. Sound like a plan? Are there any other brands you guys like?

[Jared]

Batteries need to be "used" to be kept up.... If the bike never gets ridden...even a new battery will go to crap after a period of time like that.

A fresh battery would be a good idea but get a charger for motorcycle batteries and let your Yuasa charge on it for a day or so....

Also it''s not a terrible idea to check the charging system as John said...but a bike barely being used for 18 months is likely just needing a fresh battery.

[Kerry]

I guess the same standard Yuasa YB10L-B2 battery is being recommended to me. I think I'll go pick one of those up and try it first before anything else. Sound like a plan? Are there any other brands you guys like?

I installed an Economy Battery CB10L-B2 knock-off of the stock Yuasa battery almost 2 years ago.  It cost less than half of the price of the Yuasa, and it's still going strong.  The following images were scanned from the Chaparral catalog that I ordered my battery from:

http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/Chaparral425.jpg

http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/Chaparral426.jpg

Although it's not currently in stock at Chaparral, it's listed for $22.99 ... $1 less than I bought mine for 2.5 years ago.  And the catalog web page says that it Usually Ships in 2 to 5 Days.  The nice thing is that this battery has the vent on the same side as the stock Yuasa.  (Some similar batteries are of the 10L-A variety and have the vent on the left side of the battery, which means that you have to reroute the vent hose.)

ADDITIONAL INFO:  Unsealed batteries cannot be shipped with electrolyte (acid).  Before I could use my battery I went to my local Checker auto parts store and bought their last dusty bottle of electrolyte for $2 or $3:



I poured the solution into the battery cells, put the battery on my Battery Tender charger overnight, and "the rest is history".

[roguegeek]

Thanx for the great find Kerry. I'm going to call them up first thing tomorrow and order it. I should be able to buy the acid from any regular auto parts store then? Also, is there a difference in a battery tender charger and a battery charger like the one I use on my battery? I'm sorry. I can't give you the brand and model number of it right now.

[Kerry]

I should be able to buy the acid from any regular auto parts store then?

I believe so.  If they don't have it in stock, they can probably order it and have it by the time the battery shows up.

Also, is there a difference in a battery tender charger and a battery charger like the one I use on my battery?

Hard to say, but your charger may be better suited for supplying the initial charge than a Battery Tender.  (It might top it off sooner, not necessarily better.   )

[roguegeek]

Just purchased it. Since I'm doing a will call pick up on Saturday, they said they'd put all the acid in it for free. 50 miles for a battery. Is that worth it? Probably, considering how much cheaper it is compared to the standard Yuasa.

[Jake D]

If you leave the battery on a "charger" for a long time, ie., too long, it will (I've been told) destroy the battery and "burn it up."  A battery tender will monitor the charge and keep it at the proper charge with out "over charging."  

Go with a tender.  Buy one from Yuasa.  They probably made that "cheap" knock-off battery too, that you just bought, and sold it to a different company.  They make the batteries, so use their chargers.

[roguegeek]

Go with a tender. Buy one from Yuasa.

Ok. I'm guessing either one of these Yuasa branded chargers will do:
- Yuasa Automatic 12V 1.5 Amp Battery Charger (YUA1201501)
- Yuasa Automatic 12V 900 mA Battery Charger (YUA1200901)

Right?

[se7enty7]

I've heard three stories (one from someone here, 2 in real life) of battery tender brand tenders that don't automatically turn off afterawhile...  


i.e. whatever charger you have.. keep an eye on it.  I bought a charger from wal-mart... 850ma I think... and I just plug it in after a week or so of not riding whether it needs it or not... then unplug it after 6 hours or so

[Jake D]

I've got that Yuasa, the 12 V 900ma charger that automatically switches to float.  No worries.  I don't leave it on all the time.

[roguegeek]

I completely forgot about this. The person I bought the GS from gave me a Yuasa Hotshot Battery Charger Maintainer. You can find more information about it here and here. Do you think this is acceptable to fully charge the battery I bought without too many worries?

[Kerry]

It sounds fine to me.  

[Jake D]

That's the one.  That should be all you'll ever need.