starter/battery problem

[Jeff P]

Howdy folks.  Long time, no posts.

My '96 sat in the garage for about 10 months without being ridden until this past week.  I may have started it 2 or 3 times just to let it run during that time.  Put it on the battery tender occassionally.

While getting it ready to ride this past weekend, I had the battery charged up (per the tender) and it would turn over but the cranking was very weak, sometimes it would only get a turn or two before stopping.  It would also throw in some clicking from the starter. 

I checked the battery and found it was bone dry.  Filled it up with distilled water, put it back on the charger, and after a few cycles of cranking it over, recharging for a few hours, and cranking it again, it finally started.  Ran pretty well actually. 

So yesterday I started it up in the morning (again, weak cranking but it did start) and rode it to work.  Ah, I'd almost forgotten how nice it is to ride    Bike ran great.

Started up without too much trouble for my ride home.  When I got home, I turned it off for a minute while I was opening the garage door.  When I tried to restart it, all I got were clicks from the starter - no cranking at all.  I roll started it to get it into the garage. 

Thoughts?  The battery shows 12.3 volts, so I'm not exactly sure what the problem is.  Thanks!

jeff

[pandymai]

i dont know how to explain it.. but the battery could be dead and though it allows a charge, it actually doesnt have enough to start the motor. i saw it on a post before. the battery's probably dead. if i can find the link i'll post it.

[bill14224]

As a battery gets old its internal resistance rises to the point where you can't pull enough current out of it to crank the starter due to sulfates forming on the plates but it will still measure 12V as long as there are no dead cells.  A battery in this state can power a radio for hours but can't crank your starter.  Time for a new battery.  I strongly suggest an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery.  Mine is a Scorpion, but there are others.

There are special chargers out there that pulse-charge the battery, claiming this breaks-down the sulfates back into the solution and rejuvenating the battery.  I haven't read of anyone yet who has gotten good results by doing this.

Why your battery was dry is something you need to find out.  Either you or your voltage regulator is the culprit.  My guess is you've had the charger on it too much.

Many, many motorcyclists obsess over the battery too much.  The best, easiest, and cheapest way to help them last is to bring them inside for the winter.  I've been doing that for years and when I check them mid-winter to see if they need a charge they never do until that particular battery is nearing the end of its life.  They discharge much more out in the cold than inside.  Why, I have no idea.