Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 05, 2005, 11:39:48 PM
Post by: roguegeek on February 05, 2005, 11:39:48 PM
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.
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Eklipse on February 05, 2005, 11:50:21 PM
Post by: Eklipse on February 05, 2005, 11:50:21 PM
That's not normal. Is your battery more than two years old? I know car batteries need replacing every few years generally.
Here's (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14944) a link to a recent thread that has some battery discussion.
Here's (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14944) a link to a recent thread that has some battery discussion.
Title: Re: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: John Bates on February 06, 2005, 12:07:56 AM
Post by: John Bates on February 06, 2005, 12:07:56 AM
Quote from: roguegeekIs 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.
:cheers:
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 06, 2005, 02:26:41 AM
Post by: roguegeek on February 06, 2005, 02:26:41 AM
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 (http://www.yuasabatteries.com/battery.asp?bID=B39&vID=4099) 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?
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Jared on February 06, 2005, 06:22:43 AM
Post by: Jared on February 06, 2005, 06:22:43 AM
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.
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 12:34:06 AM
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 12:34:06 AM
Quote from: roguegeekI 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".
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 01:37:27 AM
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 01:37:27 AM
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 01:40:13 AM
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 01:40:13 AM
Quote from: roguegeekI 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.
Quote from: roguegeekAlso, 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. :roll: )
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 12:10:22 PM
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 12:10:22 PM
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 12:18:05 PM
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 12:18:05 PM
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.
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 12:30:36 PM
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 12:30:36 PM
QuoteGo with a tender. Buy one from Yuasa.Ok. I'm guessing either one of these Yuasa branded chargers (http://www.yuasabatteries.com/accessories.asp) will do:
- Yuasa Automatic 12V 1.5 Amp Battery Charger (YUA1201501)
- Yuasa Automatic 12V 900 mA Battery Charger (YUA1200901)
Right?
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: se7enty7 on February 07, 2005, 12:32:40 PM
Post by: se7enty7 on February 07, 2005, 12:32:40 PM
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
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
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 01:42:32 PM
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 01:42:32 PM
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.
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 02:08:42 PM
Post by: roguegeek on February 07, 2005, 02:08:42 PM
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 (http://www.yuasabatteries.com/dealerNews.asp?action=news&id=105) and here (http://www.protechmotorcycles.com/buy/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=38). Do you think this is acceptable to fully charge the battery I bought without too many worries?
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 02:16:11 PM
Post by: Kerry on February 07, 2005, 02:16:11 PM
It sounds fine to me. :thumb:
Title: Won't start without a quick charge?
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 02:29:02 PM
Post by: Jake D on February 07, 2005, 02:29:02 PM
That's the one. That should be all you'll ever need.