Hey guys,
I got home the other day and I was really excited to take the bike out for a ride. However, it won't start. I replaced the battery... it wouldn't hold a charge.
So i filled up the new battery with acid then let it sit for an hour, then charged it with a battery tender JR. for the rest of the night. My question is this, the did i mess up the new battery?.. The lights work, but severely dim when i hit the electric starter. What else could cause this clicking sound I'm hearing... almost like the bike is on the verge of starting, but doesn't. It's really cold in Missouri, but the bike has been stored in the garage with stabilizer fuel in the tank. Please help me get her running.. :sad:
Dumb question:
Did you fill the battery completely with electrolyte to the "full" mark on each and every cell?
Dumb question #2: How long did you charge it, and what is the output of the "Battery Tender Jr?" A 1.5A charger will require about 8-12 hours to completely charge a GS battery, a .75A charger a full day.
Assuming the above questions are answered satisfactorily, check your battery cable connections for corrosion. It would be worth a few minutes to scrub the battery cables off where they mate to the battery terminals with a scotch brite pad, 220 sandpaper, or similar. Make sure you get down to bare, bright metal on the connections.
the battery tender jr charges a max of .75amps, it might take more than a night to charge it completely. put the charger on the battery again, watch the light. if it's red, it needs to change a lot more, if it's blinking green then it's above 80%, and wait untill it's solid green to put it in the bike. watch the acid level and everything.
I filled the battery correctly... It's charged for a well over a day now and it still won't start. Any other suggestions?
try jump starting it. if that works then you know it is the battery, if not you have bigger problems.