I've been having some kind of parasitic battery drain. It takes 3-4 days before I notice the voltage is slowly dropping. I started unhooking the battery when I don't plan to ride for a day or so. I then discovered I had a blown tail light bulb. When I removed the bulb and left it out the drain seems to have stopped. Can a blown bulb somehow slowly drain a battery?
The tail light bulb should get no power unless the bike is on, so no it can't cause the drain you are describing.
It has to be either something that's on even when the bike is off, or the ignition switch is not turning off. I am not aware of anything that is on even when the ignition is turned off, so i'd be looking for a short, worn wire insulation, or a modification.
Are you locking the steering?
If so, are you turning to the first click or until the key won't go anymore? The farthest position will turn on the taillight.
If neither using the steering lock or turning the key all the way, check the taillight circuit at the key switch for shorting in the switch or the wiring. If no faults there, check the key switch for total disconnect of electrical power when in off and lock.
Parasitic drain?
If you are 100% certain the battery is serviceable and holding charge it's probably one of the diodes in the reg/rect failing and causing a high resistance ground.
Unplug it when the bike is not in use, if the battery stays charged.......case closed!
Quote from: Falken Hawke on January 18, 2019, 08:20:06 PM
Are you locking the steering?
I didn't think about that. Good point! And the rest of FH's post, more good points :thumb:
Quote from: sledge on January 19, 2019, 03:04:31 AM
Parasitic drain?
If you are 100% certain the battery is serviceable and holding charge it's probably one of the diodes in the reg/rect failing and causing a high resistance ground.
Unplug it when the bike is not in use, if the battery stays charged.......case closed!
Yes I'm 100% sure it's not the battery. I've tried 2 new batteries and the same thing happens. I should have mentioned this is on my 99 Honda VFR not my GS.
I removed a burn taillight bulb and the drain has stopped. I don't think it's the R/R as I have a volt meter installed and it shows steady 14-14.1v while running and it charges the battery up just fine after a good run. I got a new bulb and will install and keep an eye on it.
I just can't figure out how this can happen with the ignition/lights off. Even if a filament in the bulb was somehow shorting it should not drain.
If I have the issue after the new bulb is in I'll try unhooking the R/R and see what happens. VFR's are known to eat R/R's and stators.
Thanks