Now the cold damp mornings have arrived in the UK I feared that I might start having flat battery problems.  And sure enough, when I was dashing off to the dentist Wednesday morning with little time to spare, the GS would not start - relay clicking but not enough juice to kick the engine into life.  Fortunately I've got the Yamaha so I arrived in time for my root canal treatment (ouch!).

Now, to cut to the chase - the battery is only 9 months old,  I had only charged it 4 days before and had ridden it to work and back the previous 2 days, so it should not have discharged so quickly.  I read the forum on the subject and was going to buy a multi-meter (which I am still going to do) when I decided to pull the battery out and clean it before charging.  This was when I disovered why it was discharging - the battery and holder was filthy and was discharging through the left-hand side of the battery holder (gear shift side)  The white fluffy corrosion was clear to see around the foam pad that acts as a buffer in the holder!  I had been a bit slip-shod with topping up the battery and must have got just enough battery acid solution on the casing to start the problem!

So I have thoroughly cleaned the battery and holder with a paste of water and Bicarbonate of Soda (the Bicarb really swelled up - presumable reacting with the acid) and then rinsed it off with water.  Since cleaning the battery and holder I have not had any premature discharging (ooh err Mrs!). It's still early days though, so I will still need to monitor the situation before being 100% sure the problem is solved. And I will still test it with a multi-meter when I get one.  But before you condemn your battery try cleaning it and the holder and see if that cures any battery problems you are having (it's a very cheap solution!).

Bassman

I just want to add that I have also given the underside of the seat the Bicarb treatment as well because I realised the pad under the seat presses against the top of the battery to keep it in place.

Bassman

maybe, just a theory, but maybe since its cold out, over night condensation is setting on the battery and connecting the two terminals, draing the battery. 

Sounds more plausible than some of my other theorys on things.

I have actually had my bike click but not turn over simply because there was water on the negative terminal. Took the seat off while giving her a bath and got water on the battery. When I tried to start it back up, it would click and the neg terminal would spark and smoke. Blew it off with an air hose, started right up. Similar problem? Maybe the condensation theory is a step in the right direction.

The discharge is entirely the result of condensation.  I think what happens is that the battery collects dirt from the pollution, etc, of riding in traffic everyday.  This isn't a problem in the summer because all you get is rain and some occasional early morning dew.  But come the winter you get the frosts and the miserable cold damp Autumn days like we've had recently, and moisture collects on the surface of the battery and causes discharge.  I reckon that when the surface of the battery is clean, the moisture collects in droplets and so no current can flow across the terminals or ground through the battery holder (as I think happened in my case).  But when the battery case is dirty it holds the moisture in the form of a film that enables current ot flow.  If the dirt is also acidic it's going to be more conductive an make the conductivity greater.

I don't clean my bike as often as I should do which is probably why I'vew never identified this problem before.  I initially used some 'wet start' spray that you use on car electrics which only made things worse - it made the battery and case even dirtier and exacerbated the problem.  I guess that water dispersents lift moisture out and away from electrical components and cables.  But in this case, the current is flowing on the surface, so the conductive water film forms on top of the 'protective' oily gloop that I had inadvertaently created over the battery ands other nearby components.  My battery is now clean enough to 'eat your dinner off' as they say, so I'm hoping that I shouldn't have any more problems this winter (fingers crossed).

Bassman

Doh!!!  Bike wouldn't start this morning (Tuesday) - with a nice clean battery charged fully on Saturday!!!!

It was the first time I've tried to ride the bike since charging the battery on Saturday, so it's not a problem with the bike charging system - can only be battery fault or leakage. My bike is fully alarmed so I suspect that the combination of the alarm constantly drawing on the battery, plus the cold weather, is causing the battery to discharge very quickly. Anyhoo, I've got a multimeter now so I'll do the checks when I can.

I feel such a wally...  Still, I have got a very shiny clean battery

Bassman

sounds like a battery tender would be your friend in this case.  try removing the fuse from the alarm, and see if it still does it

I checked the battery this morning with my newly acquired multimeter (bike started fine by the way).  Volts measuring across the battery terminals (charge state) was around 12.5 - 12.7 or so.  When I disconnected the negative lead and measured the milliamps between the negative terminal and the negative lead it read 0.2 milliamps (Haynes Manual states spec as 0.1 milliamp max).  Discharge is clearly higher than spec, but then again, I do have a alarm system fitted.  I haven't been able to locate a milliamp current draw figure for my alarm (it'a a Meta M357-T V2), but a similar type of alarm is advertised as having a current draw of 0.5 milliamps when armed.  So the current draw would not appear to be excessive.

I am suspecting now that I've 'knackered' my battery somehow. I use an intelligent charger (which I'm sure has the same function as a battery tender - if it isn't actually, technically, a battery tender).  I'm going to monitor the situation and maybe get a 'maintenance free' battery as a replacement - maybe a Bosch.

At least I got to play with my new multimeter - I love all these toys!

Bassman

Just loaded a new battery into the GS (the make is a GS Motorcycle Battery CB10L-B2).  I felt like a breakdown mechanic - the rain is absolutely hissing down at the moment and I haven't got a garage!  I had to stand in the back garden in the pouring rain and connect it up.  A simple job? - yeah,right!?...this is real life after all!  Could I get the screw to engage with the little nut in the terminal?...could I 'eck!  With the rain begining to pour down my neck and into my shirt I was begining to feel quite depressed!  The battery is charged but it is recommended that it is givien a post acid filling charge for good measure.  But it's just too wet out there to get the charger out!  Wish I lived in sunny California rather than wet 'n' cold Derbyshire!

Bassman

y didnt you charge it before you put it on the bike?

It's a dry pre-charged battery so you don't have to charge it before fitting.  I needed to get it on the bike as quickly as possible because of the weather here - it's very squally weather at the moment and the rain is horrendous at times and I don't have a garage.  All the work I do on the bike is outside in the elements.  And more to the point - I prefer the GS to my Yamaha for commuting - the GS is far lighter and easire to ride for the sgort commute I do every day.

I could have charged the battery inside before fitting it but I just wanted to get the thing fitted then back into the warm.  I'll tell yer, I got so wet and cold yesterday it was miserable.  Us Brits like our cup of tea, and I really enjoyed a hot steaming mug when I got out of that bleeding rain!!  Anyhoo, the new battery is great.  It makes me realise how faulty the old one was - starts a treat now, no hesitation, just guns straight into life.  I reckon I killed the old battery.  When I need to top-up the battery in future I'm going to take it off the bike and do it very carefully.  I reckon I diluted at least one of the cells to the pint of no return.  It might be possible to bring it back to life, but what's the point?  We just live and learn.

Bassman

Hi Bassman,

I put a new battery in my 2004 GS500F in April.  What a difference!  It starts right up, bright headlights, etc.  Problem solved.

I thought you British were used to the rain.  What about snow, do you get a lot of it?  My GS500 gets parked right next to the snowblower in the garage...

Glad that your new battery solved your problem.  Ride safe and enjoy your GS500...



 

Hi lamahug.  No, not much snow, just lots of rain!  New battery is just what the doctor ordered - no more starting problems.  I'm going to be very careful how I maintain the battery now!

Bassman