Triumphrat

retrobiker

What could cause the battery to lose charge after running a short distance? The headlights get real dim.Once the bike sits for a while the lights are fine again.It's a brand new battery.Would appreciate any input.
Thanks in advance.
Retro.

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Woody1911a1

it's called surface charge . the battery may seem charged but it's not .

you need to put it on a slow charger (2 amps or less ) for @ 24 hrs or until the charger says it's charged .

what kind of battery ? just a regular flooded cell (pour the acid in ) , AGM or gel ?

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retrobiker

Thanks,Woody.
It's a regular flooded cell. I just checked it with my tester and it reads flat.How quickly do they lose charge if the bike is sitting in the garage?Also,how come the head light comes on full force?I'm going to hook up my trickle charger to it tonight.
Retro.

__________________
Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.

retrobiker

p.s.
It's funny how the highlighted word 'charger' linked me to a Dodge website.

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Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.

retrobiker

I googled 'surface charge' and understand the term better.In fact I left the headlight on and it got dim pretty quickly.I wonder if 'Interstate' batteries are poor quality?
Thanks again,Woody.

__________________
Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.

Woody1911a1

retro , first things first . just pouring in the acid installing and then riding away is probably your problem .

that battery needs a good slow charge up first . batteries do self discharge , some more than others . that's what i like about the agm's , they'll hold their charge way longer than normal batteries . however , not knowing what if any other problems/circumstances with your bike . get that new battery properly charged .

some batteries are just crap from the get go . i had one that lasted about 32 days . dead wouldn't take a charge and oh yea it was on a bike i was selling and the potential buyer shows up and ....

over on the classic triples board it's soooo common for someone to say "my bike won't start , it cranks and i know the battery's good ....." 30 posts later " hey you guys were right it was the battery"

anyway , get your new battery up to speed with a good initial charge and if you're not riding it often use a battery tender .

cheers

__________________
If you love it , let it go . If it comes back to you , you've highsided ;-)

Woody1911a1

actually interstate batteries are top quality . do you remember all those clear cased sears die-hards that gave the die-hard such a great reputation ? those were made by interstate . the newer ones , black case are exide i believe . marine folk , boat people are big fans of the interstates .

__________________
If you love it , let it go . If it comes back to you , you've highsided ;-)

retrobiker

It's charged and ready to go.
Thanks Woody.

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Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.

TRI-AL

So what's the "outcome" with that "fully charged" battery? Any better? I had a spell, myself where I was going through batteries @ 1 per year. Got mine at Auto Zone for @ $20. Last one's been in for several years now. I did buy a new stator & rotor for it, though. Seems to have helped.

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retrobiker

Tri-Al.

The charge seems to be holding reasonably well.I'm sure I'm going to have to keep the trickle charger on. If I use the headlight the ammeter goes on the negative halfway to the bottom.Came back from a short ride and the charge read low.I read in Zimmerman's book that the old bikes have poor charging systems.
Thanks.
Retro.

__________________
Just music and my motorcycles. Thats all I need.