Triumphrat

02-05-2006

My speed triple hasn't been used greatly this winter, as such the battery has discharged (down to the datatool alarm methinks ?).
I put it on an optimate battery conditioner and all seems good, however, it is very difficult for me to start the bike from the battery from scratch. I have to use a battery jump start each time. Once the engine's warm the baterry will kick the engine over, but only seems to give a relatively weak spark compared to the jump start.
I've been told it could be the coil breaking down, what do you think ?
I also seen to remember somebody telling me of problems with speed triples if their battery discharges, but I can't remember what it was.
Please help !

Thanks :???: :???:

Slinky · 02-05-2006

It sounds more like a duff battery. Did you charge it over the winter? If a battery has been deep discharge it can lose it's ability to hold a charge. A cold start will always need a much healthier battery than a hot start.

Off topic- I have just spent an entertaining afternoon in the garage, trying to start my Tbird, which has not been used for 3 months. After several attempts at charging the battery and jumping it, there was no sign of it firing.

After a few hours of this I eventually I figured out that there was no fuel in the tank... :razz:

02-05-2006

The battery has been toppep-up with distilled water, and the optimate gives it a clean bill of health.
Is it still possible that the battery's knackerd ? :???:

Cerberus · 02-05-2006

definitely sounds like a tired battery.
deep cycling a battery ruins it.
gel cell or AGM batteries are great for their durability and power output

Cerberus · 02-05-2006

Quote:

On 2006-02-05 11:33, BadDog wrote:
The battery has been toppep-up with distilled water, and the optimate gives it a clean bill of health.
Is it still possible that the battery's knackerd ? :???:

the optmate cannot load test the battery, so its evaluation is somewhat meaningless.

Bob955i · 02-05-2006

When I fired my S3 up last week, it didn't turn over as fast as normal. When I took the battery off to charge it, the meter on the charger didn't register the battery as being as discharged as it appeared to be.

Since the battery is now nearly six years old, I reckon it's time for a new 'un......

If yours is a similar age, like what previous posters have said, you probably need a new battery.

Hello Cerbs.... :wink:

[ This message was edited by: Bob955i on 2006-02-05 12:42 ]

Cerberus · 02-05-2006

Quote:

On 2006-02-05 12:41, Bob955i wrote:

...Hello Cerbs.... :wink:

QUIT FOLLOWING ME!

:-D

Bob955i · 02-08-2006

Quote:

On 2006-02-05 17:22, Cerberus wrote:

Quote:

On 2006-02-05 12:41, Bob955i wrote:

...Hello Cerbs.... :wink:

QUIT FOLLOWING ME!

:-D

I was here first na na na :razz:

Skidpan · 02-08-2006

I'm not an expert, however, I had the same trouble with a T3 900 Daytona. The optimate and a multimeter would show it as being healthy, 13 volts or so after a night on charge, but it was weary at starting the bike. A new battery fixed it, period. It seems to me like a battery can have 12 healthy, arse-kicking volts, but it could have 12 of the weariest, thin, useless volts, and the kit I have can't tell the difference. So far as the multimeter is concerened, 12 volts is 12 volts, and the quality of them is open to doubt. Replace the battery.

daytonacharlie · 02-13-2006

BadDog,
I had the coils go bad on my '96 Daytona 1200 at around 30,000 miles. The symptoms of a bad coil are poor low rpm performance once the bike has warmed up, a clatter (like valve clatter) at low rpm, poor gas mileage and fouled plugs. I replaced my coils (D12's have 2, Speed 3's have 3) and problem solved. I agree with everyone else your problem sounds like a bad battery.

good luck,
Charles