Triumphrat

FifeTiger · 09-28-2009, 06:12 AM

Short story, 2002 955i, possibly on the original battery until Spring this year when, after a winter laid up, it finally died through neglect.

New battery popped straight in, don't think it was fully charged and have been running around quite happily since.

Saturday, flat as pancake after a 15 mile run. Battery been on Optimate charger twice since, not managed to get it fully charged but full of life this morning.

Now, route to work has changed a bit recently and the last ten miniutes has been stop start and I always ride with lights on. Had the heated grips on a cpl of times recently too.

Should the battery and charging doo daa be able to cope with this ? Never had any problem until this year. Got a jump start on Saturday, and it ticked over fine, no dancing needles, fading lights nonsense so am assuming the alternator is working fine.

Parked the bike front near a wall this morning, blipped the throttle and fairly sure the lights glowed brighter, albeit a little - nothing like my VFR used to.

Nervous I have a failing regulator/rectifier, VFR did a similar thing in that it stopped charging when the bike got hot. Route to work is now meaning I'm running with the fan on a fair bit now.

So, anything to worry about ? Bloke in the dealer said new gel batteries don't like running down and a good run on the bike won't fix them they need a day on a charger. Sounds guff to me, how the hell are you supposed to know when your battery's not in the mood ?

I've run this same length of journey to/from work for years with no problems. Until now....

pineygroveshop · 09-28-2009, 10:08 PM

I've not used a Gel battery before; however, I do know that with the acid types when new you MUST fully charge up before use.

Medic09 · 09-29-2009, 12:38 AM

Fife, a multimeter is an inexpensive tool (as little as $25 here in the US) that can help with your peace of mind. Or borrow one. Red probe to positive battery post, black probe to negative. Ignition off, the battery should show MORE than 12 volts, and really for a new gel battery you should show above 13v at rest. Motor on, probes on posts, rev it just a bit and you should see the volts go up to around 14v, +/- about 0.2.

I put my gel batteries on the tender once a month overnight, and that suffices.

Whether or not the bike is failing to charge when hot is a second issue for further exploration.

winger · 09-29-2009, 04:40 AM

Before you doing anything,get it on an Optimate and get it fully charged,seems strange you didn't manage to get it fully charged in the first place,because without doing that your starting from two steps back,i do a group buy on gel batteries on another site so i've done my fair share of tinkering,folk read gel as you can get away with murder not looking after them,it ain't so.

Plus the other thing!! there are batteries and batteries gel or not,even with me doing the gel group buy,i couldn't get a quality gel battery for a Tiger,apart from a Yuasa at megabucks,i put a Varta on,cost peanuts runs great,if i only get 2 years out of it i'll be quids in,come to think of it,it's been on 2 years

FifeTiger · 09-29-2009, 04:53 AM

OK maybe it's not a gel one then. I did have to empty that plastic container of fluid into the battery. That'll be acid then ?

Got mixed up with the old VFR battery.

Anyone know what the regulator part nbr is ?

Mad Matt's are quoting two as RG26 or RR62, but Electrexworld are showing the RR99.

The RG26 doesn't look the right part, it's not the same, the RR99 does.

I'd have a guess but as they say, a fool and his money.......

Medic09 · 09-29-2009, 10:50 AM

I was just thinking about Fife's original post. A friend recently sent me this comment; "Btw, PJ's gave me a Battery Tender Jr. as I was about to leave. They told me to plug it in every time I get home after a ride. Triumph must have a substantial electrical load when it's sitting."

This was when he recently picked up his new Tiger 1050. So, maybe these things need a bit more electrical care than I knew. I'll be at the dealer today with my Tiger. I'll ask them about this. I've never had to park any of my bikes with a battery charger on it every night.

FifeTiger · 09-29-2009, 10:58 AM

There's no lift in my block, and I don't have an extension lead that'll reach down three floors and 50 yds across the garden to the bike....

KuzzinKenny · 09-29-2009, 07:16 PM

Hey FT !! here`s an option for ya !!

get one O these... http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=225153

plug this in... http://www.fasteronline.co.uk/Ring-A...83d621a6366386

and attach to bike !! mains cable free chargin !!

KK

FifeTiger · 09-30-2009, 06:37 AM

Mmm, I like that.

Might get one for camping......

Park the bike up, put the tent up, plug in the microwave.....

KuzzinKenny · 09-30-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FifeTiger

Mmm, I like that.

Might get one for camping......

Park the bike up, put the tent up, plug in the microwave.....

my type of cookin, the micro !! Ping !! dinners ready

KK