Triumphrat

Pansmiker · 06-17-2006, 03:34 AM

It is along time since I stripped an engine and did any work on my bike. So it seems that all the technical jargon that in the distant pass came as second nature now is unknown!

My problem is that my Oct 04 Tiger (05 model 5000 miles) which I have recently purchased seems very willing to discharge with the parking light on for say 1 hour. The lights don’t come on and it drops the info on the trip, which resets to zero. The first time it happened was in the garage at home so I was able to put the Optimate on and it was ready to start in circa 4 hrs. The second episode was when out on a ride with friends and we were able to bump start it.

I was wondering should I now consider replacing the battery or at least having the charging system checked? I have been riding BMWs up until now and have never had to replace the battery or experience this sort of discharge. Although I have had one eat its rear wheel bearings, do in its valves and be released by the factory with an incorrectly positioned timing mark. But heck…that’s biking.

If you are replying keep it simple....please :???:

Thanks
Paul

Silverstripes · 06-17-2006, 06:07 AM

Hi

After a similar experience on my 05, during the winter if its in the garage unused for more than 4 days it lives on the Optimate.

After all this is what these chargers are for and are supposed to give longer battery life.

iansoady · 06-17-2006, 06:42 AM

Quote:

On 2006-06-17 01:34, Pansmiker wrote:

If you are replying keep it simple....please :???:

Thanks
Paul

Losing the trip indicates it's going completely flat. I assume you've checked the connections, especially the earth?

The battery on my 04 has just died, after I was away for about a month and the alarm (datatool / Triumph) flattened it (forgot to plug in the optimate). I'm a bit disappointed with this short life (there are other threads on the topic).

Interestingly the optimate seems to think the old battery is OK but it just doesn't have enough oomph to start the bike even after leaving it on charge overnight, so I've bought a new one.

I'm considering using EDTA (see here) on the old one to see if I can revive it. I have used this with an apparently totally dead battery before with complete success. Mind you that was on a kickstart Norton Commando with much less load.

Pansmiker · 06-17-2006, 08:24 AM

Thanks that was simple enough

Paul

KuzzinKenny · 06-17-2006, 06:17 PM

there may be one other thing wrong here !! i heard that if the wrong relays are fitted ( so both headlights work ) this drains the battery. i think the test is, when you push the start button the headlights should go out intill you release the button.

just a thought !!

KK

ps someone back me up on this :???:

tyrebyter · 06-19-2006, 08:37 AM

The headlights should indeed go out when cranking, but I've found on both the Tiger and the Speed Triple that when the battery is in the sunset of its life, the headlights will stay on when cranking. That's been consistent through five batteries on the two bikes. The weak conditions were confirmed with a proper battery tester. Very thoughtful of Triumph to include that self test feature.
Not sure what you mean by "wrong relay" burning both healights. That's the way God intended it.

KuzzinKenny · 06-19-2006, 06:03 PM

there was a post about fitting relays that were bought from a motorfactor and not Triumph relays, they worked both headlights for dip and main beam but flatened the battery in a week. i have relays bought from a factor but with info from here i got the right ones !!

KK

ps UK bikes come out the factory with one eye out :razz: