Forgive me since I know there is tons of info on the regulator/rectifier challenges. But I'm stumped from my voltage readings.

The last few years my bike has been eating batteries. I got one 2 years ago and just got a fresh one this April. (so 4 months on it) I drove home from work the other day (10 miles) and when I went to put it inside after sitting for a few hours it wouldn't start. Well, it turned and turned but never started and eventually just clicking sound. Took the battery out, put it on a trickle charge and got it up to 12.7. Let that sit for a day and it was still at 12.7. Put it back in the bike today and here is what I got for readings.

Idle - 12.5
2,500 - 14.2
5,000 - 14.0

From the research I have done here (unless I'm missing something) these numbers make sense and it would appear the regulator/rectifier if ok? I found that handy flow-chart pdf that is floating around here and the says with these numbers things are ok as far as the regulator/rectifier goes.

I guess my question is...could the numbers be right, but the regulator/rectifier is still the culprit.

Again, sorry as I know this has been talked to death, but I'm still a bit confused. It seems as though since my battery isn't re-charging, I didn't expect the numbers above.

Thanks in advance

 

check for power loss, turn off your key switch and hook your volt meter up see what you read, let it sit awhile (overnight if you have too) and then check your readings again. The R/R seems to be fine but something could be robbing your battery of charge as it sits and bike is shut off.

since you tested it overnight after sitting you know the battery should hold the charge by itself

 

Everything sounds normal to me. If you were cranking it for a while and it wasn't starting for some reason then the battery just got drained.

Not a bad idea to check for drains as above.

 

Thanks for the info. The battery has been in the bike now for 24 hours. I didn't ride yesterday so it has just been sitting in there and it read 12.7 this morning. When I turn the key on (engine not running) it reads 12.0? Does that seem low?

The day before it died...it started funny both times so it wasn't a total shock it didn't start the next time. I wish I took a reading when it started funny.

 

try and see if you can't test it under a load, hook up your leads watch meter as you press the starter button. If it drops down to lower then 11 at any point then your bike most likely won't start. It dropping to 12.0 has got me thinking your battery is bad.

what kind of battery are you using?

 

Hmm, 12.0 with the ignition in the "ON" position doesn't sound right.

I just tested mine and it was 12.63 before key on, and 12.4 and dropping with the key on.

You might want to take you battery to the nearest auto parts retailer and have them load test it.

Cheers

 

+1 what smokinjeff said, I didn't even think about doing it that way.

 

I haven't brought it to an auto parts store just yet to do a load test, but the voltage reads 10.8 right when I hit the starter and goes up to 12.4 or so after being started. I agree the battery probably has issues, but I just bought it in April and I bought a new one the year before that too.

This year I kinda of went the cheap route and bought this


Big Crank ETX9 Battery - Free Shipping: BatteryMart.com

I was tired of buying the $100 yuasa every year. I don't get it. I agree the battery probably isn't at it's strongest right now, but something must be robbing it of it's power somewhere.

i'll post back when I get a load test.

 

That looks like a decent battery.

It wouldn't hurt to clean all the connections (both ends) too.

Could the starter be taking a dump and drawing too much? I was helping a guy with a big Virago the other day and I swear his starter was sucking up way too much juice because even with a car battery attached it would struggle to turn the engine over unless at full charge. The engine was fine and ran well once fired up.

 

I bought the 55 dollar walmart battery, and it has worked great for 3 years. So you really don't need to spend that much for a battery. Also mines from walmart, so you know its easy to return if I ever have a problem.

Also where are you from? If the winters are really cold there that can kill your battery. I also highly recommend buying a good battery tender for anytime you store your bike.