What could it be?

trikeman · Sep 1, 2021

I too like most people who have a battery in a vehicle have a battery story. Had a battery on my Stallion go bad. My trike is a daily driver and went to ride to work one morning and it was totally dead. No power at all. Put it on charge for the day and it took charge and tested good so I rode it for about a week with no issues. I just thought I’d left the lights on and all was good. Riding every day and one morning I started it, backed out of garage and washed it. When I tried to start it bout 1 1/2 hrs later the battery was dead again. Removed left tire and removed battery took it to auto zone. It wouldn’t take charge. Purchased replacement and 2 yrs later l sold Stallion with no more battery issues. :wave4:

GTK · Sep 1, 2021

Your just overthinking the stituation. Go back to diagnostic basics.

Jack Klarich · Sep 1, 2021

GTK said:
Your just overthinking the stituation. Go back to diagnostic basics.

I couldn't agree more, tho looking back @ the OP posts he states he has already determined the problem and fixed it

It will be interesting to see what the fix was

trikeman · Sep 1, 2021

He can’t test a battery without a voltmeter but he’s determined the ignition switch and wiring harness is the problem without the use of a voltmeter. But maybe I’m missing something in his posts. Sometimes I can’t even make sense of my own posting. :Shrug::wave4:

rhino 2 · Sep 1, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
I couldn't agree more, tho looking back @ the OP posts he states he has already determined the problem and fixed it

It will be interesting to see what the fix was

I must of missed that post or missed understood it??........Which number post on this thread was it..:Shrug:..

trikeman · Sep 1, 2021

He can’t test a battery because he doesn’t have a voltmeter but he’s determined the ignition switch and wiring harness is the problem without a voltmeter. But maybe I’m missing something in his posts. Sometimes I can’t even make sense of my own posting. :Shrug::wave4:

Jack Klarich · Sep 1, 2021

rhino 2 said:
I must of missed that post or missed understood it??........Which number post on this thread was it..:Shrug:..

Bob, read his post #10

Maybe it is just me, but I dunno what he is talking about thru this whole thread. He obviously is not using basic diagnostic skills?

Me, I would have first done an on board scan followed with a load test of the battery

trike lady · Sep 1, 2021

Seems like one of the comedy acts that comes to a GW forum with a similar issue. No one checks the battery they just assume its good.

A battery must be good to begin with.
If suspect it must be charged and tested
If you do not have a spare, use the one in a non-running car/truck with jumper cables.
Always check connections.
The engine will start when the ECM senses the proper voltage to fire the ignition system, if it doesn't sense proper voltage the starter will spin.
If you hear click-click and nothing happens, you need a new battery. Doesn't matter how new it is, I had one fail a week later as it had a bad cell.

Modern motorcycles with more complex electrical system where each sensor must receive proper voltage. I can say one other thing and that is I am happy to be retired and do not have to work on this new stuff.

rhino 2 · Sep 1, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
Bob, read his post #10

Maybe it is just me, but I dunno what he is talking about thru this whole thread. He obviously is not using basic diagnostic skills?

Me, I would have first done an on board scan followed with a load test of the battery

My New York/Brooklyn skepticism makes me think we’re going on a ride to nowhere..

..

hardwickbv · Sep 1, 2021

Take this from a guy that made a living testing batteries for the Navy for over 20 years.

You do have a short, when a cell in a battery fails the plates in that cell all short together effectively making 1 cell of the 6 useless.

This will cause all the symptoms that you are getting.

I have had a cell short and shut down all electrical power in a SUV while running 80 MPH in heavy traffic.

Not a fun situation.

A load test will verify this.

The only way to fix it is to replace the battery.

My 2 cents.

Bob

Jack Klarich · Sep 1, 2021

hardwickbv said:
Take this from a guy that made a living testing batteries for the Navy for over 20 years.

You do have a short, when a cell in a battery fails the plates in that cell all short together effectively making 1 cell of the 6 useless.

This will cause all the symptoms that you are getting.

I have had a cell short and shut down all electrical power in a SUV while running 80 MPH in heavy traffic.

Not a fun situation.

A load test will verify this.

The only way to fix it is to replace the battery.

My 2 cents.

Bob

IMO, it is too bad so many batteries are sealed now days

In the past it was fairly common to be able to test individual cells and see right away you had a problem

A Hydrometer test to check each cell, We also used a Sun Machine battery test station to check dead shorted cells, this took all of the guess work out of the equation

trikeman · Sep 1, 2021

I think we’re spitting in the wind.

:wave4:

hardwickbv · Sep 1, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
IMO, it is too bad so many batteries are sealed now days

Yea but on the plus side they now last twice as long, the bigger issue is when they decide to go bad it is with no warning.

You go out in the morning after riding or driving home the day before with no problems an then no joy.

Lithium has is benefits but I've seen some testing on them in the earlier days that would make your head spin.

Can't bring myself to put one under my seat due to what I've seen.

Part of our job was to see how well they would work under normal conditions and in some cases see what it would take to make them rapidly deflagrate. (google it)

Bob

rhino 2 · Sep 1, 2021

hardwickbv said:
Yea but on the plus side they now last twice as long, the bigger issue is when they decide to go bad it is with no warning.

You go out in the morning after riding or driving home the day before with no problems an then no joy.

Lithium has is benefits but I've seen some testing on them in the earlier days that would make your head spin.

Can't bring myself to put one under my seat due to what I've seen.

Part of our job was to see how well they would work under normal conditions and in some cases see what it would take to make them rapidly deflagrate. (google it)

Bob

Those batteries started 55 fires

and a few deaths in New York City when charging scooter batteries….And there’s the Chevy Volt fiasco!

paws · Sep 1, 2021

I love the sealed batteries….no more jerking the side panel to see if it has adequate water.

rhino 2 · Sep 1, 2021

paws said:
I love the sealed batteries….no more jerking the side panel to see if it has adequate water.

I do miss the odor of sulfur when the voltage regulator over chargers...And the theres the hydrogen gas.....That can and will go boom!....I blew one up when i was charging it and the alligator clip caused a spark ....Battery acid and lead plates all over the engine bay.....:gah:..

Jack Klarich · Sep 2, 2021

rhino 2 said:
I do miss the odor of sulfur when the voltage regulator over chargers...And the theres the hydrogen gas.....That can and will go boom!....I blew one up when i was charging it and the alligator clip caused a spark ....Battery acid and lead plates all over the engine bay.....:gah:..

If you ever hear a hissing or whistling sound from a battery, it is about to blow

rhino 2 · Sep 2, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
If you ever hear a hissing or whistling sound from a battery, it is about to blow

Now you tell me.......:laugh:...Where were you in 1968.....

Jack Klarich · Sep 2, 2021

rhino 2 said:
Now you tell me.......:laugh:...Where were you in 1968.....

Jump starting a L J Mack Diesel when the group 4 Batteries blew their tops off

rhino 2 · Sep 2, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
Jump starting a L J Mack Diesel when the group 4 Batteries blew their tops off

Do you remember Abercrombie & Fitch.......The Real Abercrombie & Finch, I was wearing a jacket that i bought from them from their Madison Ave Manhattan Store....Needless to say the battery acid destroyed it...Luckily for me as the battery popped i was looking the other way, Or it probably would have blinded me...