Battery trouble
 

My bike is a 89 Yamaha XT600
I replaced the recitifier with a s/h Honda one about 6 weeks ago as bike would not turn over on starter if not used for a few days. Also replaced battery 3 weeks ago.
I am now in Morocco
Every thing has been fine untill yesterday when bike would not turn over fast enough to start,
Some one took a meter reading and battery was showing 13 + volts with engine not running, when pressing starter this figure drops to about 4 volts, got engine running and figure goes up to 14+ but no higher then 15 I was told every thing seems in order.
Then put a very little bit of distilled water in battery and it had enough power to turn over and start, it has been ok today but this evening it was slow to turn over and am worried it will give more problems.
I want to go to the desert, but not with this problem so any suggestions?
Could there be a problem with the starter motor jamming or something

The voltages seam ok, are there any accesiores that could be over loading the charging system? If not I'd check over the bat cables & connections aswell as the startor relay. It's possible the starter may need new brushes if it has a lot of miles on it.

Hi Bolla,

I would also check the thick wire that connects the engine to 0V.
I routed one wrongly on my XT600E when I put the engine back in the frame and the final drive chain cut through it on full rear suspension compression even though it appeared to be nowhere near it normally.
This resulted in similar problems to those you describe.

Good luck

Mark

Thanks for replys
Bike started and ran fine allday today
I dont have any accesiores which could drain power but all my indicators have stopped working, could this be related to problem
Have checked wires and seem fine so am just hoping for the best
Thanks

have you checked the amps draw on the starter motor circuit, poss starter motor problem.

Thanks for replys
dont know how to check the amps draw but will try and work it outwhen i get home.
I am now stuck in Andorra because of snow but would like to get a new battery while here.
What is the best battery
I was told a sealed battery but if I cant find a Yahusa any other good makes
Have seen other makes but made in China which I dont want.
thanks

Hi Bolla,

I'm pretty sure that 'Seald for life' batteries are a different shape to the original type and so won't fit in your battery compartment.

Of course you could modify the compartment, but I'm not convinced that the sealed for life type are any real benefit. The only sure way that I know of to check a battery is to trickle charge it off the bike and then test each cell with a battery hydrometer.
You can't do this with a sealed for life.

If you are using a Honda regulator, does it have an additional 'voltage sense' wire. If so, are you aware that it needs connecting into the positive supply after the ignition switch.

Good luck

Mark