Optimate gives green light but bike won't start - SV650.org

22-05-08, 11:11 AM

My K5 just hardly turns over even though I've had it hooked up to my HG badged Optimate last night and am getting a green light. The battery has run flat around 3-4 times over the past 18 months but the Optimate has managed to bring it back to life although on the last occasion - where I *could* start it afterwards - it seemed to complete the charge cycle significantly quicker and then ran flat in about 3-4 days, even though I had a 2 hour ride using all of the rev range afterwards.

Last night it seemed to complete quicker too. Is the battery just knackered?

Ta.

G · 22-05-08, 11:16 AM

From all the discharging and recharging there a good chance by now the battery is probably knackered.

It sounds like there is a deeper issue though of something draining power....Do you have an alarm? unfortunately it could be absolutely anything electrical.

fizzwheel · 22-05-08, 11:20 AM

My optimate said the battery in my GSXR was OK, however it wouldnt start.

I fitted a new battery and all was well again. I'd suggest new battery time personally but you want to test it first to make sure before splashing out cash, if you have a volt meter its easy to do.

If your bikes alarmed then I suspect the alarm has drained the battery panacake flat which isnt good from what I have read for the sealed gel batteries.

22-05-08, 11:22 AM

yes try and get the battery tested 1st with a voltage meter and see what that says before going and getting a new battery at around £50 quid when you may not need it.

22-05-08, 11:38 AM

Yep - I've got a Datatool alarm which does go off now and then.

mister c · 22-05-08, 11:51 AM

Pop down to your local battery stockist or motor factors, they have a tool that will tell you whether its u/s or not

fizzwheel · 22-05-08, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ak_uk

Yep - I've got a Datatool alarm which does go off now and then.

Thats what your problem is, the alarm draws a small voltage from the battery and if you dont use your bike everyday or leave it stood for a period of months or even weeks then the alarm gradually flattens the battery.

G · 22-05-08, 12:31 PM

Put your optimate lead somewhere easily accessible and just put it on charge everytime you put your bike away in the garage, if its a decent (latest)optimate it wont overcharge your battery, it will just maintain it. That way your battery wont keep discharging itself to complete flatness which is what completely knackers batteries. Car/Bike batteries can only go completely dead so many times.

northwind · 22-05-08, 12:59 PM

The optimate green light doesn't mean "battery is fine", it just means "battery is as charged as I can make it"- the Optimate doesn't know what the spec of the battery is so all it can say is whether it's working as well as it can... So once the battery goes wrong, it'll charge it up as high as it'll go then show a green light.

22-05-08, 06:05 PM

i had this the other day, went to the new bike shop in leatherhead, tried to go home and nothing. The clerk tested the voltage and it was 11.6v, luckily i got a boost to get it started. But while I was there the guy was explaining all about batteries, got home charged the battery up, right as rain.

22-05-08, 11:11 AM	#1
ak_uk Guest Posts: n/a	Optimate gives green light but bike won't start My K5 just hardly turns over even though I've had it hooked up to my HG badged Optimate last night and am getting a green light. The battery has run flat around 3-4 times over the past 18 months but the Optimate has managed to bring it back to life although on the last occasion - where I could start it afterwards - it seemed to complete the charge cycle significantly quicker and then ran flat in about 3-4 days, even though I had a 2 hour ride using all of the rev range afterwards. Last night it seemed to complete quicker too. Is the battery just knackered? Ta.

22-05-08, 11:16 AM	#2
G Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,770	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start From all the discharging and recharging there a good chance by now the battery is probably knackered. It sounds like there is a deeper issue though of something draining power....Do you have an alarm? unfortunately it could be absolutely anything electrical. __________________ 6.67300 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2

22-05-08, 11:20 AM	#3
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start My optimate said the battery in my GSXR was OK, however it wouldnt start. I fitted a new battery and all was well again. I'd suggest new battery time personally but you want to test it first to make sure before splashing out cash, if you have a volt meter its easy to do. If your bikes alarmed then I suspect the alarm has drained the battery panacake flat which isnt good from what I have read for the sealed gel batteries. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

22-05-08, 11:22 AM	#4
sv650k4 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start yes try and get the battery tested 1st with a voltage meter and see what that says before going and getting a new battery at around £50 quid when you may not need it.

22-05-08, 11:38 AM	#5
ak_uk Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start Yep - I've got a Datatool alarm which does go off now and then.

22-05-08, 11:51 AM	#6
mister c Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posts: 2,326	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start Pop down to your local battery stockist or motor factors, they have a tool that will tell you whether its u/s or not __________________ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/croozenooze/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/colin.hughes.1213?ref=tn_tnmn Yoo Toob https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjG...eMWUx4Ud2dK-yA

22-05-08, 12:31 PM	#8
G Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,770	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start Put your optimate lead somewhere easily accessible and just put it on charge everytime you put your bike away in the garage, if its a decent (latest)optimate it wont overcharge your battery, it will just maintain it. That way your battery wont keep discharging itself to complete flatness which is what completely knackers batteries. Car/Bike batteries can only go completely dead so many times. __________________ 6.67300 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2

22-05-08, 12:59 PM	#9
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start The optimate green light doesn't mean "battery is fine", it just means "battery is as charged as I can make it"- the Optimate doesn't know what the spec of the battery is so all it can say is whether it's working as well as it can... So once the battery goes wrong, it'll charge it up as high as it'll go then show a green light. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

22-05-08, 06:05 PM	#10
StevF Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Optimate gives green light but bike won't start i had this the other day, went to the new bike shop in leatherhead, tried to go home and nothing. The clerk tested the voltage and it was 11.6v, luckily i got a boost to get it started. But while I was there the guy was explaining all about batteries, got home charged the battery up, right as rain.

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