Battery always dead! I have tried everything! please help sv650.org

Right,

i am near the end of my patience with the bike.

I have issues with the battery holding charge. As a bit of background... it is 99 curvy sv650s.

I am an occasional user (once a week if i am lucky). Initially i bought a new battery which solved the problem for a while. But now everytime i go to ride it is flat - i always have the prepare and charge the battery before i know i am going for a ride - which rules out the enjoyable spontainious ride on a sunday

I have tried my best to solve the problem using the haynes and your helpful posts on here with people charging/batetry problems but nothing seems to be working.

I have performed the following - Battery fully chaged voltage is good.

Leakage test - leakage seems to be 0 which is strange!
Output test - output is perfect - with lights also.

I have the bike on optimate for the last few days and this still doesn;t seem to help!
What can i check next? how can i check if the battery is just dischargin itself ? or not holding charge?

I charge it using a 4amph charger... is this wrong have i fried it? this is the only thing i can think of now!
If it is knackered it is only 2 months old do you think i would be able to get a free replacement if i say it is faulty?

I was considereing puttin ghte bike up for sale and buying somethin gmore reliable but i really dont want to as this is the only problem with the bike! and as soon as it is started it runs like a dream!!!!!!!
Any comments / help would be much appreciated! I have plenty of tools but limited understanding

My thanks in advance.

sounds like the reg/rec.

there is many a topic on this, and a common problem

[flymo]

Have you measured the voltage across the battery when the engine is running? Do this, then increase the engine revs to something like 3000rpm, you should see the voltage rise up around 13 or 14 volts or so.

Sounds like the regulator/rectifier is knackered.

If the voltage stays around 12 volts or even lower it should back this up.

Originally Posted by andyfordceo

I was considereing puttin ghte bike up for sale and buying somethin gmore reliable but i really dont want to as this is the only problem with the bike! and as soon as it is started it runs like a dream!!!!!!!

..nah dont do that, its a simple thing to fix

Originally Posted by flymo

Have you measured the voltage across the battery when the engine is running? Do this, then increase the engine revs to something like 3000rpm, you should see the voltage rise up around 13 or 14 volts or so.

Sounds like the regulator/rectifier is knackered.

If the voltage stays around 12 volts or even lower it should back this up.

I've been having a similar problem with battery, charging to keep it going.
So here's the idiot Qs;
Where do I find the reg/rect and how much would it cost to replace?
Or where could I find one from?

Ta, bokki

[flymo]

The reg/rec is mounted on the right hand side of the engine bay (when sitting on the bike). its about 3 inches by 2 inches and usually has cooling fins on it.

Replacement original about £100 or so, plenty of aftermarket replacements around also. 20 minute job to change one (that includes making the obligatory cuppa)

Here's one from Electrex - £61

http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/rr85-...ld-3206-0.html

[jambo]

To diagnose the problem efficiently, answer the following questions:

If I charge the battery up, does the bike work? (Proves the battery is, at least initially up to the job at hand)

If I charge the battery up, leave it in the bike for a day or 2 without optimate or other top-up device, and then start the bike does it work? (checking for current leak / discharge)

If I start the bike with a fresh battery and check the voltages, is the bike producing the right voltage to charge the battery back up again?

Batteries are not mystical devices, I'm certain you know this but the system can be looked at in an overly complex way. Just because the battery can't start the bike, doesn't make it the battery's fault. A lump of charge is taken out to start the bike, if the altenator doesn't produce the power, and the regulator / rectifier doesen't modify that voltage to be in an acceptable range, the bike will never charge the battery back up, it may also continue using power from the battery for lights, fueling and spark.

Even if it charges it up, if there's a current leak (a leak through a damaged reg-rec is not unknown) will eventually fritter it all away so there's none left when you start back up.

Have a think about exactly how it's behaving and you'll get it nailed.

Jambo

I have a curvy 99 too and had the same problem as you, in that case it was a regulator/rectifier fault. it was a simple matter of putting in a new one, easy job. don't sell the bike, take time and fix it, its worth it!

Originally Posted by flymo

The reg/rec is mounted on the right hand side of the engine bay (when sitting on the bike). its about 3 inches by 2 inches and usually has cooling fins on it.

On the SV it is behind the rear cowling on the RHS of the bike attached to the rear subframe.

Originally Posted by flymo

Have you measured the voltage across the battery when the engine is running? Do this, then increase the engine revs to something like 3000rpm, you should see the voltage rise up around 13 or 14 volts or so.

Sounds like the regulator/rectifier is knackered.

If the voltage stays around 12 volts or even lower it should back this up.

Or indeed more than 14 volts indicating the same.

Originally Posted by Stig_Of_The_Dump

On the SV it is behind the rear cowling on the RHS of the bike attached to the rear subframe.

indeed it is, or on the 99 in question it is.........

aparantly on pointys its on the engine somewhere?