SV battery losing charge when not in use.
 

Yet another problem in the long list of problems, so I'm back here looking for another opinion once more.

For the last week or so my bike has been dying every time I turn the engine off. Today I made sure the battery was fully charged, rode it for about 20 minutes, then left it for about 20 minutes, and when I tried to start it all I heard was a single click from the starter solenoid/relay.

Bump started it, rode home, the same 20 minute journey, and when I got home I stopped it and then started it a few times and it was starting fine without any problems, left it for another 20 minutes and then it wouldn't start again.

I don't think it can be earthing anywhere as the bike was fine before the last week and the only thing I had done before that was to tighten up the bolts in the alternator rotor as they were a bit loose.

So my guess is that it is either the battery itself or the reg/rec.

I was gonna take the battery back to where I bought it from (only about 6 months ago) and get them to test it, so that will hopefully eliminate the problem but incase it isn't that, what else is it likely to be?

Thanks.

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

Assuming that you can always ride fine when you've bump started, and it will always start again a short time after it's been ridden (suggesting the charging circuit is refilling the battery), 2 possibilities spring to mind:
1) Something is draining the battery - use a multimeter to measure current draw between the battery and either positive or negative lead when the bike is off.
2) The battery itself is failing to hold a charge

Charge the battery, and check the charging circuit (do a search on here) to make sure that the voltages being handed to the battery are correct, no point replacing the battery and having the next one killed by the same fault.

Jambo

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

I'm guessing the battery, as Jambo (hello sweet cheeks) says, once you jump it you'll have a bit of charge on it but you rode it for a while.

When I had a charging problem on the Blade, I could charge the battery enough in the garage to start the bike but then it would die quickly, certainly not enough to let me get off the driveway let alone ride for 20 minutes, as no charge was getting back to the battery to keep it going.

I'm thinking that you can jump/bump start it and once it's running the charging system is putting charge to the battery and letting the bike run, but when you stop the battery hasn't held on to any of it hence your problem.

I think, if you can get a multi-meter, your first check would be to get the bike started and see what voltage you get across the battery at idle and then with a bit if revs that will initially show you if voltage is going back to the battery

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

Just went to look for my multimeter and can't find it, but while I was in my garage I checked my battery charger, it was showing fully charged, but when I tried to start the bike it was just giving me the single solenoid click.

So I suspect that the battery is buggered.

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

Do you mean "click, click, click, click" or just "click hummmmmm"

This sounds daft, but is there another battery you can try that's known good? I ask as the starter motor being goosed would also leave you able to bump but not start on the button, and if the relay clicks "on" and stays there the battery is usually providing good voltage...

Jambo

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

I don't know anybody with a curvy SV but I might be able to blag a battery from a pointy SV if they are interchangeable.

Are they?

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

Do find your multimeter or buy another one as fumbling about trying to solve an electrical issue without one is likely to be futile.You need to know if your battery is good,and if your bike is charging the battery correctly.

Battery from a pointy is fine.
When you're hitting that starter button and getting the click. Have you noticed if the dash lights appear dim or not before and or after hitting the button.
If they appear fine then the way the bike is running after being bumped and starting again whilst still warm supports a starter motor fault.

Get a mate to hit the outside of the starter motor with a hammer while you hit the starter button. If it spins up and fires into life then you've got a knackered starter motor.

If that doesn't work, hit your mate with said hammer. It Won't fix the bike but it'll cheer you up.

Another possibility is the starter relay itself, easiest way to check that tough is to swap it with another.

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

for lack of anyway to test it,after you come back from a run with what appears to be fully charged battery,disconect the wires from the battery and reconect next time you need the bike,if the battery is flat then it would look like the battery is buggered as it could not leak its charge when disconected from the bike

Re: SV losing charge when not in use
 

I have same issue with my curvy. New reg and bat, leaks voltage when switched off. Multimeter gives 12.5v when tested on positive bat terminal and frame. Driving me nuts.