Duff battery

I´ve had a fair few issues with the SV since buying about a year ago. One of them has been a problem getting her started. I tested it last time she wouldn´t start and the battery read a touch over 12V, this wasn´t enough to get the starter motor ticking over. I removed the battery and charged it up fully a few days ago. This left the battery at 13.98V. I left it overnight (disconnected from battery/multimeter and lying on the bench on its own), when I checked it the next day it had dropped down to 12.48V.

Is this a sign of a duff battery? If so, can someone supply me with the battery model number so I can order a new one. Any other ideas folks?

After the problems I'd been having as detailed above I bought a new battery. I've had it in the bike for a week or so and it has been working fine.

When I went to start the bike today it wouldn't turn over. I removed the battery an charged to 13.3V. By the time I had it reinstalled in the bike it had self-discharged to 13.16V. I then put in the key and turned on the ignition switch. Instantly the battery dropped to 12.2V without me doing anything (lights were switched off, heated grips not connected, starter button not pressed).

Is this a sign of a loose or corroded connection somewhere, faulty reg/rec, faulty alternator or something else completely?

the ignition will make the battery drop a bit about 1.00v AFAIK

Cheers!

What voltage should I be charging the battery to?

i have had battery probs, but

mine seems to charge to 13.50 then drop to 12.39 overnight, but stays there, which seems enough to start MY bike?

i think mine is on its last legs, (only 6 months old)

I'll try to charge the battery overnight to see what voltage it reads then take it from there, thanks.

[Biker Biggles]

The only way to deal with this is to thoroughly check the charging system,not just assume its the battery and keep buying new ones.If the reg is fubar it will cook a battery very quickly however often you buy a new one.Check the manual or any of the dozens of threads on here for exactly what to do.

[yorkie_chris]

yup check charging system

[embee]

Some useful background info on the Yuasa site

Immediately after charging a lead-acid battery will show something over 13V but will settle down to it's "normal" well charged level of typically 12.5 or 12.7V or thereabouts over a short time. That's normal. Providing it wil maintain 12.5V or so for several days it's probably OK.

Check all your connectors (especially the reg/rec) and fuses (including the big one in the starter relay), get hold of some aerosol contact cleaner (Maplins etc) or even use WD40 and make sure they are all clean and in good condition. Take connectors apart , spray, and refit a couple of times to wipe the contacts. You can get quite a high volts drop across poor connections or dirty/corroded terminals. That interferes with charging as well as getting power out of the battery.

Check the battery terminals, make sure they are clean (use WD40 and a scouring pad or scotchbrite to clean them up) and use some vaseline on them when re-fitting (next best thing to "battery terminal grease").

Voltage on its own doesn't tell you very much, at this time of year the most important thing is "cold cranking amps" or CCA, and that is down to the battery spec principally. You should be looking for batteries in the region of 200CCA for the SV650 to ensure good starting.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but this is the first chance I've had to look at the bike since all your replies. I've been working away recently and have a short time at home so thought this was the the ideal opportunity to get the damn bike running again.

So, I have a new battery which has been charged up fully in the house using a trickle charger. I put the battery in the bike, turned the ignition on (light switch set to off), choke set to full, throttle at off position, clutch in and press the starter button. The result is the bike turns over nicely but won't start.

The starter sounds to be running and I'm getting the whump whump of ignition (and some air flow exiting exhaust). I can smell petrol from the exhaust so it looks like there is fuel getting through. I took out the rear spark plug (easiest one to get to) to check the state of that. Plugs are only 6 months old and looks to be in quite good condition and had some unburnt fuel on it. The battery voltage does drop off from the repeated start attempts but is still holding up pretty strongly. The voltage is still about 13V after my start attempts.

I've also tried starting with combinations of choke on/off, throttle closed/half/full. One possible problem I've found is that my throttle is extremely tight. The throttle doesn't even return to the off position when I let go. I have to use some might to get the throttle to open all the way. I think it may be time for a new throttle cable.

Any ideas folks?