G oog le Buell 1125R Forum | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile


Buell Forum » 1125R Superbike Board » Archives 001 » Archive through April 16, 2008 » Stone Dead Battery Discussion « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

C4bird
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I am now officially one of the battery/charging system issue people. Went out to start the bike to take it to the dealer, turn the key, and nothing. Measure the voltage, read 5.06vdc. Last rode the bike on Monday, voltage when it got home measured 12.72 (religeous about measuring voltage when I get home for the last 2 months).

Was hoping with the help of the other owners with the dead battery issue, could pool some facts on a few things, such as:

Key position while the bike sat
Kill switch position
Temp where the bike was located while it sat
Mileage
Early built run, or later
Anything out of the ordinary or strange on the last ride
How many times has it happened
How long did it sit when it did happen

Dealer is being really cool about it. They just came and picked the bike up (was scheduled to come in for a repair to fix an antifreeze leak, the spontaneous cracked mirror), because of the dead battery. Hopefully they find something out, I'll keep everyone posted if they do.

Other than the couple of items (which has only kept me from riding twice) the bike has been flawless. Runs super smooth, economy is getting better with every tank of gas, and the power is awesome (just broke over my break in miles last weekend, I know I know, I am a little slow, guess I just don't like riding in the cold much : ) ). This one will for sure be in my stable for a long time to come.

-Nate
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bobup
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 01:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Twice
1st time was after 10 days
2nd time was after 5 days
the rest of the info is the same for both
garaged temps between mid 30s to high 40s
ignition turned to "lock" position
kill in "run" position
running fine before hand
now at aprox 1,000 miles
picked up new in mid January

ECM has just been replaced by BMC to "resolve" this issue...unknown yet if this fixed it or not...will know more next week after picking it up...and having let it sit between yesterday and Monday
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Andrewwegbert
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 04:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It's my under standing that the bike does a "systems check" every minute whether the bike is on or not, hence draining the battery. The only solution so far is to keep it on a battery tender while not in use.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Reepicheep
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 05:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)


quote:

It's my under standing that the bike does a "systems check" every minute whether the bike is on or not, hence draining the battery. The only solution so far is to keep it on a battery tender while not in use.




I'm guessing that a bug like that might have shown up at some point during testing ;)

I saw 25 1125R's at mid ohio, and the truck they were transported in, and the garage where they were stored, and I am sure I didn't see 25 battery tender cables lying around...

(well, they *started* with 25 bikes... they ended the day with 23.7 of them... and some R&D data : ( ).
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cataract2
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 06:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

23.7?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Reepicheep
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 07:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Two of them didn't live to see the end of the day, one boink was pretty minor (.3) but the other lowsided (left) hit a curb (top) highsided (right) and tumbled (right left right top right top right right left back).

It wasn't pretty...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

C4bird
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 08:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks Bobup. Interesting, my bike was in nearly the exact same conditions, only difference is kill switch in the off position, and I got the bike in December.

I had heard the system check theory before, but not sure of the validity of it. The bike sat for 3 weeks without being touched in February, and only dropped .2 volts during that time. If the system check theory where true, then it would have died then.

Dealer called back and they want to charge the battery overnight and see if there is any draw on the system (pretty sure that won't show much since it happened before and was fine for a couple months after a good charge, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt). Bobup, keep us posted on the ECM swap, wondering if they'll do the same with mine if they don't find anything.

-Nate
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Benm2
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 08:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

5V sounds like shot (internally shorted) battery. Dead battery is still over 11v.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigdog_tim
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I was one with a "battery/charging issue". My dealer diagnosed it as a bad VR. I have NOT had the bike on a tender since replacing the VR (only because I want to satisfy myself that is the only problem).

So - far, volts pre-start up are all in the 12.5+ range. I have put 600 miles on the bike since the new VR - most of it short trips (commuting to work).

I got my bike mid-December - it lived in the garage from January to early March (only rode a day or so). My bike died after a 150 mile ride (with RPMS steady over 4K). Charged it - got it to dealer - they declared bad VR - and life has been great ever since.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Fresnobuell
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 11:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine was made in December and delivered right around the first of the year. Is this a trend?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Dtx
Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 11:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Probably not. I have a December bike and have had zero battery/electrical issues.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Zac4mac
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 12:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Nate - did the battery charge back up?
If so, not to be insulting, but is there a chance you put it in park instead of lock?
I've done it myself...

Mine's early November build and no E-trouble.

Z
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

C4bird
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 09:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Zac, First time it did charge back up, not sure about this time, dealer isn't open yet. Been in the garage every day this week, key was in the lock position, nothing lit up or on, no noises coming from it (ie. fuel pump cycling). Mines a November build too.

Both times it died where odd, had the exact same conditions probably a dozen times, with very little if any voltage drop all the times it didn't die. Noticed nothing out of place or out of the ordinary each time it did die.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Zac4mac
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 10:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The ECMs have a "data capture" feature, I THINK.

I'm sure I remember an Anony comment along those lines, before HD corporate came down on them.

I don't remember if there were any details about data set, sample rate or what , but that could be the way they expect to find "intermittent system incidents".

If they swap out your ECM, that could be a clue.

Z
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bobup
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Zac
I am positive that I had it in "lock" and not "park"....I have an XB9SX since Sept. '04....same type of ignition....so I am familiar with the ignition switch positions
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Zac4mac
Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 04:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I don't doubt that Bob.
Just, being the most obvious, it has to be asked.

I've tried to leave Loretta sit for a few days and see what happens.
She did sit for a week in Feb with little to no voltage drop.

My fingers are crossed for y'all.

Z
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Password:
E-mail:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration