| Author | Message | ||
     Kyrocket |
I'll try to do this in as few words as possible. It's late and I was really hoping to be riding this evening. The bike has been sitting for about seven months now, in that time I've changed all the fluids, replaced both tires, upgraded the primary shoe, wrapped the header, repacked and painted the muffler amongst a few other preventative maintenance issues. Well, I went to Wallyworld tonight and against my better judgment bought a new battery, filled it with the electrolytes and charged it following the instructions. I backed it out of the garage, turned the key and everything went as it should. It fired right up and purred like a kitten. (A WAR KITTEN) The wrap was starting to smoke as I knew it would and I was really proud of myself. I was standing there with a smug smile on my face when it just died, no sputter, no backfire, it just went dead. I've checked all my connections, twice. Checked fuses. I'm getting power to the main fuse. When I turn the key on my front parking light comes on, rear light and the speedo light comes on but that's it. I don't hear a relay click, would they die just like that? Has anyone else ever had this happen? CRAP I just thought of something, I've been bragging about not having any problems with the FI, maybe I've jinxed myself. Oh well, shoot me your ideas and I'll run to the garage and try them. Weather is perfect and here I am beatin' feet. Thanks | ||
| Kyrocket |
BTW it's a '99 X1. | ||
| Iamike |
When I start my '99 S3 I have the 4 second check engine light and the fuel pumps runs. After the pressure builds up it stops and the light goes out. Do you get that far? Sometimes it can be something real simple like the kill switch. | ||
| Tom_b |
You can't use a walmart acid filled battery. It has to be a sealed gel cell type unless you've modified your battery mount, the battery lays on it's side | ||
| Bad_karma |
How did you check the fuses? Joe (Message edited by bad_karma on April 26, 2008) | ||
| Kyrocket |
When I turn the key on I get nada as far as a start sequence. I get no lights on the dash aside from the speedo lighting up, no click from the relays, and no fuel pump buzz. I've wiggled the key, it's getting power there, flipped the switch multiple times to see if it might be a loose connection and double checked the side stand switch which I have jumped but it was all good. The only way I checked my fuses was by pulling them all and checking the ones that should have power with my check light. I must have it bad because I tossed all night thinking about it and laid there trouble shooting through my head. I really want to test out these Metzelers and of course it's supposed to rain today. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Oh yeah, thanks for all the input and about the battery, I went the other day and used their computer to look up the replacement and saw the acid strip across the top and said no thanks. I talked to a friend of mine later who has more experience than I in this dept and he said you had to add the electrolyte once and it had a sealing strip that goes on it and sure 'nuff I went back and read it and it is an AGM battery made to lay flat so we'll see. (Message edited by Kyrocket on April 26, 2008) | ||
| Phat_j |
if it is an agm battery, your fine..... | ||
| Buell2448 |
i have a 99 X1 check the ignition switch when mine gets wet or a little damp i have to cycle it a few times on off ect or it can be just worn out i thought of replacing mine | ||
| Kyrocket |
 SON OF A B!%$H! If everything was this easy. I made a gadget to power up the relays and they checked out fine. I was still getting power to the switch but not after that. WELLL, I put my new horn behind the fly screen and after I pulled out a few grey hairs I thought just maybe. I grabbed the horn, wiggled it a little and viola' I heard a click, fuel pump buzz and I think I may have wet myself a little. After it ran a few minutes it looked like it was on fire the wrap was smoking so much. Took it around the neighborhood a couple times then out on the main road, doubled the posted speed limit a couple times and brought it in. The final drive belt may be a slight bit tight not enough really to warrant an adjustment. It will still touch the swingarm, just not as much as it used to, just the slightest bit of difference. Now if I could just explain to my five year old why daddy wasn't at the birthday party... | ||
| Langperf |
I dont understand....what was the problem. Wiggling the horn shouldnt have an effect on your power gremlins. Did you actually find what was causing the problem? Or will this bite you again | ||
| Jos51700 |
That is an odd occurence. I'm not sure how a horn could cause that. It sounded like a loose ignition switch connector to me (which lives behind the flyscreen). I'm glad you got it straightened out! | ||
| Kyrocket |
I installed a Stebel Nautilus airhorn behind the flyscreen.  I guess in the location that I mounted it and when I snugged it down it caused the ignition connection to disconnect just enough to throw it off. I'll pull the flyscreen off later and make sure it doesn't happen again. Electricity is a frustrating thing. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Michael, You said someting in your original post that concerns me. As mentioned above, you can ONLY use a AGM type battery in your X1. First a lead/acid will leak all over the place and second, it will get shook to death in short order even if it didn't leak. You said you checked and it's an AGM battery, but in your inital post you said you "filled it with the electrolytes " and charged it. You cannot fill an AGM battery, they are ready to go out of the box. If you added acid, it's not an AGM battery. Just want to be sure you don't have the wrong battery and really make a mess of our bike. Acid REALLY raises hell with aluminum and paint... Also, I wouldn't ride too far without checking the wiring issue under the fly screen. Things like that tend to go south at the WORST possible moment.. Brad | ||
| Oldog |
I have had a wall mart battery in the bike for over a year and I had to fill and CAP it after the initial charge. I had it out this winter and its fine.. | ||
| Langperf |
I run a Yuasa YTX20L-BS, the following is from the Yuasa website Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Technology is an advanced battery design used in Yuasa's Maintenance Free Batteries that eliminates water loss. Once it's filled with acid the battery is permanently sealed - so you'll never need to fill it with water or check the acid level. Long Life Because of its lead calcium design, the AGM battery will hold its specific gravity more than three times longer than conventional lead antimony types. This means much longer periods between charges when the battery is used in a standby mode, like winter storage. And to remain factory-fresh the AGM battery is shipped dry along with its own pack of high-gravity acid that's added at the time of installation. Sealed, Non-spillable Once filled with acid from its special packs, the AGM battery is virtually maintenance free. It's totally sealed and all of the acid is absorbed in the special plates and separators, so there is no need to worry about acid leaks on valuable vehicle parts and accessories. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Yeah, what they just said. I'm going riding! I'll try and follow up later to let you know. | ||
| Kyrocket |
...and Brad since this is our bike, you owe me some maintenance fees  | ||
| Kyrocket |
Langperf my # was ES20LBS I think my friend said it cross referenced to the number you have. He was looking in a catalog at the time, just don't know which one. After thinking about it I think I like this process better (until something bad happens) If I have to add the acid I know it's fresh and not been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. I would assume a battery is a part a shop would move a lot of and keep fresh stock but you never know. ...now I'm going riding. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Put a few miles on this evening with no problems, no leaks, no wheels missing, no battery explosions, life is good. Weather is about to turn cold according to the meteorologist, glad I have that gaitor. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
I'll be damned. I've replaced batteries in all our Buells but never had to add acid. I stand corrected. I've always just bought a stock Buell/HD version. Not much price difference and convienient. | ||
| Phat_j |
yeah bluez, some batteries come "loaded" others do not, but they all must be filled at some point..... some companies feel they last longer if they get loaded just before putting into service.... we get them from drag specialties and have to load them all.... back to the orginal post, ya always want to check the last thing that ya did first..... you forgot to mention to us about the horn..... if you had, we probably would have directed you that direction... | ||
| Kyrocket |
Well, I added the horn last year and have put several hundred miles on it since without issue. But, I unhooked it to get into the back of the instrument cluster and headlight to replace some bulbs. I guess when I reattached it it had some ill effects. Oh well, live and learn. Maybe I can point someone in the right direction two years from now when this comes up again. Follow the directions and directly you'll be directed in the direction. Alice in Wonderland |
