| Author | Message | ||
     Johnashker |
I have found my battery dead on two occasions after having ridden only days before. I brought it in to have the charging system checked and was told it was fine. Tonight I went into my garage an noticed that the cluster was still on. The security system keeps it on for 4 minutes to enter the PIN then turns off. I see now that it sometimes does not shut off. It had been on for 27 hours when I found it. Anyone else having this issue? | ||
| Sheridan_bueller |
I found mine on, once, due to a weakly charged battery. Don't make much sense but that was the cause. JJ (Message edited by Sheridan_Bueller on October 14, 2008) | ||
| Chevycummins |
I never had any visible clue that mine was on but was having dead battery problems sometimes. I found that my cluster was also killing the battery and tested it and found a 178mA draw sometimes. Had the cluster replaced and no more problems. I had never set mine up for a PIN #. When talking to Buell about it I got the feeling that at that time they knew there was a problem but they could not put their finger on it at that time. They were very interested in what I had found and told me to tell my dealer to make sure the old cluster got back to them for testing. I feel that some other people are having the same problem but just started to use a battery maintainer to keep the battery charged. Won't they be surprised in the cost of the cluster after the warranty runs out! | ||
| Ccryder |
Remind me how you tested this draw. Thx | ||
| Chevycummins |
Ccryder, the first thing I did was buy the Battery Bug monitor and installed that. One day the voltage on the bug was dropping so I checked it all day and later that night the voltage had dropped under 12V and the bug was beeping. Mind you this draw was very random and I would not have known the voltage was dropping without the bug until the battery was dead. I connected my Fluke 87 leads to the battery cable terminal and the battery lug, then with the Fluke set to Amp I disconnected the cable from the battery without disturbing the voltage to the bike. I had a 178mA draw. I suspected the cluster so I started to pull fuses one at a time and pulled the cluster fuse last and that was the one. The draw went away. I put the fuse back in and the draw was gone. The draw that I had was very hard to find because it was so random. The dealer could never find the draw. The Battery Bug really helped me find out when it had the draw. When I talked to Buell about it I told them how I tested it and they were convinced with my diag and sent my dealer the cluster. Buell is a great company! | ||
| Chevycummins |
I extended the wires on the bug and mounted it just below the cluster. It was easy to see there and I could look at it while walking by the bike in my garage. Just cycling the key would kinda reset the draw and make it go away until next time. It would take about a day and a half to kill the battery to the point of not starting. It would just click. | ||
| Clarkjw |
USE THE KILL SWITCH! | ||
| Ccryder |
I use mine all the time. I find it interesting that when: A) I shut down with the kill switch B) Turn off the key C) Then turn the kill switch back to "run" (So I can start it next time) I hear the fan pick up speed. It's like even with the key off, there is draw on the battery until the kill switch is back to "run". Just a little more food for thought. Later | ||
| Chevycummins |
If you look at the wire diagram it really makes no difference if the kill switch is used. In general I never use the kill switch and have no more battery problems now after the cluster was replaced. The bike has not been on a tender for 3 months now and I do lots of short trip to work and the voltage is always 12.6 to 12.8V when started after sitting overnight. I tried the kill switch thing when I was having the problem and found no noticeable difference in draw with my meter. | ||
| Choppercz |
I noticed that if I accidently turned my key all the way to the parking lights mode then turn it to the lock position, the cluster would remain on even after the 4 minutes. So if I accidently go to the parking lights position, I then turn the key all the way to the run position, then turn it back to the off or lock position. Haven't had the cluster stay on since. Hope that made since.... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Well, I just had my second dead battery today. Odd this thread pops up after no dead battery threads for months it seems. Anyway, I am convinced that the dead battery issue is linked to the cluster as I have been monitoring the front O2 sensor via ODIS since my reflash a couple weeks ago. I had NO problems for months when I left the cluster alone. Maybe this is the opportunity to upgrade to the new cluster... I am just wondering how to prove to BMC that the cluster is the culprit? I don't have CHevy's diagnostic skills. | ||
| Kttemplar |
I had the same problem. I have not had any battery issues for months. I had one when I first got the bike before the first re-flash and was scared to take it off the tender after that. I finally started keeping it off the tender and have been doing so for about three months. I was messing with the IC to reset the time and service counter and the next morning the bike did not have enough power to turn over the battery. Luckily, I upgraded to the more powerful power tender plus, which charges at 5 amps and has a 4 stage cycle, and only had to put it on for a short time to get it back up. Mike | ||
| Chevycummins |
Fresnobuell, give Buell a call, they know there were some problems with the clusters. The clusters have had a couple of revisions now. At least that is what I was told. They may have a good way for the dealer to pinpoint the problem by now. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Fresnobuell, give Buell a call, they know there were some problems with the clusters. The clusters have had a couple of revisions now. At least that is what I was told. They may have a good way for the dealer to pinpoint the problem by now. I will do that this morning, but I just know that they are going to tell me to take it into the dealer....I report back what they tell me... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Customer Service was a joke of course. Trying to contact my service mgr to have him inquire with BMC to see if they can shed some light on this IC battery drainage issue. | ||
| Chevycummins |
Fresno, if you can't get anywhere with the dealer or Buell PM me and I'll see if I can help in some way. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Thanks Chevy, my service mgr has already forwarded to his contact at Buell my email describing the issue . We will see what comes of it. I will surely ask for your help if this doesn't get me anywhere. Thanks again. | ||
| Buzzie |
heres a thought for all you folks ....any time you have electrical problems ..they are sometimes related to ground problems ...especially when a switch seems to be creating the problem...... Check the ground between the subframe and the the fuel tank. | ||
| Buzzie |
also ..if your odometer resets to zero.....just disconnect the battery for about twenty mins and it should go back to normal | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I am happy with the progress being made btw Buell and service manager. Bike will go in for testing before the cluster is deemed the culprit--I just bummed as the Battery Tender has been on for 36 hours and its still solid red... | ||
| Chevycummins |
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!  | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Fresno, if it is the cluster, tell them you want an 09 cluster. That way you get the gear indicator.  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Thanks guys. I will keep my fingers crossed that the '09 cluster might be an option. I have always wanted a gear indicator (GREAT addition BMC.) Not sure I like the way the information is displayed on the '09 clusters, but it is worth the tradeoff IMO. | ||
| Ccryder |
" I just bummed as the Battery Tender has been on for 36 hours and its still solid red..." Bad Battery, or bad connections. Verify all battery connections are tight including the one's that were supposed to be tightened during the first re-flash. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Bad Battery, or bad connections. Verify all battery connections are tight including the one's that were supposed to be tightened during the first re-flash. I will tonight, but my first dead battery last spring took 2.5 days to get it to a point where the engine would turnover. I think the Battery Tender Jr is the epitome of "trickle" charger. | ||
| Doerman |
Bad Battery, or bad connections. Probably, but not necessarily. If the battery is totally flat, a tender does not have enough power to bring it up. A few hrs on a charger should do it. | ||
| Ccryder |
Yeah I have the "real" Battery tender versus "jr". I don't know about the "jr" but mine takes a few hours/ overnight. Never really timed it since it was good-to-go in the AM when I was ready2Ride. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Junior is a battery maintainer, not a charger it seems. I may jump start her tomorrow morning and charge it up the fun way. Jumping from truck to bike shouldn't harm anything, correct? | ||
| Bman12r |
Yes, I think Buell is having some problems with the clusters in 08 1125R models. I have had the opposite problems of the cluster not working at all. No connection to/from the ECM. No mileage recording either. The problem was fixed by replacing the ECM. Now everything OK. On the battery tender jr. topic, keep in mind that a Battery Tender Jr. IS NOT a battery charger. It has nowhere near enough output to recharge a dead battery. Not designed for that. It is for maintaining a good condition, charged battery. If you guys want a better battery maintenance charger, I have a contact for a Deka unit that is similar to a Batter Tender, but output is more. I got mine from a friend who is a local battery dealer. Call Harrell Batteries at (301)868-1170 | ||
| Ccryder |
You really do need to use a good charger to get a fresh charge on the AGM battery if it has been drained down to "dead". The many hour charging with a charger, that is designed for this type of battery, will avoid all sorts of issues and troubles. Some of the Maint-free batteries can develop a "surface charge" that keeps them from being fully charged if not charged correctly over a period of hours. Just jumping it off your truck should not be an issue getting the bike started but, charging it by riding it probably won't do what is really required to get a full charge. YRMV but this has been my experience. Time2Roll Neil S. |
