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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through April 15, 2018 » S1 lightning: Blows my battery every 5months or so..... « Previous Next »

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Steven_vuyk
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 10:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hi gents.
I'm worried about my s1. She is blowing batteries. Where would i start?
I did the trouble light test like the manual says.
I've got a new stator in.
How to test regulator?
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Hootowl
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I believe there's a regulator test section in the manual as well. You're thinking it's overcharging or undercharging? What kind of batteries are you buying? Do you keep it on a tender? I ask about the battery brand because I can't get one of the new HD batteries to last more than a year. They used to be good for 5-10. In fact, I just bought a 96 S1 that still has the factory battery in it. Starts like a champ.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yes, there is a stator test procedure in the manual...but the bike has to be running in order to do it.

Define "blowing batteries" - dead? Or literally blowing up?

+1 on the "what battery"?
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Steven_vuyk
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 09:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ok i have tried a gel battery which blew the top cover off and prior to that was two cheaper ones. First one wich eas a 14ah and the first one i bought ws a 18ah. Both dead cells and the gel popped.
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Steven_vuyk
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 09:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So three batteries in batteries in 1 and a half yrs
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Ratbuell
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 09:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Have you tried a stock AGM battery?
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Hootowl
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 09:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I hear really good things about the Duracell AGM batteries. I plan to go that route for my next one.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/motorcycle/b uell/s1-lightning/1200cc/1996/cyl10001
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Buellbum
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 10:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

did you put a volt meter across the battery terminals with motor running to see how much voltage your bike is putting out? if it's high, replace your regulator.

(Message edited by buellbum on January 11, 2018)
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Williamscottrobertson
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 11:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Duracell from batts Plus are good, 2yr warranty about $100, 10% off code available for online ordering and store pickup. I just ordered a shorai for my kawi. It was $130 to my door, same 2 year warranty and excellent reviews from some trusted moto head friends of mine.
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Buellbum
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 12:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

start your bike and check the voltage at the battery posts. it should be about 14v. sounds like your voltage regulator is allowing too much charge.

DO NOT replace the battery if you have a charging issue.

also; you can bring old batteries back to life with a "battery desulfator". they are all over ebay. if your battery is totally bad they won't work but if it's just sulfated then they work great.

(Message edited by buellbum on January 11, 2018)

(Message edited by buellbum on January 11, 2018)
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Ratbuell
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

a gel battery which blew the top cover off and prior to that was two cheaper ones. First one wich eas a 14ah and the first one i bought ws a 18ah. Both dead cells and the gel popped.

Desulfator won't put humpty dumpty back together again...
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Buellbum
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 06:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

---Desulfator won't put humpty dumpty back together again...---

nope, it was just a suggestion for the future and others who don't know about desulfators. but what amazes me is that he just keeps buying batteries and didn't do a basic voltage test.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 09:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

says the man who took apart the rear suspension while trying to drain primary oil.
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Court
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 10:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you soak a completely dead battery in a mixture of cherry kool-aid and ketchup if will not only come back to life with a full charge . . it will ultimately last about 14 months longer than a new battery.

P.S. - for this to work effectively . . it must be completely submerged.
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S1owner
Posted on Friday, January 12, 2018 - 12:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Court with old school again love it!!

Its not your battery need to run down the problem!

+1 on the Duracell I have one on my softail! But make sure you get the correct one they love to cell you the one that is off shore made for cheaper and the lesser crank amps!!

I also run an earthX lithium on my buell and it has been great. Their customer service is top notch also!!
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Buellbum
Posted on Friday, January 12, 2018 - 09:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

---says the man who took apart the rear suspension while trying to drain primary oil.---

look, don't respond to my post, ok. i don't need nor do i want your advice.
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Steven_vuyk
Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018 - 04:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I removed the 2 pin plug and got 35 vac to 50 vac when revving up.
Put plug back and teated across terminals and got 13.4vdv to 14.5vdc when revving.
Doesn't that mean its okay?
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Harleyelf
Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018 - 11:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Go to a 20 Amp hour battery like the Interstate. If your charging current is correct, you are drawing too much load or have bad grounds somewhere.

Your numbers are good. Overcharging would show more than 15 volts at the battery.
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Steven_vuyk
Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018 - 03:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks for all the help. I'll do that next time and see how far i get.
Safe travels.
L H & R
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Brother_in_buells
Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 01:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Maybe you could put something together for measuring while riding!

Could be happening that things go south when getting hotter.
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Gmaple
Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2018 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My guess is somewhere in your wire harness is a wire that is shorting or providing a low resistance load on your battery. This would require an electrical schematic of your harness ans suggest disconnecting wires one at a time that are not part of the electrical charging system as a start. A higher amp battery wont fix your problem. You need to find what is loading your battery.
Good luck with your trouble shooting
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Gmaple
Posted on Friday, February 16, 2018 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Looks like i was the last one on this link and probably jinxed myself. I was riding home last friday and S2 started cutting out intermittenly with a loss of lights turn signals and ignition Im an electrical engineer by trade and thought it would be an easy trouble shoot...NOT. i did finally track it down though. I wont bore you all with the details but tracked it down to the stock headlight was shorting +12v headlight circuit down. The reason the motorcycle was cutting out was due to the head light circuit breaker not tripping and this eventually overcame the charging capacity of lighting coil and took the battery down enough to impact the ignition.

The reason the headlight cb did not pop was the short wasnt 0 ohms. The short drew about 11 amps which is 3 amps below cb rating.

Long story short the lead acid battery is also shot. Im not saying this is the problem on the original thread but i suspect it is similar. I could not have root caused without a schematic and a dmm.
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