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Battery Issues
- clutch
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So, I'm out riding (approx 15 miles), in the hopes that the battery will charge. I stop for a smoke and left the bike running. On my short trip home from there (roughly 3 miles) I noticed that the blinkers did not seem to be working unless the engine was revving high. I got home, turned into the driveway and was backing her into the garage and she died on me.
Here's the strange part...my first thought is that my new dual headlight setup (I think it's a 55/60w H4 setup for each light) was draining the battery, and that the sirius radio on for the whole ride today didn't make anything better. But when I hooked up the battery charger, the green light came right on indicating a fully charged battery. So, I unhooked it, turned the key and pushed the button...nothing...no click, no noise what so ever...just a barely noticeable flicker of the "dash lights".
So...do I need a new battery, or can anyone deduce some other problem? Is the dual headlight setup too much for the little battery???
Thanks guys,
Clutch
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- oldkaws4ever
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- Have no regrets...... You only live once.
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74 Z1a 900 (Apart and making it better than ever)
77 Kz 650b (Threw a rod, going to sandwich in a 900 or 1000 motor)
76 Kz 400d
05 ninja zx-636
81 Kz 750 Ltd
Darien, Illinois
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- clutch
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Hey clutch, i would try going back to the stock headlight to see if it makes the problem go away. Do you know how old the battery is? Is the water level in between the indicated lines? I know my z1 was doing the same thing you were describing, i went ahead and ordered a sealed gel type battery for it at a place called bikebatts.com.
Not sure about battery age. It came with the bike when I got it earlier this year. So far I have had no problems, but I am thinking since the charger does not seem to be making things any better (now hours later), that it is most likely the battery.
Is there an advantage, performance/charge/cca/ca wise, to the sealed gel battery over the fillable stock style ones?
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- Patton
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Would charge battery overnight, then check charging system by measuring voltage across battery terminals. At idle rpm look for 12+ volts. At 3000~4000 rpm, look for 14+ volts.
Imo, it's okay to jump from a automobile battery so long as the automobile engine in NOT running.
Symptoms do indicate that battery won't hold a charge. Are fluid levels correct? Has specific gravity been checked (little floating balls test)?
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- clutch
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Would assure negative battery cable has good clean ground where it attaches to the engine (or frame).
Hmmm....
This may very well be the issue. I didn't think much of it earlier, but when I hooked up the jumper cables, I put the negative on the frame ground first. It wouldn't stat, and moved it directly to the neg batt "post", and she started right up. I will go check that right now!!!
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- clutch
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The new battery is completely charged and now installed on the bike. I will be going out for a test drive tomorrow after work, but it already appears to have fixed most of the issues!
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- oldkaws4ever
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- Have no regrets...... You only live once.
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74 Z1a 900 (Apart and making it better than ever)
77 Kz 650b (Threw a rod, going to sandwich in a 900 or 1000 motor)
76 Kz 400d
05 ninja zx-636
81 Kz 750 Ltd
Darien, Illinois
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- Old Man Rock
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Worth the extra $$$ when I'll get another season or two from it... Plus it can handle the AZ heat better...
Glad you have it figured out, now go ride that old girl...
And definitely still take your idle and higher rpm voltage (charging) measurements for confirmations...
OMR
1976 KZ900-A4
MTC 1075cc.
Camshafts: Kawi GPZ-1100 .375 lift
Head: P&P via Larry Cavanaugh
ZX636 suspension
MIKUNI, RS-34'S...
Kerker 4-1, 1.5" comp baffle.
Dyna-S E.I.
Earls 10 row Oil Cooler
Acewell 2802 Series Speedo/Tach
Innovate LC1 Wideband 02 AFR meter
Phoenix, Az
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- clutch
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Would charge battery overnight, then check charging system by measuring voltage across battery terminals. At idle rpm look for 12+ volts. At 3000~4000 rpm, look for 14+ volts.
Ok....looks like there is an issue here. I'm not upset about getting a fresh new battery, but no voltage increase as specified above. I decided to check this after getting home today and realizing the battery cherge is slightly UNDER 12 volts. Now what should I check? The book says that if there is no increase, to check the alternator by removing the engine sprocket cover and testing some wires in the connectors back there, but I noticed a comment on the rectifier info page on the Z1 Enterprises site and it says a faulty rectifier COULD result in not charging, and not just overcharging like the book suggests. I've taken the sprocket cover off before and it is a PITA! Is there a sure fire way to know whether it's the alternator, rectifier or both without removing it?
Thanks,
Clutch
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- MFolks
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1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- clutch
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Unfortunately, gas is not the issue. I did however, notice some REALLY bad wires, one of which is the reg/rect to battery wire. I'm thinking some of the old wiring may be the real issue. I am also thinking that maybe the three yellow wires from the stator need to be in a certain order??
Anyway, all help is much appreciated because I absolutely love riding, and hate having problems. The way things have been going, there is not much else to replace other than old wires, the coils and a few other bits and pieces.
Thanks,
Clutch
Southern Maryland, USA
1980 KZ250 LTD (traded, but still missed)
1982 KZ750 E3 (Cafe Project) (Dyna-S, Dyna Coils, V&H 4-1, K&N Pods, 6 Sigma Jet Kit, Acewell Computer, Woodcraft Clip-ons, Custom Rewire)
1966 A1 Samurai (Restoration Project)
Wish List:
KZ1000 P (For a "touring" bike)
Z1 (need I...
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- Frazier
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