A (not very) funny thing happened on the way to Cirencester

0715am. Out to bike - leathers and helmet on - all ready to go and looking
forward to ride of about 100 miles.

0717am - disconnect Optimate III which has been connected for about 3 days
to my Pan European and was showing a green light to indicate that all was
well.

0718am - key in ignition and switch on. Lights (which are always on) shine
brightly.

0719am - press starter - 'click' - lights go out along with all the warning
lights and whole bike is totally dead as the proverbial Do Do.

0723am - start taking off the pannier for a poke about but realise I dont
have time. Rush to bedroom and change into something non-leather.

0730 - 0930 - travel to Cirencester in the cage on one of the loveliest days
of the summer - fuming all the way but worrying that it is something
expensive . "Please God - please let it be a fuse! How the hell am I going
to get the bike to the dealers?"

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0315pm - back from meeting - key in ignition - hey the warning lights come
on and the bike starts first time (and several other unbelieving times
too!).

What the hell happened? Whilst I am delighted that the bike started again I
almost wish it had been a simple fault that I fixed - at least I would
understand. Can anyone help?

Does using something like an 'Optimate' (which is three weeks old) 'boil up'
the battery preventing it from working for a while. Every time I pass the
bike now I cannot help starting it just to make sure - and it is fine (but I
haven't dared to reconnect the charger). Has anyone else had a similar
experience?

Look forward to reading your views.

badsworth

 

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 16:52:38 +0000 (UTC), "Gavin Edwards"

Nearest I've had is corroded battery terminals. Could also be a loose
connection on (or even in) the battery.

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Gavin Edwards"

Sounds just like a dodgy battery connection.

Undo, clean and smear with vaseline.

Then you can do the battery.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

Gavin Edwards wrote:
[snip]

[snip]

The whole point of 'intelligent' battery chargers is that they do NOT cook
the battery over a prolonged period, but back off and top up as needed.

I have had similar things happen on cars quite a few times, and once on a
mate's ZZR600. If everything really does go totally dead then either it's
corroded battery terminals, or some major terminal like on the ignition
switch assy, or some point where the loom divides between the battery and
the ignition switch (which was the case with the ZZR as far as I can
remember).

HTH

Rick

 

Gavin Edwards wrote

Loose/corroded connection innit.

So you went out and bought this device which is supposed to do away with
battery related problems and somehow you still have them and now, not
before mind but now, you are asking if it is a good idea.

Nope. Not Optimate related no but the corroded terminals bit has
happened to me regularly enough over the years. Much more common on any
bike that is not in regular use I find.

 

I think I have traced it down - a dodgy connection to the battery. Thanks
folks!

Gavin