Battery problem and question

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Battery problem and question

AC Rider
Hello Everyone...brand new member and owner of an 81 CB750K.  Well, I have been reading several posts concerning batteries and charging issues, and I still have questions.  This is my situation...I purchased the bike from a guy who occassionally crank it over 2 years.  It was outside but covered for those 2 years.  When I picked it up, I put a new EverStart battery in it, and it fired right up.  Well, during the time that I was doing some tuning on it...the battery died and fluids drained completely.  I refilled the battery and placed it on charge to get the bike running again.  Since then, I have been riding it to work everyday which is a 40mile ride each way during which I have no trouble with it dying from battery power loss.  For about 2 weeks, I rode it to work and every 3rd day would trickle charge the battery overnight.  I didn't have any problem with it starting up until Monday evening when I was leaving work.  I went to start it, but nothing was happening except the clicking sound of the push button switch at the motor.  I was able to push start the bike and rode it home fine.  When I got home, I turned it off and let it set for a few minutes and tried to crank it up in which it cranked right up.  Now, I am hooking the battery up every night and after lunch at work to make sure it will fire up.  What could be happening...bad battery with not enough amps to start the bike?  Something killing the battery?  Loose connection?  I have been hearing a lot of different things from people, but I figured everyone here would know more.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
"Freedom on 2 wheels"
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Re: Battery problem and question

Re-run
Administrator
The everstart is a walmart battery right? They are not the best but you should be able to get a couple years out of one normally. It could be possible the battery is going bad though. I had just recently bought a new batt that would show good voltage but the second you put a load on it, flat line.

Now did the fluids drain out of the battery and you had to add more? If so, I would look at your charging system and test it. I mean unless a battery cracks, it should barely lose anything through means other than evaporation. Too much voltage and boil the battery and cause the fluid to over flow out the vent tube.

If that is not the case, then your bike might not be charging enough. Start it up and rev to 3000 rpm and test voltage. You should be over 13, actually closer to 14 volts.

If the system seems ok, charge the battery and let it sit a couple days and check the voltage. If it slowly drops, the battery not holding a charge right and should probably be tossed.
The ride IS the adventure. The destination is just to get gas!
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Re: Battery problem and question

AC Rider
Yes, everstart is a walmart battery.  I needed something just to get the bike moving, and I thought it could last me for a few months.  I have heard some bad things about these batteries though, so I have been looking into a gel battery???  What does anyone think of these batteries?  I have found one that is rated at 16.5Ah and 220CCA???  The initial lose of fluid fromt the battery may have been over charging.  Well, I checked the overall system.  Battery measured 12.7V w/o cranking the bike.  After cranking, the voltage hesitated for a couple of seconds, and then it started climbing to a max of 14.3V with throttle at 3100 within 20 - 25 seconds.  Seems to me that I have a bad battery...
"Freedom on 2 wheels"
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Re: Battery problem and question

Re-run
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Yeah voltage at 3100 sounds good.
A gel battery is good. I myself have been getting agm batteries. They are awesome in that, like a gel, there is no maintenance. If the case cracks, they do not leak. They can be turned any direction.
They are more expensive, about the same as a gel. And likea gel, have a higher cca than a regular flooded cell or maint free.

I got my last one and the one before at batteries plus but a lot of places have them. My old one was $65, the new one I got is a better model and was 80. But I should get at least 5 or more years with basic care.
My last one was 4 years.
The ride IS the adventure. The destination is just to get gas!
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Re: Battery problem and question

AC Rider
Great news!!!  After searching and researching, I found the strongest AGM battery that I could find.  I had it shipped to work and installed it last week at work.  I drove it for a couple of days to work, and then it sit over the weekend.  I went out Sunday evening to give it the test...that baby fired right up without any hesitation  I had almost forgot what that felt like!!!  Now, I am halfway through this week, and I am loving this new battery.  Not only did it solve the battery problem, but it gave my bike an instant tune up.  AGM technology batteries are the way to go

"Freedom on 2 wheels"