bike wont start

[Pat C]

I have an 07 ae haven't started it in a week, went to start it this mourning to go on a long ride and it wouldn't start. I took panel off where battery is and put a charger on it waited a bit and it started. I went to put panel back on and then it died and can't get to start with charger. Do you think it is the battery or something else going on?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

It may be there weren't enough cold cranking amps for a second start. Was it dead or tried but failed. Was there the sound of the fuel pump and dash lights? I would put it on the charger as long as you can and retry, but I never stop a restarted engine until I give it a run to recharge. Alternatively you could try to bump start the bike.

Make sure in all the fiddling you didn't do something obvious like hit the kill switch by mistake. Good luck.

EDIT: I am reading between the lines, but sounds like you put the charger on directly through the battery posts. Did you loosen the battery post bolts and not retighten them?

 

[wfooshee]

AEs are a bit more difficult to bump start, aren't they?

Charge it for a few hours. If it continues to drain within a couple days, it's probably time for a battery, especially if it's the original.

It's possible you've got an incorrectly installed farkle that's always on and causing the drain.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

AEs are a bit more difficult to bump start, aren't they?....

I missed the fact he had an AE. Can you bump start one? How? Another thread perhaps...

Sounded like he didn't have a lot of time to get the bike going. I'm not sure I'd take it on a long ride unless I was reasonably certain I knew why the battery drained. Good thinking about farkles installed incorrectly. But without the OP giving more details we won't know....

 

[C&C]

Do you have a volt meter? That would be the first thing to check (especially if you can measure the voltage after you turn the igition to 'ON').

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Do you have a volt meter? That would be the first thing to check (especially if you can measure the voltage after you turn the igition to 'ON').

+ 1 ^^^^, more info is needed for a proper diagnosis. Once some pertinent data is known -- following a prescribed troubleshooting decision tree is/may the direction to take.

There are voltage tests to determine the condition of a battery -- (often) no need to buy a new battery to replace a good battery until the solution to the problem is known.

 

[Pat C]

Do you have a volt meter? That would be the first thing to check (especially if you can measure the voltage after you turn the igition to 'ON').

+ 1 ^^^^, more info is needed for a proper diagnosis. Once some pertinent data is known -- following a prescribed troubleshooting decision tree is/may the direction to take.

There are voltage tests to determine the condition of a battery -- (often) no need to buy a new battery to replace a good battery until the solution to the problem is known.

I had the battery on the charger for a couple of hours and I got it started, I took it for a ride, it ran fine, was afraid to turn it off until I got home. I don't have any farkels to drain battery. I also tried to put it on battery tender when I got home and discovered the fuse was blown in tender, not sure if that has anything to do with it. Could it be I just need a new battery? I'll have to keep a eye on it I just don't trust going on a long ride and shutting her down. I'm due for my 4000 mi service soon I'll have them check it out.

 

[madmike2]

2yr. old. battery could be at the end of its life cycle. That seems to be fairly normal for the OEM battery.

Yes, there are those who will say they have 4 years on their battery with no problems (that has not been my experience).....but since you ARE having issues and it is with an AE model, replacement is cheap insurance.

EDIT: I bought my replacement battery through BikeEffects: Look here: FJR Vendor Offers

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Take the battery to a good shop or dealer and they should be able to tell you if the battery is salvageable/needs replacement. The downside is a disreputable shop will tell you it is dead so they can sell you a battery. But I think MM2 is right at this point.

Just speculating here. I'm no whiz with electrics to say the least, but the blown fuse in the charger (is it a smart charger?) sounds different. Maybe it saved a reverse polarity problem at some point? Or if the charger is defective, I wonder if that might have killed your battery... others will chime in with a more informed opinion I'm sure.