dead battery on an AE

[1hellofaride]

I've had the 2006 ae in storage for the winter & started it every so often.

last time though, its basically dead. I have no power outlet in the storage unit

so using a deltran charger is not really an option.

any ideas on what I can use to boost the original battery ??

I dont know the voltage or amps & don't want to fry anything.....

lets hear some ideas.

 

[TomInPA]

Get a good battery maintainer like this, and remove the battery from your bike. Do not start your bike during the winter when you can't ride. Its not good for the bike or the battery. Put your fully charged battery back in the bike when you are ready to ride. The discharged battery may not be able to be saved. Batteries go through a process called sulfonation when they discharge, and it permanently affects the ability to hold and conduct a charge.

Try charging the battery with the above charger. It should achieve a voltage of 12.8 volts. That charge can be checked, and it should not drop off rapidly over a week to less than 12.4 volts. If it does, the battery is in poor condition and you are better off getting a new one. Next year, just remove the battery in the Fall, and maintain it with this new charger.

 

[1hellofaride]

Thank you Great price also !!

btw I assume the FJR battery is 12 volt ???

Moss

Get a good battery maintainer like this, and remove the battery from your bike. Do not start your bike during the winter when you can't ride. Its not good for the bike or the battery. Put your fully charged battery back in the bike when you are ready to ride. The discharged battery may not be able to be saved. Batteries go through a process called sulfonation when they discharge, and it permanently affects the ability to hold and conduct a charge.

Try charging the battery with the above charger. It should achieve a voltage of 12.8 volts. That charge can be checked, and it should not drop off rapidly over a week to less than 12.4 volts. If it does, the battery is in poor condition and you are better off getting a new one. Next year, just remove the battery in the Fall, and maintain it with this new charger.

 

[ScottyUSN]

+1 on pulling the battery to maintain it.

Please keep an eye on the charger (heat) for a few days post set up. Also try to fire proof your set-up within reason.

I have a friend who lost a house due to a Motorcyle battery on trickle charge. An overall messy area didn't help matters. Just be careful.

 

[Fred W]

Get a good battery maintainer like this, and remove the battery from your bike.

FWIW - I bought that exact same charger several years ago at Walmart (aka Satan's A-hole). It seems to work OK and I use it on cars and lawnmower.

However, I no longer use it on my bikes, instead using this one:

Optimate 3+

It costs a few more bucks, but is a much better charger, is compatable with gel cells and AGM (which your FJR has) and may actually be able to de-sulphate a neglected battery.

 

[TomInPA]

Fred, good find. Not too many chargers out there can achieve the voltage needed to desulfate a dead batt. The charger I linked has worked great for me, but can't recover a damaged battery or do the checks this one does. Good information!

 

[joebiodiesel]

I've had the 2006 ae in storage for the winter & started it every so often.

last time though, its basically dead. I have no power outlet in the storage unit

so using a deltran charger is not really an option.

any ideas on what I can use to boost the original battery ??

I dont know the voltage or amps & don't want to fry anything.....

lets hear some ideas.

If you don't have any power in the storage unit then your options are definitely limited. I wouldn't trust any of the solar chargers for unattended battery maintenence, but you may not have a light source in there either. You are going to have to remove battery and have it charged,or try jump starting it from a car or good battery (maybe a jump pack if you have one). If the battery was dead for a long time it probably sulfated. It may or may not recover from that and may need to be replaced. It is difficult to quickly diagnose if a battery is sulfated. They can test fine but be completely dead in a day or two.

So, give it a jump start and be careful where you shut it off. It may not start again.

My 2 cents. (actual street value)

Joe

 

[wheatonFJR]

I have an optimate charger that I bought from forum member BikeEffects...it has desulphating function...that kicks in if it detects sulphated battery.

BikeEffects rocks!...and he provides forum members a discount on his products.

 

[dcarver]

I have an optimate charger that I bought from forum member BikeEffects...it has desulphating function...that kicks in if it detects sulphated battery.

BikeEffects rocks!...and he provides forum members a discount on his products.

Fully agree with WheatieBoy. I use one optimate charger across all my batteries.

 

[1hellofaride]

I do have a jump pack but I wasn't sure if thats ok to use with the FJR. Dont want to fry anything.

so what do you guys think? can I use the jump pack ??

 

[wfooshee]

Should be OK to jump it, but don't fire it up unless you're gonna ride for at least a half hour or so, let everything come up to temp, pump the fluids around, and give the battery time to take a charge.

You won't get a recharge by just cranking and idling for a while, like you would a car. Stator output at idle isn't high enough.

 

[Donal]

There have been a number of posts recently about jump starting. The biggest PITA is gaining access to the battery, especially if you are away from home. I am in the process of installing one of these kits on my bike 'just in case'.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CHARGE-JUMP-START-KIT-DUCATI-KAWASAKI-BMW-HONDA-YAMAHA_W0QQitemZ350370282006QQcategoryZ36796QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZe17000.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7221126488492092931#ht_1784wt_989

Don

 

[phroenips]

Get a good battery maintainer like this, and remove the battery from your bike.

FWIW - I bought that exact same charger several years ago at Walmart (aka Satan's A-hole). It seems to work OK and I use it on cars and lawnmower.

However, I no longer use it on my bikes, instead using this one:

Optimate 3+

It costs a few more bucks, but is a much better charger, is compatable with gel cells and AGM (which your FJR has) and may actually be able to de-sulphate a neglected battery.

This damn forum is costing me more money again. sonofa... Turns out, a couple weeks ago, I accidentally left my heated grips turned on which drained my battery dead (I've since put it on a relay). I was wondering if that would hurt the life of the battery. I guess so.

Maybe I should just delete my account instead.

P.S. This Amazon Marketplace seller is selling them cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P5SU24