Charging System

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steveyacht

steveyacht

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I have a 1973 750. It has a single Mikuni, KN Filter and Boyer Ignition. I have also installed a Lithium-Ion battery about a year ago. When the battery gets low, it starts hard, sometimes fouling plugs.
Once the battery has been fully charged, at home, with the charger she starts great!

Is there an issue with the compatibility of the Lithium-Ion battery and the charging system? Or, could it be that the Boyer ignition does not like lower voltages? Maybe a combination of both?
 
Probably a combination of both.

LI batteries like a higher input than many original old Brit alternators give, especially at low ish revs.

Then the Boyer is known to malfunction below certain volts.

I have a LI battery on my Cdo, but I also fitted a high output alternator, and a Tri Spark ign. Same on my Bonnie. Both run great.
 
Fast Eddie, I have been doing some additional research since posting my question. I have a dedicated Li Charger, when I keep bike plugged in, no problem. I never ride more than a couple hundred miles at any one time..... So, I suppose that if I keep it plugged in between rides, I should be ok, I hope.

FYI: Most of my riding is done TT Style........> Tavern to Tavern during bike week, here in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. I am also planning to take it to my 45th class reunion, because I used to ride it to school. Think It will be a great kick to ride it to the reunion party!

Thanks,

Steve
 
This is an interesting issue, one that I posted about last year. If the LI battery needs such a specialized dedicated charger can we expect our 45+ year old Lucas charging systems to do an acceptable job? Before the thread strayed off subject the answers were all over the place. When my 8 year old lead acid battery quits holding a charge I will switch over to an AGM unit mostly because it won't leak acid. That said, I may be one of the lucky few as I have never had a battery spew acid in 46 years of Norton ownership and probably a couple of hundred thousand miles of riding. I do keep a close eye on my battery's liquid level and charging system condition which I'm sure has contributed to my good fortune. Kinda like the famous Arnold Palmer quote; "The more I practice the luckier I get."
 
I see that Rick's Motorsports electrics is partnering with Ballistic batteries to make a range of regulator/rectifiers for older Japanese bikes to allow those older low output alternators to properly charge a LiFe battery.
 
I don’t know the specifics of needs and outputs etc. But I do know that I fitted a 3 phase alternator and LI battery to mine in 2014. It has never been on a charger. And it continues to function as required.
So, they can work perfectly with Lucas power. Just need the right version.
 
Fast Eddie said:
I don’t know the specifics of needs and outputs etc. But I do know that I fitted a 3 phase alternator and LI battery to mine in 2014. It has never been on a charger. And it continues to function as required.
So, they can work perfectly with Lucas power. Just need the right version.
Click to expand...
Good to know. If and when my alternator buys the farm I will go to the three phase for sure and if funds allow also the LI battery.
 
I have read that LI batteries are slow to wake up, some folks turning on their headlights for a few seconds, before trying to start the machine.
I'd be interested to know if this works for you?
 
Still just think how satisfied the extra efforts of those successful Li users are, saving the mass of a can of beer and not stray a Roadster tank away from home w/o a dedicated charger. Modern way to add more Commando maintenance worship rituals on list. Super capasitors and small fuel cells coming on line so keep eye out.
 
Just an interesting observation. Last year I helped a friend with the charging system on his Honda Shadow. At the 30,000 mile mark his voltage regulator had quite regulating. We replaced it with a kit that used a Polaris regulator. The Shadow pundits also recommended that the entire system be replaced as this failure was common. Stator, rotor, battery, and regulator. He only did the battery and regulator since we were now getting good voltage to and out of the regulator. The point of this observation is that maybe my old Lucas stuff isn't all that bad. My 100,000 mile Combat still had the OEM charging system when I sold it in 1976.
 
Mr. Rick said:
I have read that LI batteries are slow to wake up, some folks turning on their headlights for a few seconds, before trying to start the machine.
Click to expand...
I had one in my Ducati Multistrada (aircooled), the only time i had to play that game was after the bike had been out in -6C (20F) overnight and i tried an early morning start. Mind you having slept in a tent next to it i took while to get going too.
 
Mr. Rick said:
I have read that LI batteries are slow to wake up, some folks turning on their headlights for a few seconds, before trying to start the machine.
I'd be interested to know if this works for you?
Click to expand...

As far as I understand, that only applies to e start bikes that require big cranking amps, being started in very cold weather.
 
I've had the same Shorai battery in my AltonE-start '73 Commando for 5 years. Works great with the Alton alternator (part of the start system) that is the same 150W output as the oem Norton was. I actually "downgraded" my system when I installed the Alton because I had the Lucas 180W alternator on my Commando at the time.

YES, a Lithium battery's fully charged voltage is higher than a lead-acid. So, in reality, the batt is seldom fully charged. My checking indicates that it's usually around 80% charged. But that hasn't made any operational difference. It always cranks the Alton starter with no issue at all. IOW, I believe that the less-the-optimum charging DOES exit, but it's a non-issue in real-world use on the Commando.
 
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