Dying battery

I have a weird thing happening with my Commando. I charged the battery, put a tester on it and it was fine, holding the charge. I turn the ignition on and the battery status monitor is green - all is good, as soon as I kick it once the battery status monitor goes flashing red - not enough to run the Boyer. I switch the ignition off and then back on and it is green again - 12 volts. Same thing, kick once it goes to red.
The bike isn't starting, not even a cough.
I bought a new battery and it ran fine when installed, two weeks of not riding I'm back to square one.

Any ideas on what could be happening???

Have you tested the charging system? Sounds like the battery is failing under load, perhaps because it's not getting charged?

Debby

Does your headlight work? Quick check of battery under load.

If this happened after running the bike that would be the first thing I'd suspect. I check and the battery is at full charge before I try to start it. Probably worth looking it over though...

debby said:

Have you tested the charging system? Sounds like the battery is failing under load, perhaps because it's not getting charged?

Debby

Click to expand...

Headlight burns bright.

batrider said:

Does your headlight work? Quick check of battery under load.

Click to expand...

If you pull the plug, ground it, turn on the ignition and push the kill button does it spark? What does a handlheld voltmeter across the battery read when the monitor is flashing red?

I know this is too simple, but did you remove the battery when you charged it? If so, is it reconnected as positive ground? (fused lead to the negative.)

You've got a later Boyer and it will only switch on when it receives the first signal it will probably switch off after a while. it's got to be caused by the Boyer as soon as it switches on, a duff battery or a bad connection to the monitor.

Try this easy load test on your battery:

http://www.gabma.us/elec/battery_testing.pdf

Battery

I would suspect a ground or dead short. If your battery is fully charged and the green indicator changes to red after one kick certainly sounds electrical. A short or ground fault within the ignition system. Trouble shooting electrics is a pain in the butt and I have pulled a few hairs dealing I can relate where your at. Its time consuming but use a multi-meter and basicly check everything from your ignition switch all the way to the pick-up plate. check key switch, Kill switch, coils, black box, lights anything electrical. I had a short in my horn once caused my battery to drain and ignition to fail even though charging system was putting out 14 volts half were lost to groud fault in horn. Good luck .. Doxford