Electric Problem Intruder 800... Battery "blows" after 3/4 moths...

[MessBluesMan]

Hi!

I have a problem since i bought this bike...
Bought new battery, instaled...and all is ok...
I ride for about 3/4months... and then, my bike simply stops.

Removed battery, and put it to charge, but it wont charge because its interrupted. Measured the acid too, and acid is "brand new" to accept charge....but it wont because battery is interrupted.

I did this for 3 times now with new batteries, and happened the same to everyone of them...

Cant understand why...


(Maybe just a coincidence: i rided with only my front lights for 3 months.....and then i instaled my backlight attached to the license plate...all ok but, 4 days after this thing happened again...i heard a strong noise...and 5 mins after the bike stopped.) Seems like the battery was shortcircuited?!?!?
but why only 3/4 months??

Why not when i start it???

Is it possible that my backlight is making a "drain" through the license plate?
But turned on and worked fine!!!
When i stop the bike i always turn off the key and the "run and stop" button to the stop position...
But still... happened again...


Very weird for me...
What can i do?

Can anyone help?
Im desperate!...never know when im going to stop...and WHERE!...

Regrds from Portugal to ALL.!

[Aussie Steve]

Hi from Australia and welcome to the board.

First question is what do you mean the battery is interrupted? is it shorted out and not able to take a charge?

Secondly is your alternator charging the battery? You can check this by simply using a multi meter set to VDC ( Volts, Direct Current) and, with the motor running, taking a reading from your battery direct. You must get at least 13.5 volts DC.... higher with lights on.... or you are going to steadily discharge your battery. Do you have a short. Once again set the meter to VDC and check across your batteries terminals. You should get around 12 to 13 VDC if not I would suspect a short. You will need to get a wiring diagram to follow so you can hunt down the various circuits.


One final possible cause.... are the batteries you bought up to the job. I remember buying cheap Chinese batteries for a vintage bike I had. I went through two of them before replacing them with a good quality Japanese one. The battery just broke down inside and would not take a charge because they were so crap quality wise. They did exactly the same as the ones you describe.

Any way good luck and let us all know how you go.

Regards

Steve

[Gixxerman]

Buy Yuasa batteries - the best.

To the man above me here, if the battery doesn't get any electricity the battery will fade out very quickly, not over 3 weeks.

[Aussie Steve]

Gixxerman

I had an old Triumph years back that would slowly discharge the battery over a few months because the alternator was not up to the job of recharging it. Now I know that this was probably because of the atrocious Lucas electrics but the same can happen on more modern machines if the alternator is not keeping up with the job or there is an intermitent fault. Even if the battery gets 12 volts this is not enougth to keep it charged and over several months you get a flat battery.

Yuasa was the brand I changed to when I replaced the cheap chinese junk and I never looked back.... remember this was on an old British twin that vibrated real good!

S