40 miles no battery

[czakky82]

My T3 likely needs a new diode board. I’m at work battery is on a tender. I’ve got 40 miles to go all highway.

Will I make it?

[Zoom Zoom]

Maybe. Can you turn off the headlight. Might give you a few more electrons for motion

ZZ

[pehayes]

Points or electronic ignition conversion?
Disconnect or turn off the headlight.
Use the brakes sparingly.
See if someone can  help to push start rather than press the button.
Should make it.

Years ago, with an Eldorado and a good, big battery, I made 500 miles from Death Valley to home.  Would only click after I parked in the garage.  Disconnected front hand brake switch.  Disconnected lights.  Only used hand brake so no electron consumption.  Only used rear brake and brake light if I really needed it.  Regina was riding with me so she pushed every time we had to stop and restart.  Then she had to walk back to her own bike.  Coil ignition is very gentle on electrical use.  Your T3 has two coils so might consume a bit more than my old Eldorado.  It is the computer and circulating fuel pump that limits modern bikes and you don't have those.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[czakky82]

I’ve got a headlight switch, yeah I’ll push start her. LED taillight FWIW.

[John A]

Depends on the battery.  I got stranded camping near Klamath Falls with a dead battery. I had a choice of pushing it on sand or mud to get it started so that was out. I Made coffee and packed everything and set about cleaning terminals.  I hit the starter button , it groaned and lit off. I kept one hand on the throttle as I loaded the last stuff and headed for civilization.  The generator belt had broke on the Ambassador and with the sun behind me I did not see the warning light on the previous day.  I’d still be there, twenty years before cell phones.  If your battery is mid life or better, you’ll make it fine but give yourself options in case it doesn’t.

[wirespokes]

I've heard stories of airheads (same charging system) making it 100+ miles - stopping at a gas station, charging up the battery, and going another 100.

You'll be fine.

[Tkelly]

Buy a new lawnmower battery for a backup if it dies,been there .

[Lannis]

  The generator belt had broke on the Ambassador and with the sun behind me I did not see the warning light on the previous day.  I’d still be there, twenty years before cell phones.  I

I broke down all the time (or ran out of gas, mostly) for the first 45 years I rode, and never had a cell phone (still don't carry one, it lives at home under an antenna).

Strangely enough, even in those antediluvian days, I never got stuck anywhere for 20 years or 1 year or 1 month or 1 day or even 1 hour.   There are always work-arounds, and nice people, and it always works out and I always get home.

Lannis

[czakky82]

Depends on the battery.  I got stranded camping near Klamath Falls with a dead battery. I had a choice of pushing it on sand or mud to get it started so that was out. I Made coffee and packed everything and set about cleaning terminals.  I hit the starter button , it groaned and lit off. I kept one hand on the throttle as I loaded the last stuff and headed for civilization.  The generator belt had broke on the Ambassador and with the sun behind me I did not see the warning light on the previous day.  I’d still be there, twenty years before cell phones.  If your battery is mid life or better, you’ll make it fine but give yourself options in case it doesn’t.

That’s awesome first of all.
Second, it seems funny that given the modern condition so few people are doing things like that. Bikes are better, cell phones, etc. People look at me like I’m crazy for riding a 45 year old bike around.
Lastly. I made it home. Seems like one of the brushes is wearing quite a bit faster than the other. I just measured them this year. Replacements on the way.

Thanks guys

[Bulldog9]

As others have noted, should not be a problem with headlight off and a healthy battery. I did 120 miles on my XS11 under similar circumstances back in the 90's, and that thing had a tiny battery.

[n3303j]

Lost a rotor on my T3 180 miles from home. A Guzzi guy gave me a jump start from a gas station to his garage where my battery spent overnight on his charger. Filled the Odyssey 925 to the top. Did the 180 miles home sans alternator and headlight off with no problems. Did refuel with engine running.

[wirespokes]

Kind of nerve wracking if it's the first time. Kind of like me having to make it 600 miles on a Sunday on a bald rear tire - pins and needles every mile wondering if I'll make it.

Yeah, I've noticed that - it's usually the rear brush that's hardest to see that wears faster.

You can ride it till the new brushes show up by putting a bit of something on top of the brush. The spring hangs up on the housing and doesn't put any downforce on the brush. So add something to make the brush taller and elevates the spring a little so it doesn't hang up on the edge of the housing. Or it might work to turn the brush sideways.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Reminds me of the guy from Edmonton visiting BC, his alternator quit so he purchased a small generator and a battery charger and rode all the way home with the generator running on the back seat.

[Knuckle Dragger]

Should be worth a try, provided you can unplug or switch off your headlamp.  The tail light shouldn't draw sufficient current to matter.  Just ensure your battery is packing at least 14v before you start.  Also, avoid braking if possible:  brake light bulbs draw similar current to a headlamp.

I've had a brake light completely kill a BMW boxer running on a dead battery, & got stuck on a traffic island.

[80CX100]

Glad to read that you got home safely so this is somewhat redundant, but for the benefit of anyone caught in a similar situation, on an old points bike? 40 miles very easily on a fully charged battery.

I had a no charging issue on my CX100 one riding season, it took me a long time to find the disconnected sending wire to the R/R, I rode that whole summer with my bike running as a total loss system.

I put the bike on the smart charger when it was parked at home; I rode in remote areas and kept my headlight off and stayed off the brakes/brake light as much as possible, used hand signals rather than the turn signals, and made sure if I stopped it was always on the top of a hill in case I had to bump start it, I never had to; it felt like there were probably 10? starts worth of power most times?.

I was shocked how little power the points bikes actually need to run, I wouldn't want to try that with an EFI ECU bike.

fwiw ymmv

Kelly