Electrical issue, help!

[Ncdan]

Ok guys, I have bigger fish to fry this morning besides wind issues. I rode the calvin yesterday for the first time in length for 45 miles, no problems. Stopped a couple times and restarted without issue. This morning I went to start her, in my basement so no cold weather issues and it acted like the battery was week. I checked with a meter and it showed 11.5 volts, PO said it was a newer battery. I got her started and checked the charging system with the meter and it indicates 13.55- 13.75 amps at 3000 rpm. What the heck is going on here?

[elvisboy77]

Ok guys, I have bigger fish to fry this morning besides wind issues. I rode the calvin yesterday for the first time in length for 45 miles, no problems. Stopped a couple times and restarted without issue. This morning I went to start her, in my basement so no cold weather issues and it acted like the battery was week. I checked with a meter and it showed 11.5 volts, PO said it was a newer battery. I got her started and checked the charging system with the meter and it indicates 13.55- 13.75 amps at 3000 rpm. What the heck is going on here?

Sounds to me like your battery is gone, really.  Hard to imagine on a new one but......did you ever load test it?  Most auto parts places will do that for free.

If it is dead, Get a lawn and tractor battery for about $50 at Walmart.  See if that does the trick.

Let us know!

[oldbike54]

 Volts , not Amps , correct ?

 Dusty

[Wayne Orwig]

Ok guys, I have bigger fish to fry this morning besides wind issues. I rode the calvin yesterday for the first time in length for 45 miles, no problems. Stopped a couple times and restarted without issue. This morning I went to start her, in my basement so no cold weather issues and it acted like the battery was week. I checked with a meter and it showed 11.5 volts, PO said it was a newer battery. I got her started and checked the charging system with the meter and it indicates 13.55- 13.75 amps at 3000 rpm. What the heck is going on here?

Are you running with the driving lights on? The system can only run those lights at high revs. Install a voltmeter on the dash to show how well it is charging under way. Also, you can convert them from 55 watt bulbs, to 35 watts. That helps a lot.

But, it does sound like the battery may be toast, if it died while sitting. It could be some parasitic drain, but the CalVin doesn't have a lot of high tech whiz bang crap to do that.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Do you have anything plugged into the power outlet at all?

Heated grips?

Test for power leakage by disconnecting the battery grounds and placing a small 12V lamp in series
If the lamp is Off then measure the Voltage across it, should read 0 Volts.

[Ncdan]

Thanks for the response guys all were good and I have addressed them all, lights, heated grips, tested for a drain all negative. The guy at the battery place tested under load which showed not quit up yo par but didn't show a definite bad battery. I'm thinking it's the the battery but I'll give it a couple more mornings and if drains again replace the battery. How about that Walmart battery, which one and is it enough cranking amps and right size. I don't mind spending a little money to keep from getting embarrassed by my Harley buddies:(. Again ;)

[elvisboy77]

I always just measured the existing battery and if it fills the battery tray then get the same thing, paying attention to which side the terminals are on.........basicall y the bigger the better for lead acid batteries (yeah I am generalizing)

If they said it is borderline then I would shell for the battery.

You could also wiggle the relays under the side cover to be sure, and spray contact cleaner into the ignition switch, too, just to be safe- and make sure the ground cable is tight on the engine.

Let us know!

[Testarossa]

Lawn tractor battery. 7.25" long, 7.25" high, 5.25" wide.  Usually 35 amp-hours, 350+ cranking amps, simple, reliable, heavy.

[Ncdan]

Oldbikes, yea, I get amps and volts confused sometimes. I do good to just use that little hand held meter and turn the knob to the correct setting. I think I'm leaning with the advise to just go get the heavy duty lawn battery. Does everyone think this is the best or at least a good choice. I like to save a buck but in the other hand I loose patience quick with a bike that leaves me on the side of the road. Thanks guys for the advise, I'm glad to have this forum with so many knowledgeable guzzi enthusiasts.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm with Testrassa, I  would go with any of the Lead Acid AGM batteries.

I have a couple of MC batteries from Wallmart they seem to be just fine, I used one to jump start the car.


But are you sure the one you have is toast, it seems to me you may have had a load on there that flattened it.
Charge it up with it out of the bike and check the Voltage a week later.