Dying Nomad

[CheriAnn]

I really appreciate all these suggestions!!! You have given us many options to try!!!! Thank you!!!! I'll keep you posted!!!

[StarGate]

I agree Jake. Even as easy as it is to connect mine, I won't use it most of the time if I plan on riding it in the next 2-3 days. If I'm pretty sure it's going to be 4+ days or if I've done a lot of start and stop short trips that day, then it goes on the charger.

While it's not the most appealing thing in the world, I ran my quick coupler out from under the seat and used zip ties to fasten it to the frame. This way it's easy access and I don't have to worry that it's going to work it's way back up under the seat. Look right above top middle of the side cover at the bottom edge of the seat.

[CycleDude]

Dammit - this is happening to me too now but I won't hijack your thread, Cheri, like DAVE did .

[CycleDude]

Oh, BTW Cheri, I'm stuck at work and she's dead, otherwise I wouldn't link people away from your thread. Mine's here.....

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...ml#post1270319

[Classic]

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

It's the WORST kind of problem though.....it doesn't happen all the time!

Disconnecting something that Chaz added one at a time might eventually tell you the cause but since the problem is so intermittent, it might also take a year. I would start with the lightbar.

Let me ask this and remember I ride a more "primitive" carb'd 1500 Classic so mine is different in this respect. After turning on the ignition, can the key then be removed like on a HD? If so, is there any chance the switch is sometimes being left in the "on" position? You know, shut off the bike with the kill switch and walk away kinda thing leaving the ignition switch still turned on.

When the lightbar was installed was a relay used to provide power to the lamps or was it wired in some direct way?

Even though the ignition switch may be getting turned off all the time at the end of every ride, power is still being supplied to the high-tech gauges for the clock and maybe the trip meter. If one of those wires has rubbed through it's insulation just a little, it might be draining the battery without blowing a fuse. The FI bikes have a lot of wiring running though some pretty tight places.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by Classic

Disconnecting something that Chaz added one at a time might eventually tell you the cause but since the problem is so intermittent, it might also take a year. I would start with the lightbar.

Good point!

Originally Posted by Classic

Let me ask this and remember I ride a more "primitive" carb'd 1500 Classic so mine is different in this respect. After turning on the ignition, can the key then be removed like on a HD? If so, is there any chance the switch is sometimes being left in the "on" position? You know, shut off the bike with the kill switch and walk away kinda thing leaving the ignition switch still turned on.

Yes, you can turn the key on and remove it. He thought of that, and made SURE he was turning it all the way off, but it still happened. Thank you for thinking of that! Sometimes it usually is the obvious

Originally Posted by Classic

When the lightbar was installed was a relay used to provide power to the lamps or was it wired in some direct way?

A relay

Originally Posted by Classic

Even though the ignition switch may be getting turned off all the time at the end of every ride, power is still being supplied to the high-tech gauges for the clock and maybe the trip meter. If one of those wires has rubbed through it's insulation just a little, it might be draining the battery without blowing a fuse. The FI bikes have a lot of wiring running though some pretty tight places.

More good suggestions of things he can check!!!
Thank you!

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by CycleDude

Oh, BTW Cheri, I'm stuck at work and she's dead, otherwise I wouldn't link people away from your thread. Mine's here.....

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...ml#post1270319

It's okay Kevin!!!

Now if it was anybody else doing it....like ole' NCDave....I might have a problem!

[NCDave]

Did I hear my name mentioned?

Kev.....it might be less hassle to just buy a new one. however, I don't know any reason why it should not charge back up.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Did I hear my name mentioned?

You ALWAYS do!!!! I don't know how you do it!!!!!!

[CheriAnn]

Well, we couldn't find anything wrong or out of place....anything drawing current with the key off, so he took it back to our local mechanic. He said he would pull out the schematic on the bike and told Chaz he "WILL" find the culprit!!! Now it will just be a matter of how many days/weeks it takes him!!!

I'll update on the cause when he finds it!!!

[Alf]

If Chaz has access to a DC volt-ammeter and knows how to use it he can do some checks of his own. Check the battery voltage bike not running should be 12 or so volts. Next start the bike up and check again if the charging system is doing it's thing voltage at the battery should be 14 to 14.5 volts + or - or so rev the bike up a little. If the above checks out the charging system is OK..Next with the bike not running remove the + terminal from the battery and hook a DC ammeter between the positive termiinal and the wire lead he took off, any kind of amperage reading indicates something is draining the battery. Remove the accessory wiring he installed one item at a time and watch the current draw on the ammeter when it goes to zero fixed...

[A2rider]

^^^^ +1

[NCDave]

Cheri...what's the latest???

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by Alf

If Chaz has access to a DC volt-ammeter and knows how to use it he can do some checks of his own. Check the battery voltage bike not running should be 12 or so volts. Next start the bike up and check again if the charging system is doing it's thing voltage at the battery should be 14 to 14.5 volts + or - or so rev the bike up a little. If the above checks out the charging system is OK..Next with the bike not running remove the + terminal from the battery and hook a DC ammeter between the positive termiinal and the wire lead he took off, any kind of amperage reading indicates something is draining the battery. Remove the accessory wiring he installed one item at a time and watch the current draw on the ammeter when it goes to zero fixed...

This is such a coincidence!!!! My buddy at work (used to work in my division, but left) came by to see yesterday. He works on cars on the side, so I told him about Chaz's charging problem.

Now I am NOT a mechanic, so forgive my "feminine" way of describing things....but he basically told me the same thing, but he said use some wire thing with a light bulb on the end. Since it doesn't get drained all the time, he suggested Chaz use it to check with his battery everyday. If the light bulb stays off with the key off, nothing is drawing extra current and he can go on that day and not worry. If he checks it one day and the light bulb DOES come on, then he knows something is drawing current, and to start disconnecting something one at a time until the light bulb goes out.

Make any sense?

In the meantime, it is STILL sitting at the mechanic's shop
He told Chaz they check it everyday and they are waiting for it to go dead again!!!!!! That could take another month, or just a few days....

[A2rider]

Get the bike back and do the light bulb thing. You can't ride his bike while it's sitting in the shop.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by A2rider

Get the bike back and do the light bulb thing. You can't ride his bike while it's sitting in the shop.

You are SO RIGHT about that!!!! Summer's ticking away!!!!

[A2rider]

It's kind of stupid what the shop is doing. Either it's a battery problem, an accessory problem or a charging problem. Sitting it in the corner of the shop isn't fixing the problem.

[CheriAnn]

Originally Posted by A2rider

It's kind of stupid what the shop is doing. Either it's a battery problem, an accessory problem or a charging problem. Sitting it in the corner of the shop isn't fixing the problem.

That's what Chaz said....he said he took the darn bike into them DEAD!!!! They charged it up overnight and now they are waiting for it to go dead again We THOUGHT this guy knew what he was doing....but in all honesty, his specialty is GoldWings!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!

Here's where I feel bad Tina.....Chaz is getting impatient, of course, and mentioned getting his bike back. I had the nerve....oh dear....I hate to confess it....but I had the nerve to actually scold him and tell him he needed to sit back and learn patience and let the mechanics find the problem!!!
<slaps my own hand>

[billc5]

Battery Tender has separate leads that can be permanently installed and also extensions that can be purchased. We've got em and they work great. Sorry about the problems on your trip.

[SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by billc5

Battery Tender has separate leads that can be permanently installed and also extensions that can be purchased. We've got em and they work great. Sorry about the problems on your trip.

X2.

How old is the battery on the bike? What year is the bike in general. My buddy had a problem like this and it was the battery going bad, but I would check the charging system first. It may not be able to keep up with charging the battery but charging a little. This would cause the prolonged drainage that you seem to be seeing especially if you have a lot of accesories.

Also does the bike happen to have a cigarette lighter type power port on it? If so check to see if anything got inside the cup and fused to the conections to complete the circuit, this would cause a constant draw on the system especially if the power port has constant power availible to it. I seen that happen in a buddy's car before.