Electrical problem...maybe

Hi guys...I got a little problem with my 1985 xj 700, I rode all day and I stoped in a friend house, bad luck for me I forgot the key in the ignition in the "on" position for 2 hours. When I was about to leave I realized the bike was "on" but I have no lights at all. Tried to push it to start and nothing, tried to charge the battery for 30' and still nothing, checked the fuses and they're ok, I don't have many tools and I'll get a electrical tester tomorrow, but I know the battery is ok. Question is where I should be looking by now?? Thank you...

 

Charge it longer? And or jump it. (not sure how to safely jump a bike, but it can be done).

 

If I plugged the charger to the outlet connected to the battery and turn the swith "on" in the bike, the bike should turn the lights on at least, right? that doesn't happened... that's what I thought that maybe is other electrical problem beside the battery drain out...

 

If the battery is dead flat I doubt the charger will light the lights, take the battery off, check the fluid & if below the plates add distilled water, then charge it overnight, at least.

 

+1
If your battery is completely dead, and it definitely is, it won't have enough juice to light a light or sound the horn.

A half hour charge on a motorcycle battery is like trying to use a D battery to start it - just ain't gonna happen.

You need AT LEAST 4 hours on the trickle charger before you'd even be able to jump start the bike.

 

AND

You cannot push start an XJ with a dead battery. The alternator isn't permanent magnet, it has an exciter coil. No battery = no alternator = no spark = no go.

 

I charged the battery for 2 hs, when I plugged it in the bike was 12.60v, but still don't light not even the neutral green light. I'll try again to charger longer this afternoon, thank you

 

MiCarl, could you further explain this. I always new these bikes wouldn't run w/ no or dead battery and just left the knowledge there. But I think I'm finally ready to find out why :lol:

i don't understand 'permanant magnet'

if you don't mind of course

 

Thank you for the info. It seams that everybody think is only a battery problem I really hope everybody is right. Thank you.

 

A "permanent" magnet is a lump of something magnetic that is magnetic all the time. Like magnets you play with when you're a kid, or refrigerator magnets, or the field magnets in a small electric motor.

There is no permananet magnet in the XJ's alternator; it needs some electricity to create an "electro"magnet (from the exciter coil.) You need the magnetism for it to generate electricity; but it has to have some current fed to it for it to work at all, by creating the necessary magnetism.

 

If you measure the voltage on the battery to 12.6V, what voltage do you measure on the battery when you put on the ignition? (without the headlights).
If it is still 12.6V with the ignition on you should be able to jump start it. If it drops down to let's say 6V your battery is dead or your charger is no good.

 

I'm kinda in the same boat, but a little bit of a different story. I'm thinking my batteries just don't have the cranking amps in them to turn the bike over. The battery I have in the bike now is holding a charge at 13.37 volts, but when I hit the starter button it only activates the solenoid. I have to boost from a car battery to start the bike, even after driving the bike around for 20 mins. My other battery which I bought new in 09 won't hold the charge. I measured the voltage as soon as I pulled it off the charger from a 12-14 hour charge, and it read 10.52 and was dropping by .01 every second. Both batteries were stored in a room temperature, dry place over winter. The battery for another bike I have charged up fine and turns the other bike over no problem. It's a newer 08 model.

Another thing to mention is I've lost the use of both turn signals. All the bulbs are fine, and last year I had a bit of an issue with the right turn signal, but I resolved it and cleaned all the terminals. This year, it started with the right flasher not working, then the left decided to quit too. Pulled off the handle controls, cleaned everything up, made sure everything moved freely and made contact. Still nothing. Listened for the flasher relay, and heard nothing. Fuse block is fine, all wires are connected. All grounds are fine, not grounded out on anything. All power wires are still fully sheathed and not grounding. I have no idea where the flasher relay is on my bike. It's a Maxim 650, built in 7/80, and doesn't have YICS. On my 1981 YICS parts bike, the flasher relay was under the coils. On the 80, there's a little black plastic relay under the coils as opposed to the little metal relay from the other bike. So I'm confused.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If it can be confirmed that it's just the battery causing the problems, I will be very much relieved.

 

Take the (fully charged as you can get them) batteries to an auto parts store and have them load tested.

It sounds like you may be "cooking" batteries by overcharging; what are you using/what rate are you charging them at?

 

I was using an old old charger that runs 12 volts and 4 amps.

It's possible you are right, as I only charged that battery in the other bike for about an hour and it started the bike no problem. I did the same 1 hour charge with the battery for the xj, the first time, and it would only click the solenoid.

 

It should not be that complicated. Charge the battery over night (not with a charger to a car, its too strong) and it should read 13.2 - 13.8V depending of age. If you turn the light on and measure the voltage on the battery you should get 11.8 - 12.2 V.
You let it stay on for about 15 min. If the light dies out the battery is dead.
(dont use a lot of time on an old battery, its not that expensive).

 

Hey, I found the problem and it was electrical. There is a litlle cilinder right behind the battery (I don't know the name!) wich has two terminals (pos.-neg.) and the conection to ground and another cable that was on shortcut, replaced that cilinder and the bike came to life again. Thanks everyone!!

 

Solenoid!

 

ok... thank you !! I didn't know the name in English...