XJ battery dead? Gas in oil? Questions

Left the key in the XJ and killed the battery, i assume its not hurt because of such but will in hurt battery or bike to jump it with my car? and had gas in my crankcase, should i change filter when i change oil?


Thanks, Teddy

 

Slow charging is the best for this type of battery. Make sure it is full of water and charge it up. If you have to jump it, do not do it with the car engine running.
Yes change the filter and your oil. You should not leave the tank on prime because if the float needles leak it will fill your engine up with gas. It can be real hard on your seals if left that way too long.

MN

 

I don't think I would try to jump my bike with a car the landing would be rough, that sort of thing should be left to professionals. (HAR HAR)The only problem with jumping with a car is the CCA's of a car battery vs. a motorcycle damaging the starting system. Change oil and filter but find the leak. Check the air box for fuel as well I have had a Kawasaki flood like that and the air box ignited it was quite a surprise. I would guess there is a float sticking or not sealing. Overflows should stop that unless they are plugged as well. Oh wait the fuel tank petcock valve may need rebuilt, which was the problem with my wife's Kawasaki.

 

I've killed my batt 5 or 6 times over the years that way.

After a quik jump from the car (engine off) a 15/20 min drive and
she's good to go.

Yes change the filter.

 

Change the oil and filter.
Jump the bike off of a car battery so long as the car is NOT running.

 

What is with not running the car? Car battery's have 6 times the CCA's of a bike battery. That could fry the windings in the starter or relays, switches. While a car is running it is just charging the battery on and off.

 

I think the "Jump with Vehicle NOT Running" caution originated from a Tech-Pages Article in CYCLE Magazine on hooking-up Jumper Cables, awhile back.

Modern Motor Vehicles have Alternators that can deliver AMPS far above what the Bike's limit is.
Should the connection open momentarily; when the Jump Circuit closed, again, ... a surge from the Vehicle would be harmful to the Bike's Voltage Regulator or the TCI.

 

Uh, I think you have volts and amps mixed up. Batteries, car and motorcycle, are rated at 12 Volts, nominal. They are full charged at 13 to 13.5 Volts.
Voltage regulators keep the output of the alternators just high enough, voltage wise, to keep the battery at that voltage. The alternator output amps go up or down, depending on the voltage. As the voltage of the battery drops, the regulator lets the voltage output of the alternator rise, increasing the amps, thereby keeping the battery at full charge.
When you jump a battery, if the regulator of the auto is doing it's job, the voltage will be no higher than the voltage of the bikes alternator, and can not over charge the bike battery, or hurt any good components. OBSERVE POLARITY, naturally.
If the voltage of the car battery is not over 13.5V, no harm can come to the bikes components.
CZ

 

Listen carefully to Robert and RickCoMatic, please.

Dave Fox

 

Thanks guys, i've got everything ready to throw back on the xj and i think i'll just dig out the ol battery charger and let it trickle charge today rather than risk any damage. Thanks for all the help so far, I'd be dead in the water without this forum, or at least my battery would be.



Teddy

 

Like RickCoMatic says the the cold cranking amps of the battery will NOT hurt your battery. But the out put of the auto's alternator/generator will fry your electronics!!!
The use of a car/truck/boat battery is fine. I use a deep cycle battery for starting bikes while working on them. The bike will only draw the current it needs to start from a battery regardless of its size and type, as long as its 12 volts. And using a deep cycle battery is cheaper then constantly killing a bike battery. Why deep cycle battery? Can be repeatedly charged and discharged with out destroying the battery. A very handy item to have while working on these old girls!

 

Teddycod - you still need to service the petcock also.

 

Gas had to get past the floats to get into the crankcase; the petcock alone won't do it. You also need to attend to your float valves.

 

yea I made the same deduction about the float valves, I could be wrong but i'm assuming the bowl fills with gas until the floats raise and the float needle plugs the valve, and something got stuck there as well, right?

 

You are correct sir. Both cleanliness and adjustment affect the operation.

 

Well Its all clean as can be now, one of the floats has a chipped corner on it, would that make a difference?