Battery Electrolyte Sensor

I must say that my first ride of the XJ750 was great. It's the first time I sat on an '80's bike and felt that I didn't need to spend an hour getting used to the indosynchracies of the bike (which I know the 750 has). All this despite the lack of front brakes due to a master cylinder leak.

One annoying thing was the battery test on the dash and the resultant flashing warning light. The seller told me that when he replaced the battery the new one didn't come with the electrolyte tester and as a result the battery warning light now flashes. ANNOYING!! Unfortunately I think he didn't realise he should have kept the fourth cap along from the right and stuck it in the new battery.

Anyway I guess I have two options - find a new one or bypass the connection (which I don't really want to do as I am bit of an originality freak). Does anyone have any suggestions for the best course of action? I am sure I am not the first person to have this problem....

Many thanks
Paul

 

Your best option is to bypass the sensor. Go to xj4ever.com and grab the writeup by Schmuckaholic about the process.

Ghost

 

I use a piece of electrical tape over the light lol

 

No front brake? I thought I was "brave" going round the block on dead tyres! 8O

I know you got less traffic in places out there, but doesn't there tend to be kamikaze roos as well? I know you'll be fixing it but wow, you really did want to get her ridden huh? lol

 

I did the same thing on my '81 a lot of years ago,from memory there was a reset button or something like that on the dash and I had to push it every time I started the bike used to give me the shits but wasn't that big a deal.

 

That means something completely different in the UK lol (at least I HOPE it does, otherwise I'd advise not putting your hands in your mouth after pushing the button lol

 

sorry if im hijacking the thread but I replaced my battery with a new one that has the sensor and hooked it all up at the battery, but my darn light still comes on every time I start the bike. any ideas?

 

I belive that the sensor wire if provided with a live feed ie (link to starter solenoid small wire connection) the issue will be resolved.

On mine a stripped back the wire crimped on a battery terminal washer and then connected to solenoid. No flashing lights on atari, and no smelly fingers..!

 

home made battery sender
make your own sender by using one of your caps. drill a small hole throug it.get a316 stainless screw that will fit tightly through the holeand long enough to reach into the acid deep enough without touching the plates. connect a wire to the top of the screw that will connect to the red / white wire that would have been the original sender wire make sure it is 316 stainless steel and that you put it in the third cap from the positive i have put on my bike works a treat . will post a diagram soon

 

Krafty, is your sensor tip and wiring connections clean & (daft question) is it in the right hole?

Nice bit of DIY there camma take it your original was AWOL or damaged? as usually just cleaning the tip & connectors works

 

the battery and sensor are brand new, ill have to check the wiring on the bike as best I can.

 

OK another daft question, the new sensor is in the electrolyte right?

You can test if the wiring is working by connecting it as described above to a live feed. Can also test with a multimeter if the sensor is working (even new could be bad) by measuring voltage across it's connector & ground terminal, IIRC it should show 5/6v

 

Can you still buy the sensors?

 

I believe Chacal (XJ4Ever) may be your man, if he can't get it I doubt it belongs on an XJ 8)