3 1/2 weeks later... battery is dead.

[Suncross]

So last week I spent some time getting oil, and oil filters for my GZ. I am getting ready to change it for the first time. I wake up from working all night to find that the battery is totally dead. I have only owned it for about 3 weeks now. It wouldn't start at all. So I hook it up to the battery charger.. and boom, it starts right up. Is this a bad sign? Is it bad to start it while plugged into the wall?

[Suncross]

I am reading my service manual. It tells me I need to remove my battery in order to charge it. However when I was sold the bike, it had a wire hanging out that you can hook a charger up to. That's what I am doing now. I was told by a friend and a mechanic that I could charge it that way. Has anyone else done it that way?

[geezer]

thats fine, you prob using a batt tender, sure no worries. make sure you r battery connections are tight. also its kinda hard to know for sure if you have problems cause you cant leave a bike sit for that long. so once you start riding it regularly you will know if you have probs

[alantf]

Suzuki recommend charging at 0.7A for 5 to 10 hours. Make sure you don't charge at more than 2A or you will fry the battery. :2tup:

[Suncross]

A battery tender is what it was. I hope it's 2a. I have no way to tell at the moment. I am not sure why they would make like an oem charger that did more than that at default.

[Suncross]

Also, the previous owner let it sit like that. The only time my bike will sit not running is if one day I sleep all day and all night from working, or like for a week while I go somewhere with my family.

I ran it really hard the previous day, and I let it sit for over 24 hours. Went ~130 miles, and at the end of it, it was like wet and wild trying to get home. Semis splashing so much water I couldn't even see. It was like the bike was running under water it got so soaked. Could that have anything to do with it?

[geezer]

all you can do is check your connections and voltage at the battery with the engine at a high idle should have around 14ish volts.

[mrlmd1]

Also make sure you are not one of those who make a mistake and turn the key all the way off to the left leaving it in the PARK position to leave the running lights on. Turn it off in the OFF position, in the middle of the key travel, one notch to the left of ON, not two notches to PARK, It's a good idea when you walk away from the bike to glance at the rear lights and make sure they are off.
If the battery is good it should not be dead, even leaving the bike alone for a month.
You should let the charger charge up the battery, and use that to start it, not use that charger to try and start the bike. The current output is noway near the 80 amps or so the charger draws and you may blow or burn out some of those little chargers trying to put that much load on it. If you need to jumpstart your bike from another source, hook it up to a NONRUNNING car using jumper cables, pos to pos, neg to neg. A running car's alternator will put out way to much current and you may fry all the electronics on the bike if the car is running when you jump it. And don't use a high output charger/starter either, same thing.
Measure the voltage at rest, (should be 12.6-12.8V for a fully charged battery), measure it at 2500-3000 rpms (should be 13.5-14v) to check the charging system.
In all likelihood there is nothing wrong with your battery, you probably left the lights on. Put it on the charger for 4-6 hrs and fully charge it up.

[Suncross]

I lock the bike each time I get off it. It locks the steering wheel. Is that also considered putting it on park?

[alantf]

If you turn the key all the way to the left - to the "P" position - it will lock the steering, and put on the rear light, which will run down the battery. You should only turn the key to the "lock" position.[attachment=0:2zdgvmky]img023.jpg[/attachment:2zdgvmky]
Sorry it's in Spanish, but so is my bike. :)

[Suncross]

what do I have to buy to measure these things?

Is it bad to start the bike using the tender? I mean this is my main transportation. I have shown this thing some serious TLC and now it won't even start.

[geezer]

its caled a multi meter you can get one cheap at the partstore

[alantf]

what do I have to buy to measure these things?

Is it bad to start the bike using the tender? I mean this is my main transportation. I have shown this thing some serious TLC and now it won't even start.

You haven't said............Did you inadvertantly turn the key all the way round, to the "P" position instead of "Lock"? :??: :)

[Suncross]

what do I have to buy to measure these things?

Is it bad to start the bike using the tender? I mean this is my main transportation. I have shown this thing some serious TLC and now it won't even start.

You haven't said............Did you inadvertantly turn the key all the way round, to the "P" position instead of "Lock"? :??: :)

I don't think i've ever done that. No.

Still can't find out whether or not it's safe to start the bike with a tender. I can't seem to find any place that says it's bad, so I am going to go ahead and use it to start it and see if it works.

[geezer]

yeah go ahead and start on the tender

[Water Warrior 2]

The tender itself will not provide near enough power to start the bike. Use the tender to charge the battery and then start the bike.

[Water Warrior 2]

yeah go ahead and start on the tender
Not gonna happen.

[geezer]

i figured he was asking if he could use the batt tender to supplement the batts power. my bad

[mrlmd1]

Did you read my previous post?

"You should let the charger charge up the battery, and use that to start it, not use that charger to try and start the bike. The current output is noway near the 80 amps or so the charger draws and you may blow or burn out some of those little chargers trying to put that much load on it."

Did you read WW's posts?

Why is this so hard to understand? How many ways do you have to be told the same thing? You are waiting for the answer you want to hear, so do what you want. You may burn out your charger because of the current draw on it is way in excess of what it can put out, and you may also burn it out or damage it from the current and voltage the bike's alternator puts out at higher than idle speed.

I have a couple of questions for you:

You said the battery was totally dead. I don't know what that means and how you reached that conclusion.
Did you have any lights come on when you turned the key to ON? Did you look? Or just did nothing happen when you hit the starter button after turning the key on? Did you measure the battery voltage at the battery terminals or from that plug hanging down underneath with a meter to see what the voltage was?
(by the way, the protected socket is positive, the bare open one is negative).
You are absolutely sure you didn't inadvertently leave the key turned off all the way to the left in PARK?

You had the RUN/KILL switch in the RUN position with the key ON when you hit the start button?
You pulled in the clutch when you went to start the bike?
If either of those are not right, the starter will not turn over.

How long are you leaving the charger/tender attached to the battery when you try and start the bike with it?
Did you ever charge up the battery fully with the charger after this episode? Like leave it connected 6 hrs or so?
Have you checked your battery connections for dirt, corrosion, or to make sure they are tight? You may just have a loose connection at the battery as your problem.

Did you get a multitester/voltmeter yet? You must measure your battery voltage at rest, after being on the charger for a number of hours to make sure it's fully charged, and with the bike running 2500+rpm to get some information so we can help you. Again. read my previous post.
Or just carry your charger with you at all times and get a 100' extension cord so you can try and start your bike to get home.

[Gz Rider]

...

[Rookie Rider]

Can i leave the battery tender on to charge the bike all winter, or should i take it off the tender in 12-15 hrs. Not riding till spring weather.

[JWR]

Depends on the brand of tender.

Some top off and only come on when needed, others you need to unplug.

A 1 or 1.5amp charger is good for once a month top off. 6-to 10 hours is not going to hurt anything.

[Rookie Rider]

Ok thank you

[Water Warrior 2]

A smart charger such as the Battery Tender can be left hooked up all winter. It will monitor the battery voltage and top it up as needed. I put our BT on each bike for an hour or so once a month to top them up. Sure beats wasting a battery and having to replace it.