Exhaust leak

[Rick]

I'll try that and see what I get.

thanks

[mrlmd1]

Put it on the charger for 6-8 hours at least to fully charge it then bring it to a battery store or a garage and have it load tested. That's the only way to see if it's any good.
You might be using more juice to start it 5 times a day then recharging it if you are taking very short trips as the charging system in the GZ is pretty puny., plus it's cold now.
You can check if your alternator/magneto/whatever you want to call it is working OK if you start the bike with a fully charged battery and measure the voltage at the battery terminals with the engine running at least 2500-3000 rpm and see if it's putting out 13.5-14V. If it's not up in that range, you may not be charging the battery. But it sounds like your battery is on the way out.
A warning not to be ignored - if you do buy a new AGM battery which is what's recommended for the bike, make sure you charge it up fully before you use it for the first time or it will never hold a full charge and you will have the same problem you have now and will be back at the battery store real quick. Regardless of what you are told at the store by the dealer, that it's all set to go, charge it up first before you use it. If you don't do that you'll be sorry.

[blaine]

Originally Posted by Rick

Ugh! Unfortunately I'm already there. It started fine right after charging. Then awhile ago I started it up and rode about 10 miles, made a couple of stops, and after the last stop it wouldn't start.

The battery is not the original. I got it at batteries plus about 2 years ago, and use a battery tender on it about once a month (the last time being this morning)

Sounds like you have a charging problem.If you don't have a meter,a quick test is if bike is charging the headlight should brighten up when you rev the bike and dim at idle.If not than your bike is not charging.
:2tup:

[jonathan180iq]

Originally Posted by blaine

Sounds like you have a charging problem.If you don't have a meter,a quick test is if bike is charging the headlight should brighten up when you rev the bike and dim at idle.If not than your bike is not charging.
:2tup:

:plus1: That's even easier than whipping out the volt meter.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by jonathan180iq

:plus1: That's even easier than whipping out the volt meter.

Ok, just did that and I didn't see any difference at idle versus revved. I guess I'll verify that with a volt meter when I get home.
Question though - if I've been making 50+ mile trips after push starts wouldn't the battery just drain down to dead from the headlight and other electrics running for all that time?

[blaine]

You may be only charging enough to keep battery from going completly dead.Your meter will tell the tail.But with the headlight not getting brighter is a sure sign of a charging problem.
:cool:

[Rick]

Ok, here are some fresh observations:

Push started the bike, rode it home (2 miles).
Put meter on battery, ~12.4
hooked it to battery tender, took about 20 minutes to charge (was below 80% per the red solid light)
put meter on battery, ~12.9 - 13.0
tried to start bike, no go
push started bike and hooked up meter, ~13.7 at idle, ~13.55 revved (yes I checked this several times, it would start to tick down as RPM increased each time). There was no increase in headlight intensity as engine was revved
Killed engine, battery measured ~12.5 immediately thereafter

So, is it possible that the battery is holding a charge, but not quite enough of a charge to start the motor? I guess I'll take it to Autozone tomorrow to be tested.

Thanks for everyone's input!

[JWR]

Yes

[jonathan180iq]

Take it and get it load tested.

Test it right after charging and then again about 30 minutes later and see if you're losing juice somewhere.

[blaine]

It possibly your battery.But if charging properly you should be able to see headlight brighten & dim,unless it is really bright out.
:??: