Klr 650 dead battery help?

spruce · 11-30-2012, 02:56 AM

Hey. Would anyone have any ideas why my battery would go completely dead ,after parking and locking steering wheel, and leaving the bike about 10 days . I came to start it , nothing, checked battery it had a .35 volts and would not roll start. The battery was about 8 months old. Finally got it jump started but with it running the horn would not blow. How do you check for a short? The fuses were good. I'll try to recharge the battery but may have to replace it. To bad it don't have a kick starter. While I'am Here this my first post and I sure have enjoyed seeing the photos and reading what is going on out there. In the 2 wheeled world. Thanks B safe out there!! Spruce! :)

greer · 11-30-2012, 05:38 AM

Does the KLR have that parking light feature that comes on when you turn the key to steering lock one notch too far? Turning those things on accidentally will sure suck a battery. Wonder how I know?

Welcome to the forum!!

Sarah

XDragRacer · 11-30-2012, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greer

Does the KLR have that parking light feature that comes on when you turn the key to steering lock one notch too far? Turning those things on accidentally will sure suck a battery. Wonder how I know?

Welcome to the forum!!

Sarah

Yes; and . . . please do not inquire how I know this is true!

IDRIDR · 11-30-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDragRacer

Yes; and . . . please do not inquire how I know this is true!

Don't ask me either....

It makes me wonder if the bike was running, but voltage still low, maybe the voltage wasn't sufficient to operate the horn. I'd charge the batter up full, then watch voltage and see if it drops. If it does, maybe remove a wire from the battery and see if it drops when not connected to the bike, which I'd guess indicates a bad battery. Good luck there.

PNWRR · 11-30-2012, 11:20 AM

FWIW, try not to use the bikes charging system to fully restore your battery to a full charge. they're really not designed for deep cycle charging. Do it too many times and you could overtax the stator/charging system. ymmv.

spruce · 11-30-2012, 04:27 PM

Thanks for all your feed back. Live and learn. Soon I'll be on the road again. Spruce :)

strongbad · 11-30-2012, 04:34 PM

You have several possibilities:

1. bad battery
2. no, or low stator output and/or bad rectifier/regulator
3. high parasitic drain with the key off

I would troubleshoot this way:

1. Verify the battery with a loaded test (once it has fully charged). Only a loaded test can properly verify the battery. Battery shops can do the test.

2. If the battery is OK, connect the battery and measure charge voltage while the engine runs. It should be >13.6V at 3000 rpm and <15.5V. If the voltage is too high or too low, check the rectifier/regulator.

3. Test the parasitic drain with the key off by disconnecting the ground lead to the battery and measuring current between the ground lead and the battery with an ammeter. It should be just a few milliamps or less. If the parasitic drain is high, check your aftermarket accessories first (by disconnecting them). If parasitic drain is still too high, unplug the rectifier/regulator to see if the high drain current goes away.

CA Stu · 11-30-2012, 04:51 PM

If it won't hold a charge and has water in it, you may have a bad cell.

In which case, buy a new battery.

11-30-2012, 02:56 AM	#1
spruce ^OP n00b Joined: Sep 2008 Oddometer: 2	Klr 650 dead battery help? Hey. Would anyone have any ideas why my battery would go completely dead ,after parking and locking steering wheel, and leaving the bike about 10 days . I came to start it , nothing, checked battery it had a .35 volts and would not roll start. The battery was about 8 months old. Finally got it jump started but with it running the horn would not blow. How do you check for a short? The fuses were good. I'll try to recharge the battery but may have to replace it. To bad it don't have a kick starter. While I'am Here this my first post and I sure have enjoyed seeing the photos and reading what is going on out there. In the 2 wheeled world. Thanks B safe out there!! Spruce! :)

11-30-2012, 05:38 AM	#2
greer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Glasgow, Kentucky Oddometer: 3,494	Does the KLR have that parking light feature that comes on when you turn the key to steering lock one notch too far? Turning those things on accidentally will sure suck a battery. Wonder how I know? Welcome to the forum!! Sarah __________________ '08 DR650

11-30-2012, 04:51 PM	#8
CA Stu Thanks Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Riverside, CA Oddometer: 42,649	If it won't hold a charge and has water in it, you may have a bad cell. In which case, buy a new battery. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

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11-30-2012, 11:20 AM	#5
PNWRR send money Joined: Apr 2011 Oddometer: 554	FWIW, try not to use the bikes charging system to fully restore your battery to a full charge. they're really not designed for deep cycle charging. Do it too many times and you could overtax the stator/charging system. ymmv.

11-30-2012, 04:27 PM	#6
spruce ^OP n00b Joined: Sep 2008 Oddometer: 2	Thanks for all your feed back. Live and learn. Soon I'll be on the road again. Spruce :)

11-30-2012, 04:34 PM	#7
strongbad Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Arroyo Grande, CA Oddometer: 430	You have several possibilities: 1. bad battery 2. no, or low stator output and/or bad rectifier/regulator 3. high parasitic drain with the key off I would troubleshoot this way: 1. Verify the battery with a loaded test (once it has fully charged). Only a loaded test can properly verify the battery. Battery shops can do the test. 2. If the battery is OK, connect the battery and measure charge voltage while the engine runs. It should be >13.6V at 3000 rpm and <15.5V. If the voltage is too high or too low, check the rectifier/regulator. 3. Test the parasitic drain with the key off by disconnecting the ground lead to the battery and measuring current between the ground lead and the battery with an ammeter. It should be just a few milliamps or less. If the parasitic drain is high, check your aftermarket accessories first (by disconnecting them). If parasitic drain is still too high, unplug the rectifier/regulator to see if the high drain current goes away.