Korean Job Discussion Forums

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

I've went through a good 3 or 4 batteries on my motorcycle since picking it up last November...seems kinda ridiculous, and I think it points to some sort of bigger problem (beyond just the batteries being junk). What would cause something like this to happen so often? It's not from leaving my lights on or anything....I did that the first time I had to replace it, but have wisened up since.

Sometimes it will start, sometimes it won't. But when it won't start, you can hear the bike losing power when you try and start it subsequent times...it starts making that noise that sounds like it's trying to click over but just won't go. Then I'll wait 5 or so minutes, it will start, and I'll be fine for a day or two, and then the whole cycle will begin again.

Any ideas? This is my first bike, so I don't know much about how things work internally.

Thanks,

-L

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

sounds like your generator/altinator is shot. Your bike should be able to generate enough power to fire the plugs and recharge your battery.

When you lose power is when your bike can no longer produce enough power to make the spark plug work.

I would suggest kick starting it every time you start the bick, do not run your head light and have the bike looked at ASAP.

Repairs I would guess should be less than 100 000 won.

I had the same problem a few years ago.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Your bike has an electrical short which is causing the battery to drain and or the alternator is bad. If the electrical short is serious enough, the alternator can't keep up with keeping the battery fully charged. In korea, koreans call the alternator, "generator." It's not a generator. A generator generates power. Automotive electrical systems have power via the battery. An alternator merely keeps the battery full charged.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

take it to a shop and get them to check the charge rate..
cheap, quick and easy to fix..

or

buy a battery charger and charge the battery every few weeks

heres where i'm a bit lost though.. on bikes, the spark comes from the magneto, if the battery is dead you should still be able to kick it and ride it ok just without blinkers, lights, etc. the battery is only there for the electronic start and accessories..

good luck

Zark · Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject:

Another possibility is that the regulator is not shutting off when the battery is fully charged. See if you battery is low on water as it will bubble the water out if it is charging all the time. If a battery overcharges all the time it will get weak and not hold much of a charge.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject:

Three times, I've heard of cars draining batteries. All three times, assumptions were made about a bad battery or alternator. All three times, it ended up being some little wire that needed to be sautered back together.

Best advice is to just take it into the shop and get a diagnostic on the electrical system.

mudguts · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Toronto

could be the alternator.. I would check the connections. it sounds like something is pulling power straight from the battery even when it's not running. maybe you have a brake lever that is always pressed and using up some juice.. or a radar detector or a radio or something??
something that is plugged straight into the battery and not running off of the alternator.
I agree with the others, take it in. unless you know what you're doing.