Rolled out my 999 today to take it out for a ride after 6 month in solitary garage. Battery is totally dead. Not even a light on the dash coming on. And it doesn't look like taking charge. Been on for 2 hours now and still no life . Battery was new (yuasa) last March and bike was last run in October with no problem on the button. Can new battery just die??? Anyone aware of any tricks? Pls help
6 months left to stand will drain nearly any battery. I'd take the battery off the bike a try charging 'stand alone' so to speak. You could also take the battery to a garage for a quick check/test. I think chargers get a bit confused when they cant detect any voltage at all. Next winter, definitely prep your bike for a six month stand... Battery off, drain fuel etc.
Lead acid batteries are a pain, charge them and they are fine. Once the discharge process starts, it doesn't stop even if you disconnect it so no surprise it's flat. It may need a deep charge which is where the datatool style charger comes in. You might be able to rescue it. Andy
Just had a thought, where are you in relation to the M4 and junction 11 ? I have a YT12B fully charged and spare if you need something to tied you over. Andy
yup. dollars is not what i am concerned about, just slightly puzzled why wouldn't battery go through the winter? but my fault, should have taken it out
I recently had a completely flat battery on my honda, a new battery left with the lights on for a week, I connected it to my smart charger with no luck at all then I tried an old £5 trickle charger I had on a shelf and bingo she charged back to full life and is still going strong. I presume the trickle charger didn't recognise a flat battery and just did it's job. Steve
Letting a dead battery drop below zero deg is a killer! It causes the plates to warp and short out.. A battery on trickle will have warmth around the plates not much but enough to hopefully prevent winter damage..
Not all batteries like being mounted on their side as on the 999. Even Yuasa have been known to slowly leak acid until U/S. Better to use a gel type battery for the 999.
battery was totally dry, deffo no leak. just gave it a little shake to get juices going and see if this (my own method) will work.on charge again now
I've made the same mistake in the past @yev. Sometimes it's easy to forget these things as you do get some nice days in the winter every now and then. I left mine on the bike one year and before you know it 4 to 5 cold winter months pass by and that moment when you go to start it it's always dead. I use to recharge and use again but it's always in the back of my head that what if I go somewhere and it doesn't start? Ever tried bumping a twin? Is bloody hard work.
Can't recommend an opti-mate enough, so easy to install and easy to hide the connector if your picky like I am, I have had my battery for the third winter this year and still started on the button, 2 weeks ago!!:thumbsup:
Optimates wont charge a completely flat battery. You need to fool the charger to get it going eg. connect another battery to the dead one to start it charging then disconnect good battery.
That's good to hear, and saved me from just throwing out a potentially perfectly good Optimate 3! do you know why it is, does their internal circuit just not allow the charge amps to push enough into the battery (i.e. only designed for top ups). I know it charge cycles so perhaps that's why
this is bloody spooky. every single battery in my house have died. except the one from my daily bike. even battery from the bike which is kept indoors is dead. trying to revive them now. long cue to the charger
