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Posted by greenbarn
- April 07, 2019, 09:52:27 AMI looked and don't immediately see them still on Ebay, but they might still be there somewhere. You can see it mounted on the top of the triple tree, to the right of the center nut. I wanted something 1) unobtrusive and 2) easy to read going down the road at a glance. This one does not give you a digital read out of the volts (e.g. 14.0 V), but has red and green LED lights that light up across the face. I know which light is "normal" so it's easy to monitor. There are a TON of gauges to pic from on Ebay:
Posted by Bucko
- April 06, 2019, 12:19:49 PMQuote from: greenbarn on April 06, 2019, 10:23:03 AMGB: can you post a pix of what you've done or a link if you've already posted it?I suggest (for everyone) to install a small volt meter so you can monitor the charging / battery condition whilst riding-- might keep you out of a jam. I have one on both Drifters.
Posted by greenbarn
- April 06, 2019, 10:23:03 AMHard to tell with no more information than we have, but sounds like maybe it's not charging. You say, if you trickle charge it, then it will start? If you do not, then it "chugs away but will not fire". ?? The 1500 fuel injection system is very sensitive to a low battery. They can turn over what SEEMS to be plenty fast enough that you would think they SHOULD start... but will not. If you think it's cranking slower than normal, it probably is a low battery voltage, and the fuel injection isn't getting enough voltage to work properly.
You need to do some testing to see exactly what it is or isn't doing. The battery voltage should always be around 12.6V for a charged battery. This is with the bike not running. So after trickle charging - you need 12.6 or close to it -- or else you have a bad battery (I don't care if it's "new", there are bad new batteries sometimes). Once it's running - your charging system hast to be somewhere ABOVE 12.6 V. Around 14.5 is considered "normal", but could be somewhat less. Check this with no extra "accessories" running -- such as driving lights, GPS, heated seats, any extra lights, etc.
The Drifters do not have a real large charging capacity. Do you do have any extra accessories? or larger wattage lights? - you could easily exceed the capacity of the charging system -- I switched to slightly higher wattage spotlights on my light bar once, and ran the battery down- while riding on a long ride-- and it would not start at a gas station.
I suggest (for everyone) to install a small volt meter so you can monitor the charging / battery condition whilst riding-- might keep you out of a jam. I have one on both Drifters.
Posted by drifter-paul
- April 04, 2019, 03:26:37 AMMy starter motor went out, at 167,000 and took the battery with it. Replaced both and trickle charged the new battery and took it for a 150K run (have a Vstr5om 650 which is much less effort for an aging bloke) so I no longer ride her daily. When I try to start , she chugs away but does'nt fire. New plugs, a little choke and I'm lucky if she starts/ dry plugs , sit , (maybe) trickle charge and away she goes.
Pain in the ass. What am I missing ? New leads ? Faulty alternator ? Anyone else had this ?
Thanks 