rabbitnutz
XS650 New Member
Hi, I'm Nick. I just got a bike. First bike for me. I'm kind of a car guy, but bikes are new. 1980 xs650. I've been lurking on the forums a bit, and now i need help with some advice. I was told it needed carbs cleaned (had that done) and it has a charging issue, so be advised for long trips...this is what i need help with.
So, i did some electrical tests with a volt meter to see what i was working with:
battery started at 11.49 volts. threw it on a charger, got to 12.49 while on charger.
left it on there for half an hour, when i removed charger, it was 11.56 and draining.
kick started it, revved it, and lights got brighter when revving (this indicates charging...right>?)
took it for a spin around the block, and about 3/4 the way around the block it stalled out, and i couldn't (kick) start it again.
immediately post ride: 9.62 and rising (?)
10 minutes later 9.45 and dropping
at this point i've turned the key to "run" and lights are still bright and normal looking...noticed battery acid level was at the low mark.
i cleaned all the terminals with a file and some dielectric grease, and checked the volts again. this time i got 10.51 and slowly rising (the rising thing weirds me out)
at this point i charged it overnight. When i came out the next day, i had 12.4v.
while idleing: 12.4
revved it a bit: 12.7
...ok. so i have some charging.
i tried the slap test by hanging a wrench, and when i turned the key on, it didn't slap against the cover. Took the cover off, and the nut holding on the rotor does seem magnetized when the key is on, just maybe not enough magnetization for a slap test?
after a ride around the block a few times, i had 12.82 and slowly dropping (tested when bike was off)
i filled the batter with distilled water, rode it around the block, and had 12.63 when i got back. because of my fear of a parasitic draw, i disconnected the battery overnight.
12.62 the next morning. Cool. Battery seems OK.
that night, i went for a longer ride. around 6 miles, with three small stops in between. at my third stop, i got the volt meter out and took a reading:
11.79 when idleing, and no change when revving.
Anyone have any ideas? should i just bite the bullet and get a PMA?
So, i did some electrical tests with a volt meter to see what i was working with:
battery started at 11.49 volts. threw it on a charger, got to 12.49 while on charger.
left it on there for half an hour, when i removed charger, it was 11.56 and draining.
kick started it, revved it, and lights got brighter when revving (this indicates charging...right>?)
took it for a spin around the block, and about 3/4 the way around the block it stalled out, and i couldn't (kick) start it again.
immediately post ride: 9.62 and rising (?)
10 minutes later 9.45 and dropping
at this point i've turned the key to "run" and lights are still bright and normal looking...noticed battery acid level was at the low mark.
i cleaned all the terminals with a file and some dielectric grease, and checked the volts again. this time i got 10.51 and slowly rising (the rising thing weirds me out)
at this point i charged it overnight. When i came out the next day, i had 12.4v.
while idleing: 12.4
revved it a bit: 12.7
...ok. so i have some charging.
i tried the slap test by hanging a wrench, and when i turned the key on, it didn't slap against the cover. Took the cover off, and the nut holding on the rotor does seem magnetized when the key is on, just maybe not enough magnetization for a slap test?
after a ride around the block a few times, i had 12.82 and slowly dropping (tested when bike was off)
i filled the batter with distilled water, rode it around the block, and had 12.63 when i got back. because of my fear of a parasitic draw, i disconnected the battery overnight.
12.62 the next morning. Cool. Battery seems OK.
that night, i went for a longer ride. around 6 miles, with three small stops in between. at my third stop, i got the volt meter out and took a reading:
11.79 when idleing, and no change when revving.
Anyone have any ideas? should i just bite the bullet and get a PMA?