jump start but reversed connections

[Chris]

Thanks for the comments. The bike is dying quite suddenly - no sputtering, or gradual slowing. Agreed, something electrical (I opened another thread on that:-) Chris P.S. The old AGM battery was in there for 3 1/2 years, so it lasted pretty well, I'd say.

On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 9:02 AM, Fred Hink wrote: > KLRs charging system runs pretty high volts and I don t think yours is > excessive. It sounds like your regulator is working properly. > > When your engine dies, does it sputter before it quits or does it quit > like you turned off the key? If it sputters, most likely it is fuel > related and if it quits instantly, it s most likely electrical related. > > Fred > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > > *From:* Chris Norloff > *Sent:* Sunday, August 26, 2012 11:52 PM > *To:* KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > *Subject:* Re: [DSN_KLR650] jump start but reversed connections > > > > UPDATE: replaced the battery with a new, fully-charged AGM battery (thanks > Fred!). System is charging, though voltage seems a little high -- up to > 14.4 volts at 3,000 rpm. Not sure I trust the voltage regulator/rectifier. > Have some other issues with it dying now - seems electrical. > > Regards, > Chris > > On Aug 8, 2012, at 7:58 AM, Chris Norloff > > wrote: > > > I believe replacing the battery is needed as it didn't hold enough > charge over 3-4 weeks to start the bike. Then after 45 min. riding it > hadn't charged enough, with charging voltage more than 13.2 V, to start the > bike. And batteries seem to be a weak item on motorcycles. > > > > While the battery did indeed charge on the 45 min. ride home, its > voltage with bike turned off was only 12 V, instead of 13.2 > > > > The charging voltage went as high as 14.9 on the way home -- higher than > I've ever seen. That may point to a bad battery or a bad voltage regulator. > As Jeff Saline noted, checking the charging system requires first a good > and charged battery. > > > > That's the way my thinking is going now. > > > > Thanks, > > Chris > > > > > > > > On Aug 7, 2012, at 9:57 AM, RobertWichert > > wrote: > > > >> Uh, you said it was working. Why are you replacing anything? > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C > >> +1 916 966 9060 > >> FAX +1 916 966 9068 > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> =============================================== > >> On 8/7/2012 5:49 AM, Chris Norloff wrote: > >>> Thanks for the comments everyone. > >>> > >>> I tried push-starting three times, but even in third gear the wheel > locked before turning over the engine enough. It was also 90 degrees. > >>> > >>> I'll replace the battery and voltage regulator, after looking at the > price I'm glad I dodged the bullet as far as replacing the stator. And my > brother-in-law tells me he blew the top off a battery by hooking jumper > cables backwards - so looks like I was lucky ... > >>> > >>> Regards, > >>> Chris > >>> > >>> On Aug 6, 2012, at 11:25 PM, Tam a'Rack mailto:tamarack%40rocketmail.com > wrote: > >>> > >>> > I try to avoid jumpstarting, try bumpstaring instead. (roll down a > grade and pop the clutch in 2nd or 3rd gear) > >>> > Once the motor is warm it should not take much. I have done it > sitting on the bike and pushing off with my feet. > >>> > Or you can have someone push you. > >>> > I have done it by getting off the bike and pushing it while holding > the handle bars till I get some speed up. > >>> > Tricky getting on the bike when you fire it up. (the engine > compression will just stop the tire from turning without a riders weight on > the bike) > >>> > > >>> > Sounds like you cooked the voltage regulator. > >>> > Not super serious if that is all that is wrong. > >>> > If the stator was cooked you would not have more than battery > voltage (and the bike would not run with a dead battery) > >>> > I would go with a regulator and then check the voltage, you will > probably be ok. > >>> > > >>> > Tam > >>> > > >>> > From: Chris > > >>> > To: KLR650 > > > >>> > Sent: Monday, August 6, 2012 7:12 PM > >>> > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] jump start but reversed connections > >>> > > >>> > So! How badly have I screwed up? > >>> > > >>> > 1. KLR's battery was too low to start the bike as I got ready for a > >>> > trip. Jumped it from the car, no problems. With engine revving, > >>> > battery voltage was in the 13.0-13.6 range, which seemed a lttle low > >>> > but probably adequate. > >>> > > >>> > 2. 45 min. down the road the bike wouldn't start after stopping for > gas. > >>> > > >>> > 3. Got a jump from a friendly cager, who put the jumper cables on > >>> > backwards and I didn't notice. Jumper cables got smokin' hot, and the > >>> > bike sure didn't start! > >>> > > >>> > 4. Put the cables on correctly, got the bike started. Riding home, > the > >>> > battery voltage was usually 13.8 to 14.1, but got over 14.1 several > >>> > times, once even going to 14.9. When I got home, the battery showed > 12 > >>> > volts no-load, with the bike turned off. The battery could start the > >>> > bike at that time. > >>> > > >>> > So! How badly have I screwed up? > >>> > > >>> > - I think it's time for a new battery, though the current AGM battery > >>> > is only a couple years old. > >>> > - I figure I probably need a voltage regulator, after what the old > one > >>> > went through, and the odd voltage readings when riding home. > >>> > - the stator still seems to be charging, so maybe I'm okay there. > >>> > > >>> > Comments? > >>> > > >>> > thanks, > >>> > >>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>> > >>> > >> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]