starter continuously spins

[eddiebmauri]

I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and the others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is the price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. Eddie (03' - "la poderosa)

[Robert Waters]

> I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my

laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and the others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is the price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. > Twice I have checked my battery (after it seemed to not work well) and it was completely dry. I added water and, surprisingly, it worked like new. Recently, after the KLR failed to start, I checked the battery and one cell was very low. I have had enough! The KLR is known for over charging and I took the advice of others and ordered an AGM battery, which is maintenance free. I found one for around $50.00. It should be here tomorrow. Robert Waters Huntsville, AR 2007 KLR 650 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my > laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered > checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and

the

> others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is

the

> price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the > hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last > check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check > the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. > > Eddie (03' - "la poderosa) >

Eddie, I think a good rule of thumb is to check/service the battery at every oil change. ie NLT 1500 miles. If the conditions are really hot, every 1000 miles. The battery location near the exhaust and down stream from the radiator exacerbates the evaportaion. It seems like a lot, but if you are 'faithful' to your battery, it will give you a much longer service life. I got over 4 years from my OEM battery. Others report, lesss than 1 year--which I suspect was owner-neglect rather than faulty batteries--although difficult to fully discern from a e-mail. Another time you will lose battery acid is while you bike is taking a dirt nap, or a nap at the gas station, etal. sigh. (voice of experience). cough. Some would suggest that replacing with a 'dry' cell battery cures that problem--of acid loss. shrug. All have advantages and disadvantages. I have one of each.... Remember, good battery etiquette says, 1)"distilled water only after the first service of acid to your brand-new acid battery." and 2) keep your battery post clean! revmaaatin.

[traderpro2003]

or...get a gel battery and never look down.

[James Morrow Sr]

That is one of the reasons I consider my Voltage monitor indespensible. Can't verify all voltage monitors, but this particular one will let me know when even one cell is low. http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/Modules/HUVM.asp It has 5 lighting displays to show 5 levels of charge. When you get use to your baseline, it is very easy to tell when charging or battery is going. One of the big indications for low water is when riding in rough stuff, the voltage level will go low everytime hit a bump. If full of water, this will not happen. Also goes low faster in all conditions when water level low. This is the best $26 I have on my bike. I got the 1050 model and put the LED in the open square on the far right of the neutra light / turn signal lights.

On 8/5/08, revmaaatin wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > "eddiebmauri" > wrote: > > > > I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my > > laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered > > checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and > the > > others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is > the > > price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the > > hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last > > check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check > > the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. > > > > Eddie (03' - "la poderosa) > > > Eddie, > I think a good rule of thumb is to check/service the battery at every > oil change. ie NLT 1500 miles. If the conditions are really hot, > every 1000 miles. The battery location near the exhaust and down > stream from the radiator exacerbates the evaportaion. It seems like > a lot, but if you are 'faithful' to your battery, it will give you a > much longer service life. I got over 4 years from my OEM battery. > Others report, lesss than 1 year--which I suspect was owner-neglect > rather than faulty batteries--although difficult to fully discern > from a e-mail. > > Another time you will lose battery acid is while you bike is taking a > dirt nap, or a nap at the gas station, etal. sigh. (voice of > experience). cough. > > Some would suggest that replacing with a 'dry' cell battery cures > that problem--of acid loss. shrug. All have advantages and > disadvantages. I have one of each.... > > Remember, good battery etiquette says, 1)"distilled water only after > the first service of acid to your brand-new acid battery." and 2) > keep your battery post clean! > > revmaaatin. > > > -- James Morrow Sr Union, MO '08' R1200GSA + retirement bliss vehicle '00' RT + dual plug + Bunkhouse '00' BUSA + 15hp '05' KLR650 + big fun factor [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Wayne Blackburn]

Where can I find a AGM battery for 50.00 bucks

--- On Tue, 8/5/08, Robert Waters wrote: From: Robert Waters Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Do this Today, Battery To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 11:56 AM > I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and the others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is the price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. > Twice I have checked my battery (after it seemed to not work well) and it was completely dry. I added water and, surprisingly, it worked like new. Recently, after the KLR failed to start, I checked the battery and one cell was very low. I have had enough! The KLR is known for over charging and I took the advice of others and ordered an AGM battery, which is maintenance free. I found one for around $50.00. It should be here tomorrow. Robert Waters Huntsville, AR 2007 KLR 650 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fasteddiecopeman]

Eddie, I would suggest you check it AT LEAST monthly!!! Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my > laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered > checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and the > others all needed water. D'oh, what was I thinking. And, that is the > price of laziness. My KLR sleeps outside under a cover (in the > hot-steamy South), and I use a battery tender. So when did you last > check your battery water level? From now on, I swear, I will check > the H2O in the battery at every oil change, 2K that is. > > Eddie (03' - "la poderosa) >

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "fasteddiecopeman" wrote:

> > Eddie, > I would suggest you check it AT LEAST monthly!!!

Or every 500 miles. When I had a flooded-cell battery in my KLR, I had to check it every 500 miles and add water, because it would boil out due to the regulator having too much voltage at higher RPM's for a flooded-cell battery.

> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > > > I hate to seem dumb, but I hope that someone might learn from my > > laziness. I bought a new battery in February. I had not bothered > > checking the fluid. I did today, and one cell was almost dry and the > > others all needed water. D'oh,

[Jon Neet]

Its just possible that your KLR is boiling the water from the battery over time. My 2005 has done it too.I think the battery needs to be removed at least once a year,filled and then charged with a small charger and reinstalled. jon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bill Ahrens]

See the attached link, believe it or not this works, I have had K100 for 20 years and have had to do this 3 times. http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/sprag-clutch.shtml Sludge accumulates in the top part of the crankcase where the starter clutch is and it sticks. The procedure solves the problem and will keep things working for several years. Bill Ahrens 85 K100 RT KLR 650 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]