Help: Honda Shadow battery problem

You need an hydrometer to check the battery, but you can check the
alternator by starting the bike, then disconnecting the battery, If it still
runs, most likely the alternator is ok. If you ride frequently, you should
get a battery tender.
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texdays wrote:
 >
 > You need an hydrometer to check the battery, but you can check the
 > alternator by starting the bike, then disconnecting the battery, If it still
 > runs, most likely the alternator is ok. If you ride frequently, you should
 > get a battery tender.

Back in the old days, before transistorized ignition systems, this might
work as a rough and ready way of determining whether the charging system
was putting out enough current to run the lights and ignition system.

The charging system of your (modern) bike is designed to work correctly
only with a battery attached. Disconnecting the battery while the engine
is running is an extremely bad idea. DO NOT DO IT. It can damage your
bike's *very* expensive ignition module(s), for one thing.

I agree that a battery tender is probably the easiest and best way to
keep the battery charged when the bike is ridden only occasionally.

--
Mark '01 SV650S '81 CM400T '99 EX250-F13 DoD #959635 RFB #2<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help: Honda Shadow battery problem 

"Keith" <liketogetmail.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:VR6Eb.2400$wL6.1194@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net:

 > I have a 2000 Shadow Spirit 1100 which unfortunately is not used much
 > - a couple of short rides each weekend. My problem is that every few
 > weeks I have a flat battery. I charge it at 2amps/hour for a few hours
 > and everything is OK ... but only for several weeks. Am I not riding
 > it enough to charge the battery after starting it or is something else
 > wrong? What is the best way to check that the battery and alternator
 > are OK? Thanks for any help, Keith
 >
 >
 >

(bottom posting like a good boy)
If the battery voltage is 13 to 14 volts when the engine is revved up a
bit, the alternator is ok.

If the specific gravity of the acid is low even when charged, the battery
may need replacing.

If both these things check out ok, just charge it up a bit every now and
then.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help: Honda Shadow battery problem 

Keith wrote:

 > I have a 2000 Shadow Spirit 1100 which unfortunately is not used much - a
 > couple of short rides each weekend. My problem is that every few weeks I
 > have a flat battery. I charge it at 2amps/hour for a few hours and
 > everything is OK ... but only for several weeks. Am I not riding it enough
 > to charge the battery after starting it or is something else wrong? What is
 > the best way to check that the battery and alternator are OK?

That's probably not enough riding to keep the battery charged. Get a
Battery Tender or similar smart charger made for motorcycle batteries
and use it overnight once a week.

If the battery has experienced that kind of use for its entire life,
it's nearing the end. I find that a even a well cared for battery won't
last much more than 5 years.

--
Dan Carter, San Luis Obispo, CA <DataDan.TakeThisOut@A-Tee-Tee.net><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help: Honda Shadow battery problem 

Recently Mark Olson <olsonm DeleteThis @tiny.invalid> honored rec.motorcycles
with:
 >texdays wrote:
  >>
  >> You need an hydrometer to check the battery, but you can check the
  >> alternator by starting the bike, then disconnecting the battery, If it still
  >> runs, most likely the alternator is ok. If you ride frequently, you should
  >> get a battery tender.
 >
 >Back in the old days, before transistorized ignition systems, this might
 >work as a rough and ready way of determining whether the charging system
 >was putting out enough current to run the lights and ignition system.
 >
 >The charging system of your (modern) bike is designed to work correctly
 >only with a battery attached. Disconnecting the battery while the engine
 >is running is an extremely bad idea. DO NOT DO IT. It can damage your
 >bike's *very* expensive ignition module(s), for one thing.
 >
 >I agree that a battery tender is probably the easiest and best way to
 >keep the battery charged when the bike is ridden only occasionally.

Mark is correct. In addition to acting as a storage device, a battery
makes a nifty noise reducer and is an integral part of the battery
voltage regulation system. Take the battery out, and you get higher
average voltage and lots of nasty spikes.

--
owl - '98 FLTRI Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
tuna - '98 T409 EN Mix margaritas when the egg nog's gone
hot - '83 GR650 Hallelujah everybody say cheese
mail - '57 6T Merry Christmas from the family<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help: Honda Shadow battery problem 

It's possible your battery has reached the end of its life, but I'd check a
few other things first.

My 99 Shadow Spirit has its original battery, unfortunatly it only get as
much riding as yours. I only need to charge it up in the spring (7 month
riding season here in Vermont) and it lasts all year. (I have good
intentions of trickle charging for a few hours every couple of weeks this
winter - but we all know about good intentions.........)

First I'd check that you've got enough acid / water in the battery (I don't
believe its sealed). If its very low you may be beyond repair, but slightly
low it may be recoverable (add distilled water only - no acid - no tap /
mineral water). It may be worthwhile getting the charging system checked
out (with modern ignition systems this isn't a home check anymore), but
you're probably going to need a new batery soon anyway, may be cheaper to
replace it first, see if that cures the problem. My bike battery seems fine
after 4 years, but I've had plenty of car batteries crap out in 3 years.

Ian


"Keith" <liketogetmail RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:VR6Eb.2400$wL6.1194@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
 > I have a 2000 Shadow Spirit 1100 which unfortunately is not used much - a
 > couple of short rides each weekend. My problem is that every few weeks I
 > have a flat battery. I charge it at 2amps/hour for a few hours and
 > everything is OK ... but only for several weeks. Am I not riding it enough
 > to charge the battery after starting it or is something else wrong? What
is
 > the best way to check that the battery and alternator are OK?
 > Thanks for any help, Keith
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Help: Honda Shadow battery problem 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will pick up a trickle charger and a
hydrometer and go from there. (I need the charger anyway for the Jet Skis.)
Keith

Ian Wheeler <IanWheeler.TakeThisOut@no_spam.Adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:KKmEb.447$Vv2.235995@news1.news.adelphia.net...
 > It's possible your battery has reached the end of its life, but I'd check
a
 > few other things first.
 >
 > My 99 Shadow Spirit has its original battery, unfortunatly it only get as
 > much riding as yours. I only need to charge it up in the spring (7 month
 > riding season here in Vermont) and it lasts all year. (I have good
 > intentions of trickle charging for a few hours every couple of weeks this
 > winter - but we all know about good intentions.........)
 >
 > First I'd check that you've got enough acid / water in the battery (I
don't
 > believe its sealed). If its very low you may be beyond repair, but
slightly
 > low it may be recoverable (add distilled water only - no acid - no tap /
 > mineral water). It may be worthwhile getting the charging system checked
 > out (with modern ignition systems this isn't a home check anymore), but
 > you're probably going to need a new batery soon anyway, may be cheaper to
 > replace it first, see if that cures the problem. My bike battery seems
fine
 > after 4 years, but I've had plenty of car batteries crap out in 3 years.
 >
 > Ian
 >
 >
 > "Keith" <liketogetmail.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
 > news:VR6Eb.2400$wL6.1194@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
  > > I have a 2000 Shadow Spirit 1100 which unfortunately is not used much -
a
  > > couple of short rides each weekend. My problem is that every few weeks I
  > > have a flat battery. I charge it at 2amps/hour for a few hours and
  > > everything is OK ... but only for several weeks. Am I not riding it
enough
  > > to charge the battery after starting it or is something else wrong? What
 > is
  > > the best way to check that the battery and alternator are OK?
  > > Thanks for any help, Keith
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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