Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: reesedp on November 09, 2011, 06:51:36 PM
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So, came out of the music store on this beautiful day. Pushed the stove knob in. Got the lights. Then I didnt got the lights. I got nothing. Repeated the process and got the same thing. Ended up pulling the battery out in the parking lot and wrenching connections. I didnt get much if anything, but it fixed the problem. Watched voltage on the way home and it went from 14.1 up to 14.5 then back down to 14.1.
I stopped by and talked to the dealer about it, and he showed me their book, which told them to remove the battery and fully charge it prior to testing anything (1 hour of labor), so wrench those connections well prior to doing anything else.
I had noticed a slower cranking in the cold weather lately, so will pay close attention in the morning to see if there is a noticeable difference.
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How old is the battery? Corrosion on the terminals? I lost complete electrical power, while riding, one time because of a slightly loose connection. Didn't have any issues after I made sure it was all tight. Sounds like that might be the case here. I replaced my 2(or 3) y.o. battery this year mainly for piece of mind. When I pulled the stocker out, the neg side has some pretty serious corrosion on it. My bike is an '08 bought new in apr '10.
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I know most won't replace a good battery but a good rule of thumb is you should replace it every 3 to 4 years to be on the safe side. Especially if your going on a trip and will be in the middle of no where
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It doesn't take much of a loose/corroded connection for this bike not to start. Probably isn't a bad idea to check these connections at least once a riding season or even more depending on conditions. Also, make sure that the battery is correctly installed. The early bikes typically had them in backwards. The positive terminal should be facing outward towards the left side.
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It doesn't take much of a loose/corroded connection for this bike not to start. Probably isn't a bad idea to check these connections at least once a riding season or even more depending on conditions. Also, make sure that the battery is correctly installed. The early bikes typically had them in backwards. The positive terminal should be facing outward towards the left side.
We haven't heard anything about the newer bikes having the batteries installed backwards, did the dealers finally 'get it'?
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I would hope so...
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How old is the battery? Corrosion on the terminals? I lost complete electrical power, while riding, one time because of a slightly loose connection. Didn't have any issues after I made sure it was all tight. Sounds like that might be the case here. I replaced my 2(or 3) y.o. battery this year mainly for piece of mind. When I pulled the stocker out, the neg side has some pretty serious corrosion on it. My bike is an '08 bought new in apr '10.
The battery is about 18 months old, and I ride pretty much every day. No corrosion anywhere.
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Sometimes corrosion/degradation on these terminals isn't visible. Even though you can't see anything visible you should still clean them up every so often. This also includes where the negative terminal cable attaches to the frame.
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Have you checked the Electrolyte level in the cells? Also an inexpensive Hydrometer will tell you specific gravity of each cell.
Or you can pull it out, and take to Any decent Auto Parts store. They will test it for Freeeeee!! But saying that, they will also want to sell you a battery, so having a good idea that the battery is the issue first might be a good Idea.
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I don't think we can check that level as our batteries are sealed, at least the OEM was and so is the replacement that I have. I remember that I had to do that on my C10, though. It's rather nice not having to worry about that.
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Yes they are probably sold as a Maintenance free Battery, sealed. But the check for the level of fluid, can it still be seen through the plastic? Also the so called Regulating Valve at the top of the battery Can be removed. This is where it was filled from the Battery Factory.
But the Auto Parts Store with a newer Electronic tester, will give a printout of the capacity. Doesn't need to be fully charged even, it will test it. At worst it May ask to be re-charged for further testing.
Most likely a bad cell.
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Maybe but it would not cause hard starting just because the battery was in backwards. Owner frustration maybe but not hard starting.
Brian
We haven't heard anything about the newer bikes having the batteries installed backwards, did the dealers finally 'get it'?
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I have always had good luck with battery life. I always keep the bikes on a battery tender and this seems to work for me.
Goldwing is 9 years old with the same battery. The monitor shows 65% life still in it. I just ordered a new battery for it for Xmas present. I never had a battery last more than 10 years. My BMW battery in the car lasted 10 years and always on a tender. 09 Concours battery going strong and showing 85% life on the Battery Bug.
Rash
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Maybe but it would not cause hard starting just because the battery was in backwards. Owner frustration maybe but not hard starting.
Brian
I know that, thank you Brian. I didn't mean to suggest that a backwards installed battery would cause hard starting.
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Yes it would. The starter would go the wrong direction...
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Yes it would. The starter would go the wrong direction...
Well then just turn the bike around to face the other direction, duh!
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Remarkably simple solution....I like that.
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(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/eek.gif)
Too simple for even KiPass to resolve
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I have always had good luck with battery life. I always keep the bikes on a battery tender and this seems to work for me.
Goldwing is 9 years old with the same battery. The monitor shows 65% life still in it. I just ordered a new battery for it for Xmas present. I never had a battery last more than 10 years. My BMW battery in the car lasted 10 years and always on a tender. 09 Concours battery going strong and showing 85% life on the Battery Bug.
Yep, I think that using a quality battery tender (that will never overcharge) will greatly extend the life of most people's lead acid batteries. LA just really do NOT like being left in a less-than-near-fully-charged state. I wish I had one :) It is on my to-do list.
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Yes it would. The starter would go the wrong direction...
Would we have six speeds in reverse then?
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We haven't heard anything about the newer bikes having the batteries installed backwards, did the dealers finally 'get it'?
FWIW my 10 had the battery in backwards something I checked because of info on this site.
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Yep, I think that using a quality battery tender (that will never overcharge) will greatly extend the life of most people's lead acid batteries. LA just really do NOT like being left in a less-than-near-fully-charged state. I wish I had one :) It is on my to-do list.
Possibly. My OEM battery went over three years, no issues, no battery tender, sometimes sitting a month without starting. I replaced it just because... But then again, I didn't have any vampire farkles using the go juice either. Could be I was just lucky..
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Its real simple, just park her on a hill. To make it even easier, point the front to the down hill side. Or you could put a battery tender quick connect on it( thats if the dang battery cover bolts will come out before they turn into moist ass cheese) FYI, Moist Ass Cheese is a famous Warchildism, Warchild being well known throughout the m/C world thanks to the Al gore invented internet. Also to do away with most of the corrosion issues I recommend putting on a little Dielectric silicone grease on the battery connections. Works for me.
Prior to owning the 14, I had recently replaced the battery in my 05 FJR after 6 years, 4 months and 19 days because i go to a lot of desolate locations, solo on most occasions and you just start to wonder about the battery going bonkers in the middle of B.F.Egypt. I attribute the long trouble free life to the battery tender. The tender never gets unplugged from the wall...I just constantly switch it between my 3 bikes and 2 cars. Its always charging the battery on something.