Battery Dead, Possible Short?

[Jollysig]

Well I had to go away on business for 2 weeks and I forgot to unplug my battery before I left. When I got back first thing I did was head over to start my bike... dead battery. Well after a good 5 minutes or so I was able to get the bike started using the kick but it was a real pain in the butt (any secrets I should know about using the kick starter?). This weekend I went out and bought a digital battery charger that tests and charges batteries just in case the battery had issues (I've had blown cells before on other batteries). I fully charged it Sunday without any problems. I rode alittle Sunday and Monday then let it sit. Today when I went down to start it I find the battery is almost dead and the bike will not start, so I'm back to trying to kick start the thing for 5 minutes. I disconnected the battery and threw it back on the charger and decided I'll mess with it more this weekend. I don't think there is anything wrong with the battery so I'm leaning towards a short in the system. After I disconnected the battery I used a multimeter on the wires connecting to the battery and I get continuity... Are you supposed to get continuity if the ignition and kill switch are both in the off position? Any suggestions on troubleshooting the short?

[katoranger]

I had battery problems when I first got it, now the battery holds a charge just fine. Of course it never sits more than two days. I bought a battery maintaner if I do put it up for a long period.

Allen

[molypod]

I had similar issues when I first got my bike
note: http://chinariders.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=536&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Even when testing my Battery it read fully charged on the charger and 12V on the mulitmeter but it would drop down to 4v at the soleniod when trying to start the bike.
It ended up bieng a bunk battery. New battery and I've never had a problem since. I will usually put it on the 1amp charger for an hour or so before a ride if its been a few day since I last rode.
I have read that a battery discharges between 1% - 60% per month depending on air temperature and battery age/condition( 20°F increase in temp can double the discharge rate).

[knothead]

Disconnect one lead to the battery and hook and hook a meter up in series to measure any amps being drawn (with the switch off). If it shows any draw at all, then you have a short somewhere. It should be pretty simple to trace as these bikes don't have much in the way of wiring. You can pick up a multitester that can check amps nearly anywhere (Harbour Freight had them for less than $5). If you need help I'm pretty sure I can provide it.

[Jollysig]

Once I get home from work I'll head over and see if it's drawing any amps.

[Jim]

My battery hasnt worked for starting for over a month I just kick the stupid thing ;)

[Savage]

Yuasa makes a pretty good battery; or Interstate

[Jollysig]

That's my problem though.... I don't think it's the battery and my bike does not like to start using the kick. I don't have time to test it tonight and I'll be busy tomorrow but I'm going to go through Saturday and test the amps. If it doesn't show amps then I'm off to buy a battery. Any ideas how to get the bike to start easier with the kick? I'm guessing I should probably drop the clip in the carb, work on the fuel mixture, and replace the spark plug with something a little better made, maybe that will help with starting the bike with the kickstarter. Any more suggestions?

[AZ200cc]

Most batteries in a bike will not last long, If it is the stock battery It is probably a cheap one...You will do good to find an AGM..At a parts store not a bike shop..I have found the bike shops are always charging more than an autoparts store for the same batteries...Not sure on the Kicking over part though..Red or OB1 can probably throw in on that one.

[knothead]

That's my problem though.... I don't think it's the battery and my bike does not like to start using the kick. I don't have time to test it tonight and I'll be busy tomorrow but I'm going to go through Saturday and test the amps. If it doesn't show amps then I'm off to buy a battery. Any ideas how to get the bike to start easier with the kick? I'm guessing I should probably drop the clip in the carb, work on the fuel mixture, and replace the spark plug with something a little better made, maybe that will help with starting the bike with the kickstarter. Any more suggestions?

Does the bike start easy with the starter, or does it have to crank for a few seconds before it starts? By hard to start I'm assuming it's not the physical effort that's giving you trouble. The bike should start just as easily with the kick as it does with the button, typically mine will fire on the first or second compression stroke, regardless of how I turn it over.
What you have said I think is about all you can do to make kicking these bikes over a bit easier, mine has the stock plug, but I did raise the needle one click, starts on the first kick without the choke or opening the throttle (but I only have 40km on the clock). Outside of that... maybe a hotter coil, I haven't looked, but I'm assuming the timing on these bikes isn't adjustable. Try ether?? (no! don't try ether! really, you can get burnt up really bad if you're not careful.) How many miles are on the plug? Pull it and see how it looks. If the bike used to start pretty easy I'd say change the plug before you do anything else. Make sure it's gapped as close as you can get to the right setting, a thousandth or two either way can make a difference (you might get by just cleaning and regapping the plug). Check the air filter too, make sure it's clean and oiled.
Check the plug wire, with the engne running listen for a snapping or ticking sound (if you have a high pain threshold and a good heart, grab the wire, if it's good you won't get shocked... or a close visual with the bike running in the dark, watch for blue or yellow flashed arond the wire), check the coil for cracks in the housing or carbon tracks, see either one and you need a new coil... feel the coil after running the bike for a while (engine off first) if it's HOT (ouch! hot, not just warm) then it's bad. Usually a bad coil rears it's head after the engine is up to temp, but can also lead to a hard/no start condition..... duh... that's about all I can think of, but I bet it's just the plug.

[pumpkin]

mine was hard to start kick or electric until i put a ngk plug in it then it got much easier.

[Jim]

i charged my bike yesterday, today electric start still useless... stock battery = crap

[red2003]

That's my problem though.... I don't think it's the battery and my bike does not like to start using the kick. I don't have time to test it tonight and I'll be busy tomorrow but I'm going to go through Saturday and test the amps. If it doesn't show amps then I'm off to buy a battery. Any ideas how to get the bike to start easier with the kick? I'm guessing I should probably drop the clip in the carb, work on the fuel mixture, and replace the spark plug with something a little better made, maybe that will help with starting the bike with the kickstarter. Any more suggestions?

Definately drop the clip (raise the needle) if you are still stock. Also, some miles on the engine helps them kick start easier once they are broken in. I have never used the kick starter on my Roketa. I just went out to the shop, 60 degrees, first kick, no choke.......... running.

Also, you could park on a hill, if possible, and pop start it.

[Savage]

Moving the needle clip will help tremendously

[fatboy250]

I just went out to the shop, 60 degrees, first kick, no choke.......... running.

60 DEGREES.. Man that would be great right about now. We're having low 90's most days and the humidity feels like upper 90's.....ugh!

[Jollysig]

Thanks for all the advise. This my game plan. At lunch today I'm off to buy a new spark plug and battery. First thing when I get home I'm going to raise the needle, charge the new battery till it's full, and install a new spark plug. Then I'm off for a ride. I'll let it sit Saturday and if the battery is dead by Sunday I'll be 100% positive I have a short.... which I'll have all day Sunday to track down and fix.

[IronFist]

I kick started my bike once. I had to make sure I was heavy enough. 8O I did it but just barely. The first kick had me just standing on the kick starter. I was bouncing up and down on the pedal but it wasn't moving, glad I wasn't at the bike shop. Thought I might have to fill a packsack full of rocks. :D

[TeamCheap]

The bikes arnt to hard to start with the kick-start my wifes battery has been dead all spring and she has little trouble getting her bike started.

adjusting the carb helps alot as far as getting it started in few kicks.

[Jollysig]

Installed the new battery, new spark plug, and raised the needle in the carb. The bike starts easily with the start button but is still having trouble starting with the kick starter. What should I be looking for? Would valve clearance have anything to do with it... the reason I asked is because out of everything I have replaced or checked this is the last thing in the owners manual I haven't looked into.

[knothead]

Try putting your thumb off to the side of the grip when you kick the bike, that way you can better tell if you're opening/closing the throttle, it may be that when you kick the bike you're changing throttle position. Kickstarting really dosen't involve a kick at all, it should be smooth and only as forceful as needed to start the bike. The old Norton I had would actually kick back if kicked too hard, threw me over the bars several times and sent me to the ER once!