My new true blue KPX

[TominMO]

Need a new battery for my KPX. The current one has been sitting since last year, other than a short ride a couple months ago. Multimeter said 2 volts, so it's now on a charger. But a brand upgrade would be nice. What's a good Li-ion make and model number?

[TominMO]

My modded KPX airbox cover. Twenty holes each 5/16" diameter gives an extra intake area of 3.06 sq in, very close to the same as one 2" diameter hole. Hopefully riding tmw, weather permitting. We'll see what the computer thinks of all the extra air. I have also been recharging the battery off the bike (which will reset the computer) and am installing a Battery Tender connector, so I can now easily just keep it charged up. I may also glue some screen door screening to the inside to keep out bugs.

[TheBeardedVagabond]

Cool let us know how it goes.

[TominMO]

Battery won't charge up enough to crank, on the Battery Tender. Gets to 12v, but drops down to 11.5v as soon as I remove it from the charger. Won't crank. Gonna try my other regular 12v charger, which I think will take it to 12.6v. So maybe tomorrow.

Edit: Rain all day tomorrow, starting at 9am.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Battery won't charge up enough to crank, on the Battery Tender. Gets to 12v, but drops down to 11.5v as soon as I remove it from the charger. Won't crank. Gonna try my other regular 12v charger, which I think will take it to 12.6v. So maybe tomorrow.

Edit: Rain all day tomorrow, starting at 9am.

Is the bike drawing current with the key in "off" position?

Charge the battery with the ground wire disconnected from the battery, then check the voltage on the battery after charging (with the ground still disconnected). It should be 13V or more. Then connect the ground post and see if the voltage drops.

If it does, you have a device drawing current that is responsible for the problem. It is an easy test. All of this done without the key even in the ignition!

[JerryHawk250]

Tom, if you have the stock battery, it might be a bad one like I had. My battery crapped out after about 3 months. Think the first batch of bikes had bad batteries. Venom had sent me a new battery and never had any issues since.

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Thumper

Is the bike drawing current with the key in "off" position?

Charge the battery with the ground wire disconnected from the battery, then check the voltage on the battery after charging (with the ground still disconnected). It should be 13V or more. Then connect the ground post and see if the voltage drops.

If it does, you have a device drawing current that is responsible for the problem. It is an easy test. All of this done without the key even in the ignition!

I don't understand how you charge with positive only. Is that even safe? It has never had this problem before, and likely it is just the battery sitting for so long it went down to 3.1 volts that killed it. I just charged it again overnight with my normal charger, and same story; as soon as I removed the charger it read 11.6 volts. Only makes a relay sound when I try to start it. I'm thinking a dead cell.

Ordering new battery off Amazon today. Is Mighty Max considered a good brand? They also sell 'em at Home Depot and Lowes, so that is a good sign at least.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...ustomerReviews

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Tom, if you have the stock battery, it might be a bad one like I had. My battery crapped out after about 3 months. Think the first batch of bikes had bad batteries. Venom had sent me a new battery and never had any issues since.

Thanks, I remembered what you said and was wondering about that. What brand and model # is your new one?

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Thanks, I remembered what you said and was wondering about that. What brand and model # is your new one?

Same as it came with.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by TominMO

I don't understand how you charge with positive only. Is that even safe? It has never had this problem before, and likely it is just the battery sitting for so long it went down to 3.1 volts that killed it. I just charged it again overnight with my normal charger, and same story; as soon as I removed the charger it read 11.6 volts. Only makes a relay sound when I try to start it. I'm thinking a dead cell.

Ordering new battery off Amazon today. Is Mighty Max considered a good brand? They also sell 'em at Home Depot and Lowes, so that is a good sign at least.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...ustomerReviews

I didn't say disconnect the charger. I said disconnect the ground wire (battery to the bike). Pos connection is floating, inconsequential, so the charger just pushes the battery. This isolates the battery from the bike for charging, then for initial voltage test. Then connect the ground terminal to the bike and see if the bike draws current, drops the voltage with no key. It may spark/arc when you reconnect the bike to the negative post on the battery (if there is current).

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Thumper

I didn't say disconnect the charger. I said disconnect the negative terminal (to the bike). This isolates the battery for charging, then for initial voltage test. Then connect the ground terminal to the bike and see if the bike draws current, drops the voltage with no key. It may spark/arc when you reconnect the bike to the negative post on the battery (if there is current).

Reread your post. I see what you are saying now. Will try this, but have already ordered a replacement.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by TominMO

Reread your post. I see what you are saying now. Will try this, but have already ordered a replacement.

If there is indeed a constant drain on the battery, it may have been damaged, so doing this test may be useful. No sense in having it work another battery down!

Hopefully, it is just a played out battery that won't charge, and the replacement will hold a charge.

The final step in that battery testing is to start the engine and see if the voltage across the battery terminals goes upto 14V or more at 1500 rpm or so (good charging system).

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by jeffrey

Your digital dash and the ECM will drain the battery after sitting that long being connected. The digital dash on my Storm killed the battery after awhile since I left it connected. I don't ride it.

Good to know, thanx.

[letsride]

Yeah the factory battery in the KPX is not very good. I had to change mine out in short order the Battery I put in there though has been great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by letsride

Yeah the factory battery in the KPX is not very good. I had to change mine out in short order the Battery I put in there though has been great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think that first batch of bikes all had bad batteries. Mine died quick too and Venom had sent me a new battery. I've had no issues with the new battery.