Templar M keeps draining battery

NYCDiesel · 11-16-2024, 07:28 AM

Hey guys, my templar's battery died last week so I ordered another. I installed the new battery, bike started, ran great but than as soon as I killed the engine the battery was completely dead again, really annoying. I'm guessing its the rectifier, but when I attempt to kickstart it the dash lights up for a second which makes me think the rectifier is OK. Would really appreciate any help, thanks

Thumper · 11-16-2024, 08:30 AM

Got a voltmeter?
I would start with testing the charging system. Here is a post on this
https://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34080

Mumen Rider · 11-16-2024, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCDiesel

Hey guys, my templar's battery died last week so I ordered another. I installed the new battery, bike started, ran great but than as soon as I killed the engine the battery was completely dead again, really annoying. I'm guessing its the rectifier, but when I attempt to kickstart it the dash lights up for a second which makes me think the rectifier is OK. Would really appreciate any help, thanks

You should check what your charging voltage is at the battery.

J4Fun · 11-16-2024, 12:16 PM

How long did you run the bike on the new battery? Is the battery a wet cell and is it properly filled with electrolyte and charged before starting? Once it is started the voltage check at the battery will no doubt tell you you have a charging problem or not, look for around 13.5+ v while running and check with some throttle too to make sure. My thoughts…

Aussie_in_MO · 11-17-2024, 01:41 PM

Definitely worth throwing a charger on any new battery and making sure it's fully charged before putting cycles on it

NYCDiesel · 11-18-2024, 04:46 PM

Yeah I made sure the new battery was properly charged, I do have a voltmeter and have seen that thread just hard to check it wo the bike running. The OEM battery was so depleted that it wouldn't take a charge, if i remember correctly it was somewhere around 3-4 volts. I'll try to recharge the replacement and get back to you, thanks for all the help.

Thumper · 11-18-2024, 07:53 PM

Your first post above stated that the bike runs. Yes, those tests need to be run on a bike that starts so you can check voltage at the battery running ~1800 rpm. Compare that to resting (not running), first disconnected and then connected to test for a short.

NYCDiesel · 11-19-2024, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

Your first post above stated that the bike runs. Yes, those tests need to be run on a bike that starts so you can check voltage at the battery running ~1800 rpm. Compare that to resting (not running), first disconnected and then connected to test for a short.

The first time this happened it blew the fuse not sure if that is pertinent or not. Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Thumper · 11-19-2024, 04:33 PM

If the fuse blew, there is a ground fault. You need to check the wiring for a ground fault.

buzz · 11-20-2024, 06:20 AM

What Thumper said is right,problem is a short or ground problem. Good luck.

NYCDiesel · 11-21-2024, 10:17 AM

So i measured the new battery, it is at exactly 0V, i tried recharging with no luck...I will look for a short in the loom, thanks for the info.

Thumper · 11-21-2024, 11:26 AM

Don't connect any battery to that wiring harness until you find the ground!! Disconnect the battery that you got! You can charge it on the bench and see if it isn't damaged, and will hold a charge.

To find the ground fault, connect one wire from the voltmeter to the positive lead (at the battery connector), and the other lead to the engine/frame. The reading should stay infinite before you connect and after you touch ground. If there is any continuity, you have a ground fault. You may have to dissect the harness, starting with disconnecting powered items like the lighting, horn, etc. This includes the CDI unit. At some point, the positive lead at the battery will no longer show the ground fault when you disconnect something. Something that gets power is somehow getting to ground. It may be a crossed or misconnected wire rather than a component, but somewhere it's getting to ground. Good luck tracing it down.

NYCDiesel · 11-24-2024, 04:37 PM

Dude, Thumper, you are a damn genius. The CDI is the part you plug in to the bottom of the headlight assembly? I couldn't find that little black thing w the prongs(assuming CDI?) when I was assembling it, found it later but never installed it. Something about reading CDI just clued me in even if that isn't the right term, if it isn't that then I will go through the loom. You are the man, much thanks.

Thumper · 11-24-2024, 05:02 PM

The CDI is under the seat, on the right side. The only component I can think of besides the horn behind the headlight is the turn signal flasher.

The voltage regulator is on the frame behind the headset on the Templar X

NYCDiesel · 11-25-2024, 04:35 PM

So what is exactly is that little black box with the prongs you install under the speedometer/tachometer/headlight assembly? It's not possible for that to be the cause of the draining battery? I put the newer battery on charge, I hope it takes a charge, never seen a battery say 0V before. Thanks for the info man.

11-16-2024, 07:28 AM	#1
NYCDiesel Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NYC/PA Posts: 31	Templar M keeps draining battery Hey guys, my templar's battery died last week so I ordered another. I installed the new battery, bike started, ran great but than as soon as I killed the engine the battery was completely dead again, really annoying. I'm guessing its the rectifier, but when I attempt to kickstart it the dash lights up for a second which makes me think the rectifier is OK. Would really appreciate any help, thanks
	0

11-16-2024, 08:30 AM	#2
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,967	Got a voltmeter? I would start with testing the charging system. Here is a post on this https://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34080 __________________ No matter where you go, there you are... "It's the environment, stupid" ("No planet, no jobs" )
	1

11-17-2024, 01:41 PM	#5
Aussie_in_MO Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: SW Missouri Posts: 208	Definitely worth throwing a charger on any new battery and making sure it's fully charged before putting cycles on it __________________ ---------- 2023 Templar X 2009 Triumph Bonneville 1976 Yamaha DT175 1974 Honda MT125
	1

11-18-2024, 07:53 PM	#7
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,967	Your first post above stated that the bike runs. Yes, those tests need to be run on a bike that starts so you can check voltage at the battery running ~1800 rpm. Compare that to resting (not running), first disconnected and then connected to test for a short. __________________ No matter where you go, there you are... "It's the environment, stupid" ("No planet, no jobs" ) Last edited by Thumper; 11-19-2024 at 10:18 AM.
	1

11-19-2024, 04:33 PM	#9
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,967	If the fuse blew, there is a ground fault. You need to check the wiring for a ground fault. __________________ No matter where you go, there you are... "It's the environment, stupid" ("No planet, no jobs" ) Last edited by Thumper; 11-25-2024 at 03:35 PM.
	1

11-16-2024, 12:16 PM	#4
J4Fun Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 373	How long did you run the bike on the new battery? Is the battery a wet cell and is it properly filled with electrolyte and charged before starting? Once it is started the voltage check at the battery will no doubt tell you you have a charging problem or not, look for around 13.5+ v while running and check with some throttle too to make sure. My thoughts…
	1

11-18-2024, 04:46 PM	#6
NYCDiesel Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NYC/PA Posts: 31	Yeah I made sure the new battery was properly charged, I do have a voltmeter and have seen that thread just hard to check it wo the bike running. The OEM battery was so depleted that it wouldn't take a charge, if i remember correctly it was somewhere around 3-4 volts. I'll try to recharge the replacement and get back to you, thanks for all the help.
	0

11-20-2024, 06:20 AM	#10
buzz Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Dayton Pa. Posts: 1,032	What Thumper said is right,problem is a short or ground problem. Good luck.
	1

11-21-2024, 10:17 AM	#11
NYCDiesel Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NYC/PA Posts: 31	So i measured the new battery, it is at exactly 0V, i tried recharging with no luck...I will look for a short in the loom, thanks for the info.
	0

11-21-2024, 11:26 AM	#12
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,967	Don't connect any battery to that wiring harness until you find the ground!! Disconnect the battery that you got! You can charge it on the bench and see if it isn't damaged, and will hold a charge. To find the ground fault, connect one wire from the voltmeter to the positive lead (at the battery connector), and the other lead to the engine/frame. The reading should stay infinite before you connect and after you touch ground. If there is any continuity, you have a ground fault. You may have to dissect the harness, starting with disconnecting powered items like the lighting, horn, etc. This includes the CDI unit. At some point, the positive lead at the battery will no longer show the ground fault when you disconnect something. Something that gets power is somehow getting to ground. It may be a crossed or misconnected wire rather than a component, but somewhere it's getting to ground. Good luck tracing it down. __________________ No matter where you go, there you are... "It's the environment, stupid" ("No planet, no jobs" ) Last edited by Thumper; 11-22-2024 at 12:39 AM.
	1

11-24-2024, 04:37 PM	#13
NYCDiesel Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NYC/PA Posts: 31	Dude, Thumper, you are a damn genius. The CDI is the part you plug in to the bottom of the headlight assembly? I couldn't find that little black thing w the prongs(assuming CDI?) when I was assembling it, found it later but never installed it. Something about reading CDI just clued me in even if that isn't the right term, if it isn't that then I will go through the loom. You are the man, much thanks.
	0

11-24-2024, 05:02 PM	#14
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,967	The CDI is under the seat, on the right side. The only component I can think of besides the horn behind the headlight is the turn signal flasher. The voltage regulator is on the frame behind the headset on the Templar X __________________ No matter where you go, there you are... "It's the environment, stupid" ("No planet, no jobs" ) Last edited by Thumper; 11-25-2024 at 01:02 PM.
	1

11-25-2024, 04:35 PM	#15
NYCDiesel Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: NYC/PA Posts: 31	So what is exactly is that little black box with the prongs you install under the speedometer/tachometer/headlight assembly? It's not possible for that to be the cause of the draining battery? I put the newer battery on charge, I hope it takes a charge, never seen a battery say 0V before. Thanks for the info man.
	0