Hi everyone,
I'm having a problem getting my '97 M900 to start. I went away on vacation for about 2 weeks and came back and when I pushed the start button, I just got a click. It did not turn over. Battery was on for 2 days prior. Was able to push start the cycle and get it started. Rode it for ~ 50 miles on Sunday and no problems until I turned it off and tried to push the start button. I had the battery checked at Batteries Plus, they said it was ok, but I'm still not 100% certain of the battery. I had one in my Harley and it went kaput last month - after purchasing both brand new in January 2009.
If anyone with a monster (or similar size battery) would volunteer to come over to my place so I could swap in your battery for a test start - works or not, it'll give me a better idea if I need to replace the battery or not. I live in the Knox/Henderson and 75/Central corridor.
I had talked to Randy McCarter (he's in the hospital) and he said it sounds like a bad cell in the battery.
A friend of mine had a similar issue with his custom chopper. Turned out to be a bad stator. If you wanna find out quickly whether it's the battery or not, just buy a new one. If it still doesn't turn over, you have a nice new spare battery.
I have a '98 M900. I had many of the same issues you describe here. Even to the point of having by battery tested and told it was alright. I was FINALLY able to remedy the problem when I sprung for a sealed battery with a little more cranking amps, and a tender for the same. Time and again everyone would tell me that it was the battery and vehemently refused to believe it...well, I was wrong.
I got mine here and have had an amazing experience. I did have an issue with the first one I bought, but they replaced it free of charge and no shipping cost within a week. http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/Batteries/motorcyclebatteries/ (http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/Batteries/motorcyclebatteries/)
I HIGHLY recommend this product. It is the same as buying an Odyssee brand battery at half the cost.
First off, why is Randy in the hospital??? Holy sh#t!! What's that all about?? Let us know if you know anything about that. That never sounds good. :P
OK, I have no idea about the start problem. It sounds like the battery does not have a bad cell if Batteries Plus checked it out. By the way, did you go to the one in the shopping center NE of Park Lane and Central... just curious. But I can tell you how to prevent this crap in the future. Invest in two Battery Tenders!! They are freaking awesome!! I would love to own that company, they are my friends for life! [clap] I have a Battery Tender for every one of my bikes and on my lawn tractor at my farm (it uses a bike sized battery) and the last time I bought a battery was in Dec. 2007 for my Busa. It had been in storage at my brother's office since my neck breaking accident in May '07 and was not on a Tender for all that time. I can't remember the last battery I bought except for that one! The Battery Tenders keep bike size batteries alive for years past their normal puke date. And we all know how soon they can puke even if they are used almost every day!
Every time I finish a ride I lock up my bike (front and back wheel) and plug in the Battery Tender. All my scooters have a "pig tail" connector hard wired to the battery and it's tucked up out sight until I need it. Plug it in, sleep like a baby.
OK, end of Battery Tender ad. But seriously, get one for each bike. They are worth every penny and they are cheaper than a new battery! Priced a new battery at a shop lately?? Jeez!! $$$$$$!!
Quote from: fastwin on August 19, 2009, 01:23:26 PM
First off, why is Randy in the hospital??? Holy sh#t!! What's that all about?? Let us know if you know anything about that. That never sounds good. :P
OK, I have no idea about the start problem. It sounds like the battery does not have a bad cell if Batteries Plus checked it out. By the way, did you go to the one in the shopping center NE of Park Lane and Central... just curious. But I can tell you how to prevent this crap in the future. Invest in two Battery Tenders!! They are freaking awesome!! I would love to own that company, they are my friends for life! [clap] I have a Battery Tender for every one of my bikes and on my lawn tractor at my farm (it uses a bike sized battery) and the last time I bought a battery was in Dec. 2007 for my Busa. It had been in storage at my brother's office since my neck breaking accident in May '07 and was not on a Tender for all that time. I can't remember the last battery I bought except for that one! The Battery Tenders keep bike size batteries alive for years past their normal puke date. And we all know how soon they can puke even if they are used almost every day!
Every time I finish a ride I lock up my bike (front and back wheel) and plug in the Battery Tender. All my scooters have a "pig tail" connector hard wired to the battery and it's tucked up out sight until I need it. Plug it in, sleep like a baby.
OK, end of Battery Tender ad. But seriously, get one for each bike. They are worth every penny and they are cheaper than a new battery! Priced a new battery at a shop lately?? Jeez!! $$$$$$!!
Not sure on the Randy part...he was coherent and said he only had a few moments to talk to me.
I have a battery tender and usually just switch between my 2 cycles. Normally I would have put the Monster on the tender prior to going on vacation, but forgot. I bought the battery over there NE of Park Lane, but had it tested over near Irving Mall.
Then you know all the benefits of the Tenders. Maybe I should delete my ad! [laugh] Get a second one for the HD. [thumbsup] Still can't help you with the no start issue. Post up on in the Tech section of the big board. You'll be swamped with good info! [popcorn]
Randy's NOT in the hospital. He did break a tooth & has to have surgery, & is on some heavy duty pain meds.
Quote from: blac9 on August 19, 2009, 01:22:41 PM
I have a '98 M900. I had many of the same issues you describe here. Even to the point of having by battery tested and told it was alright. I was FINALLY able to remedy the problem when I sprung for a sealed battery with a little more cranking amps, and a tender for the same. Time and again everyone would tell me that it was the battery and vehemently refused to believe it...well, I was wrong.
I got mine here and have had an amazing experience. I did have an issue with the first one I bought, but they replaced it free of charge and no shipping cost within a week. http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/Batteries/motorcyclebatteries/ (http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/Batteries/motorcyclebatteries/)
I HIGHLY recommend this product. It is the same as buying an Odyssee brand battery at half the cost.
I went and sprung for a new battery...I'm not confident in this battery as it is since the one in my Harley died after 6 months.
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on August 19, 2009, 01:50:06 PM
Randy's NOT in the hospital. He did break a tooth & has to have surgery, & is on some heavy duty pain meds.
Guess I misinterpreted what he said on the phone...I was outside and it was somewhat loud with traffic.
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on August 19, 2009, 01:50:06 PM
Randy's NOT in the hospital. He did break a tooth & has to have surgery, & is on some heavy duty pain meds.
That's good to know! [thumbsup] Nothing wrong with heavy duty pain meds. Been there done that. [drink] [cheeky]
Hmmm. could be a lot of things, but before you recycle the old battery, you might check the static charge across the terminals. Even a deeply discharged battery with 6 good cells will show 6+ volts; any less, you have a dead cell - recycle away. Just trying to be as green as a Ducati owner with a set of unrestricted Termis can be, you know.
If you have 6 good cells, one of two things will happen when you get the new battery in there:
A. The bike starts up, and you wonder, "why did the old battery not charge/ discharge?" or,
2. The bike doesn't start, and you think, "!@#$%^&*!!!!"
My money is on #2, if Batteries Plus load tested your battery; but let us know which outcome occurs.
i always check the dfwm board too late. Or i'd have brought my battery over nbd, i'm just up 75 about 5m from you. feck.
when you replace your battery, get a nice sealed one. I had replaced the stock battery in my M900 and one hot summer day the vent tube came off it and it spewed acid down onto my frame and alternator side cover. Lovely little pockmarks like my bike had bad acne as a teenager. I also picked a much smaller, sealed yuasa when i replaced mine. If you have any extra jingle (and it indeed the battery and not the alternator, or starter), you might want to check out the speedcell batteries, made of a group of 123A batteries, they weigh nothing, start the bike instantly and are easily recharged. Also, no spewing of acid on your bike possibilities.
Quote from: ato memphis on August 20, 2009, 06:22:48 AM
i always check the dfwm board too late. Or i'd have brought my battery over nbd, i'm just up 75 about 5m from you. feck.
when you replace your battery, get a nice sealed one. I had replaced the stock battery in my M900 and one hot summer day the vent tube came off it and it spewed acid down onto my frame and alternator side cover. Lovely little pockmarks like my bike had bad acne as a teenager. I also picked a much smaller, sealed yuasa when i replaced mine. If you have any extra jingle (and it indeed the battery and not the alternator, or starter), you might want to check out the speedcell batteries, made of a group of 123A batteries, they weigh nothing, start the bike instantly and are easily recharged. Also, no spewing of acid on your bike possibilities.
Ordered a sealed battery yesterday...we'll see when it gets here. I'm going to look at it closer either Friday night or early Saturday morning. The new battery will at least be piece of mind that it is not the problem, should the bike not start.
Quote from: ato memphis on August 20, 2009, 06:22:48 AM
i always check the dfwm board too late. Or i'd have brought my battery over nbd, i'm just up 75 about 5m from you. feck.
when you replace your battery, get a nice sealed one. I had replaced the stock battery in my M900 and one hot summer day the vent tube came off it and it spewed acid down onto my frame and alternator side cover. Lovely little pockmarks like my bike had bad acne as a teenager. I also picked a much smaller, sealed yuasa when i replaced mine. If you have any extra jingle (and it indeed the battery and not the alternator, or starter), you might want to check out the speedcell batteries, made of a group of 123A batteries, they weigh nothing, start the bike instantly and are easily recharged. Also, no spewing of acid on your bike possibilities.
123As? Wow that's what I use in my Surefire tactical flashlights. Interesting. ;D
Same here. The writeups about them making them almost drool worthy, as far as weight savings and rechargeability and swapability (from bike to bike) go.
And these Batts are tiny. Let me know if you still need help with this I missed it also and do not live far at all from you.