Just in time By speedracer (Read 1,580 times)

[speedracer]

Hey Doc, thanks for the invite. It couldn't happen at a better time, or worse time.

Yesterday went to start scoot and the battery was dead. Hardly a turn of the starter. I thought I may have left the key turned on the night before, so I charged it up and within an hour it was fully charged. This morning dead again. I don't know if it's the battery or something else wrong that it won't charge.

Yesterday after charging, it ran fine all day long as I put a good 30-40 miles on it.

HELP

[kz1000st]

I would take a volt/ohmmeter to it when you get it running and see if you're getting 13+ volts across the battery too. It's probably a dead battery but check the charging system too.

[speedracer]

Can I take it to a place like auto zone to have it tested?

[speedracer]

OK, fully charged battery and went to Advance Auto for battery test. It read 13.5 volts. He said the battery was well in the safe zone. Now is that because of it just being charged? What's next?

[JR]

Hey guys welcome!! Sorry I took so long but I've been out for awhile. Now as KZ said let's start with some basics, first of all you've tested the battery at autozone and they said good to go. I will ask if they put a load test on it as they have a instrument that can put an amp load on it and test for like a dead cell?

So as he said lets put a volt meter on it, start it and see what the voltage reading is on the battery? should at idle be in the 13 volt range and when reved up the 250B can easily hit 14.5+ volts.

If it doesn't move then we've got to find out why? Now Speedracer how are you charging the battery? I charge at 1 amp and at least 4 to 5 hours but we need to know if the system is charging at all. With a weak battery the system will read in the 13 volt range and not climb very high and also is it hot and did your fan come on a lot in that 30 mile ride?

So again lets see what it reads with a good charged battery?

Now if it doesn't move first thought is the R/R (rectifer/regulator) but we all know wire connections are famous for getting loose or not making good connection on Chinese scooters so before we start throwing new parts at it let's take it one step at a time.

Another possibility is the blocking diode has went bad, and there is an easy test to check it so after your voltage check let's go from there.

Guys I'm so thrilled you joined and I'm going to get the tech stuff in as soon as I can but I've been very busy so be patient and spread the word!

JR

[speedracer]

Hey Doc, Well the charger I have been using is the Jr Tender. Yesterday it took 30 min to charge back up, but this morning almost 2 hours.

I didn't know what to ask him at when testing the battery. All he did was hook up the pos and neg and it read 13.5 volts and he said battery was good. So I'm sure no load test.

Right now it's off the scoot and on the charger and it charged back fast. On my trip yesterday engine didn't run hot at all and fan only came on a few times for less then a minute. This scoot never runs hot.

I'll run back up there and ask them to run a load test on the battery? Is that correct? I'll make sure I start the scoot and rev it when he is testing it.

I'll be back this afternoon with the results.

Thanks

[JR]

Ok so you didn't take it off and load test it? A lot of auto parts have a amp load type testing set up and they can put an actual load on the battery to see if it holds up and see if it will have it's peak CCA (cold cranking amps) while under load. With this test they can determine if it's weak, has a bad cell or at it's peak performance.

If he is putting a tester on the battery while checking it on the scooter then yes do start it and see if you have a voltage increase when revving it to higher RPM's. If not then we start looking for what's wrong.

BTW I'm retired from being a doc. ;D

JR

[speedracer]

Ok JR, just came back and the girl there did the load test. She said the unit does 4 load tests on the battery and the results she said where kaput. They didn't carry the battery, so now JR where would you get one quickly?

[JR]

Well as always Wally World will probably have one that fits but I use these people;

.apexbattery.com/scooter-batteries.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.apexbattery.com/scooter-batteries.html

Free shipping over $75 and yes they are a little pricey but they have a no BS 1 year guarantee (walmart 6 months) and I have one battery I bought from them that is nearly 3 years old!

Fast Walmart good shop around and also try to get one in the 12ah/175CCA+ range makes a big difference! and BTW they give specs and measurements on each battery and the 250B will take a little bit bigger battery in the case.

I used an Adventure Power model UBTZ12S! and it's a JET Ski battery.

JR

[cruiser]

Jul 6, 2011 11:49:50 GMT -6 speedracer said:

Hey Doc, Well the charger I have been using is the Jr Tender. Yesterday it took 30 min to charge back up, but this morning almost 2 hours.

I didn't know what to ask him at when testing the battery. All he did was hook up the pos and neg and it read 13.5 volts and he said battery was good. So I'm sure no load test.

Right now it's off the scoot and on the charger and it charged back fast. On my trip yesterday engine didn't run hot at all and fan only came on a few times for less then a minute. This scoot never runs hot.

I'll run back up there and ask them to run a load test on the battery? Is that correct? I'll make sure I start the scoot and rev it when he is testing it.

I'll be back this afternoon with the results.

Thanks

Hi speedracer. I have the Battery Tender Plus which has twice the output of the Jr. It takes a few hours to charge my batteries when they are low. Also, you should wait at least an hour after charging the battery to check the voltage. This allows the surface charge to dissipate. If a battery shows a full charge in a relatively short time, it usually means it has diminished capacity and is on its way out. It sounds like "the girl" is right.

[speedracer]

Wally World had one a 9 amp BS for $60.00. Had to add the acid, wait an hour then put the cap over the acid cells and then on the Jr Tender. Total time to get a full charge was 5 hours.

I have no idea if the Wally World battery is any good. As soon as I had it charged last night I put it back in the scooter and connected the cables. This morning I gave it a try and it started right up.

I never had a problem with the old battery, but going dead two days in a row and the girl telling me it's kaput kind of told the story. It shouldn't take long to find out if there is another problem. The old battery is a year old this month and 7000 miles of starting on it.

JR thanks for mentioning the load test, otherwise I would have to be looking elsewhere.

Cruiser nice to see you here. Word must be spreading.

[JR]

Keep us informed Speedracer and yes the word is spreading, if I can just get the tech stuff in! Canning green beans and beets today, and grandkids are snapping beans!LOL

I'll get there and spread the word, we're here to help!

JR

[speedracer]

JR take care of the back 40 acres. Today I'm letting it sit in the garage with cables connected. If there is a short battery should weaken. Tonight I'll take it for a ride and let it sit over night. Tomorrow I should know for sure.

[speedracer]

Day 2 with new battery installed and the scooter is starting. Unless it takes longer for something else to drain a new battery I feel I have this problem solved. I'll see how long a Walmart battery lasts.

[speedracer]

Well no doubt now it was the battery. The walmart battery is holding it's own.