GW1500 Starting Problem
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500 SE
Trike
GW1500 Starting Problem
I charged my battery overnight when I came back from Fl. The bike started in an instant but 2 days later no start, I unhooked all wires to it and recharged it again. Same problem. charging system ? Bad battery? Burn it??
- ct1500
- Posts: 1453
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:09 pm
- Location: Glastonbury,CT
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500
- Contact:
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
Knowing voltage and current readings would go a long way to find the cause and a successful repair. What is charging voltage with no fans or brake lights on at idle and 1800RPM ? What is voltage reading of battery when parked and after sitting two days before trying to start? Can the battery pass a load test after charging? And what is the mA current draw of electrical system on battery?
Local and need repair help with your 1500, Valkyrie or ST please click contact
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
- MikeB
- Posts: 3168
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
184K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
14K Miles - Contact:
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
Why did you have to charge the battery after returning from Florida?
Had the bike been ridden lately?
Was the battery dead?
What is the age of the battery?
Have you had to charge it to start the bike in the past?
If the bike had been parked for two weeks and the battery voltage was down below 10 volts before you started to charge it, I'd say replace the battery. It will save you a lot of trouble.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
- Charlie1Horse
- Posts: 577
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:35 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1986 GL1200A Aspencade
1992 GL1500I Interstate
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
I suggest you first take your fully charged battery to an auto parts store and have it load tested. It sounds like you may have a battery problem. Then check how much the charging system charges.
Russell
If I don't do Facebook or Twitter, do I still have to do Social Media Distancing????
Russell
If I don't do Facebook or Twitter, do I still have to do Social Media Distancing????
Those who say it cannot be done should try not to interrupt those who are doing it.
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500 SE
Trike
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
I usually charge both my my and lawn mower.
Battery is 18 months old. It’s a Duralast Agm from auto zone.
I want to ride it but won’t stay charged up. Yes, I have had to change it before I rode. It’s on an overnight charger. I unhooked all of the petty accessories and will see if that helps. It’s a ‘97 with under 59k on it.
Thanks for the replies. I’ll keep all of you posted.
Ride safe!
Battery is 18 months old. It’s a Duralast Agm from auto zone.
I want to ride it but won’t stay charged up. Yes, I have had to change it before I rode. It’s on an overnight charger. I unhooked all of the petty accessories and will see if that helps. It’s a ‘97 with under 59k on it.
Thanks for the replies. I’ll keep all of you posted.
Ride safe!
- Charlie1Horse
- Posts: 577
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:35 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1986 GL1200A Aspencade
1992 GL1500I Interstate
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
Well, with any vehicle or piece of equipment, if you have a good battery, properly working charging system and no unusual power drain, you should not have to charge it all the time. I never charge my lawn mower or bike and they always start right up.
Russell
If I don't do Facebook or Twitter, do I still have to do Social Media Distancing????
Russell
If I don't do Facebook or Twitter, do I still have to do Social Media Distancing????
Those who say it cannot be done should try not to interrupt those who are doing it.
- MikeB
- Posts: 3168
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
184K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
14K Miles - Contact:
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
Do you have a warranty on that battery from Auto Zone? If you do, I'd take it back and get a new one and while there, pick up a Battery Tender.101abndiv wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2020 2:37 pmI usually charge both my my and lawn mower.
Battery is 18 months old. It’s a Duralast Agm from auto zone.
I want to ride it but won’t stay charged up. Yes, I have had to change it before I rode. It’s on an overnight charger. I unhooked all of the petty accessories and will see if that helps. It’s a ‘97 with under 59k on it.
Thanks for the replies. I’ll keep all of you posted.
Ride safe!
I have two motorcycles, a lawnmower and a GMC truck.
The lawnmower and GMC truck see little use most of the year. I keep the lawnmower battery in the garage and on a Battery Tender.
I keep a Battery Tender on the GMC truck because I don't drive it but maybe every other month and when I want to drive it, I like having the battery fully charged.
I keep the a Battery Tender on each of the motorcycles because I can only ride one at a time and I may go a week or two and ride only one of them.
It only take a few milliamps over a period of time to drain a battery down to nothing. I found out the hard way with a Yamaha Virago I had years ago. I had an aftermarket radio with a clock installed in the Windjammer fairing. That little clock in the radio turned that battery into a sulfated brick in a mater of months since I was not smart enough to even own a Battery Tender. Luckily, that battery had a 12 month warranty and I was able to get a new one at no charge.
Think abut it, a 20 amp battery with a 24 hour a day 50 milliamp drain will only last 400 hours. That's about 17 days.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
- Erdeniz Umman
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:33 am
- Location: Ankara Turkey
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
What charging device do you have, and what at what amp does it charge?
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500 SE
Trike
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
It is a Schumaker (?). I had an led clock and a cigarette lighter wired in to a fused panel.
I unhooked them. Ill see how everything goes in the next few days. Fingers crossed.
I unhooked them. Ill see how everything goes in the next few days. Fingers crossed.
- Erdeniz Umman
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:33 am
- Location: Ankara Turkey
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
It is important to know the charging output amperage of the charger and the amph capacity of the battery. For example, if you charge a 20ampHour battery with a 1amp charger you will need 20 hours to have a fully charged battery, if there is nothing wrong of course.
Also, sometimes it can be difficult to recover an AGM battery if it is discharged below a certain voltage (10volts if I remember correctly).
Also, sometimes it can be difficult to recover an AGM battery if it is discharged below a certain voltage (10volts if I remember correctly).
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500 SE
Trike
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
What you are saying is completely out of my league. Maybe I could reseach all of your info to determine what equipment etc I need.ct1500 wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2020 11:01 amKnowing voltage and current readings would go a long way to find the cause and a successful repair. What is charging voltage with no fans or brake lights on at idle and 1800RPM ? What is voltage reading of battery when parked and after sitting two days before trying to start? Can the battery pass a load test after charging? And what is the mA current draw of electrical system on battery?
I have completely stripped all battery attachments from the battery. When running I get 14 plus volts.
Im looking at maybe buying a newer bike (trike). We will just have to wait and see.
Thx for your reply.
- ct1500
- Posts: 1453
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:09 pm
- Location: Glastonbury,CT
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500
- Contact:
Re: GW1500 Starting Problem
You should not be running it with the battery disconnected, are you?
Local and need repair help with your 1500, Valkyrie or ST please click contact
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do
Nothing leaves my shop till its' perfect
This is what I do