Wee won't start, rapid relay clicks.

[oconnor]

Battery voltage reading 12.8 across the terminals.
Turn the key and everything cycles.
Hit the starter button and headlights dim and the motor sounds like it turns maybe half a rotation and the relay rapid-fires until I let off the button.
Hit starter again and I just get the rapid clicks.

Battery is new this spring.
I rode it home in heavy rain the night before but it ran fine.
Any ideas?

[Black Lab]

Make sure your kill switch is not set to "off".

[redhot]

A flat battery can still measure full across terminals.... and it sounds classic FLAT to me....

[tmcgee]

Sounds like a battery problem to me. What does the meter read when you push the starter switch?

[Trooper32]

Sounds like the battery to me too. Put the meter on the battery and watch it when you hit the switch. Does it sag down pretty far? A meter is basically no load on a battery. The starter, on the other hand, is a heavy load.
Check to make sure your terminals are clean and tight... another possibility.

[dtcjem]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a loose / poor battery connection.

[Bisbonian]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a loose / poor battery connection.

This is where I was going as well. In addition to the battery ends check the end on the starter and wherever the negative cable grounds.

[randyo]

Battery voltage reading 12.8 across the terminals.
?


sounds like a flat battery to me as well

fwiw, a fully charged battery for our 12 volt system is 13 volts ;)

[oconnor]

Terminals are tight.
Pulled it off the charger.
Got the bike started.
At idle the battery reads 13.00-13.1 or so.
If I just touch the throttle the reading jumps to 14.6 and stays there to 5,000rpm.

15 min later battery reads 12.8
I turn the key on and hit the starter and it won't start, battery showing 9.10 or so while cranking.
This is the second battery from this vendor, first wouldn't hold a charge over 12.5.

[Trooper32]

Seems to me that something isn't right in the charging system. Did you get out there and ride and get a good charge on that battery?

[maggot]

Terminals are tight.
Pulled it off the charger.
Got the bike started.
At idle the battery reads 13.00-13.1 or so.
If I just touch the throttle the reading jumps to 14.6 and stays there to 5,000rpm.

15 min later battery reads 12.8
I turn the key on and hit the starter and it won't start, battery showing 9.10 or so while cranking.
This is the second battery from this vendor, first wouldn't hold a charge over 12.5.

I had the same issue a few weeks back. 12.7V while sitting from the 2 month old battery ridden daily. Less than 10V while turning over. I think the bike needs around 11V while trying to start.
I took the battery back and they replaced it for free.
Works fine now.

Ken

[silverstrom]

Terminals are tight.
Pulled it off the charger.
Got the bike started.
At idle the battery reads 13.00-13.1 or so.
If I just touch the throttle the reading jumps to 14.6 and stays there to 5,000rpm.

15 min later battery reads 12.8
I turn the key on and hit the starter and it won't start, battery showing 9.10 or so while cranking.
This is the second battery from this vendor, first wouldn't hold a charge over 12.5.

If you had a charging problem you wouldn't be seeing the high voltages that you mentioned. I've seen regulator/rectifiers become intermittent and become problematic when they get hot, but I don't think that's your problem.

The fact that the battery is dropping to 9 volts under load is a good indicator that it's in trouble. It looks like the charging system is doing it's best but the battery won't hold a charge. I think your battery is finished. Sometimes even new betteries fail.


SS

[Jimding]

Sounds like one bad cell. Wet batteries usually have 6 cells, nominally 2 volts each, in series. One cell goes bad, battery may show 12 V with no load, but bad cell goes to 0 when loaded. Time for a new battery.

[oconnor]

Anyone recommend a battery?

This is a Motocross brand supposedly made by Yuasa and sold by Tri-State battery for $60. This is the second bad one I've had in a year. Sometimes saving money doesn't save you any money. I'm ready to try something else.

http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=731

[silverstrom]

When it comes to batteries, you get what you pay for. Buy the best you can afford and you won't be sorry later.

SS

[Jimding]

Anyone recommend a battery?

This is a Motocross brand supposedly made by Yuasa and sold by Tri-State battery for $60. This is the second bad one I've had in a year. Sometimes saving money doesn't save you any money. I'm ready to try something else.

http://www.tristatebattery.com/product_info.php?products_id=731

I've had great luck with Westco AGM batteries, which appears to be available for Wee and Vee. Have 3 of them in various vehicles, all holding up nicely. No worries about venting, levels, or acid spills either.

[chris swann]

i had a yuasa battery last from 1993-2003 , they are worth the extra bucks

[Gtown]

Whatever brand you get, I will recommend charging it to full capacity before installing. I know you don't have to but, it seems a battery will last longer if it starts off properly maintained. You may already do this or have a different outlook. Just my .02.

[fastwally]

Terminals are tight.
Pulled it off the charger.
Got the bike started.
At idle the battery reads 13.00-13.1 or so.
If I just touch the throttle the reading jumps to 14.6 and stays there to 5,000rpm.

15 min later battery reads 12.8
I turn the key on and hit the starter and it won't start, battery showing 9.10 or so while cranking.
This is the second battery from this vendor, first wouldn't hold a charge over 12.5.

Sounds like you need to find a different vendor for a battery, bad battery.:confused:

[Trooper32]

Whatever brand you get, I will recommend charging it to full capacity before installing. I know you don't have to but, it seems a battery will last longer if it starts off properly maintained. You may already do this or have a different outlook. Just my .02.

Definitely agree with this. Also, don't get a battery that has been sitting on the shelf filled for any amount of time... buy it empty and add the acid.

[oconnor]

A friend can get Interstate batteries at cost so I may go with them.

[trooper72]

i had exact same issue you describing. But i figure it out it was not the battery. In my case , it was the ignition switch, the thing you press to start the bike. For some reason they are week and if mouisture get it in could have issues. If I wiggle mine the bike will usually start. I still have issues constantly and have to play with the switch. 3 out of 10 times lights dim and bike wont start.

[CanadianFZ6]

Terminals are tight.
Pulled it off the charger.
Got the bike started.
At idle the battery reads 13.00-13.1 or so.
If I just touch the throttle the reading jumps to 14.6 and stays there to 5,000rpm.

15 min later battery reads 12.8
I turn the key on and hit the starter and it won't start, battery showing 9.10 or so while cranking.
This is the second battery from this vendor, first wouldn't hold a charge over 12.5.
Mine reads 14V across the terminals at idle... (with no electric accessories attached).

[glnelso]

i had exact same issue you describing. But i figure it out it was not the battery. In my case , it was the ignition switch, the thing you press to start the bike. For some reason they are week and if mouisture get it in could have issues. If I wiggle mine the bike will usually start. I still have issues constantly and have to play with the switch. 3 out of 10 times lights dim and bike wont start.

That is what happened to me 10 minutes ago! I can push start it fine. When I came back the fan was on when I turned the key back on. However nothing when I push the start button. I think the battery is fine. But I get nothing when I wiggle the switch. Any other suggestions or connections I could check? I checked all the battery connections and fuses. When I push the start button the lights dims but there is no sound of the engine even trying to turn over. DEAD. What should I look for next? Thanks in advance.

[glnelso]

It was the clutch wires that came loose.

I searched for it like I should have done before posting!

I love this site!

You guys are really good!

[oconnor]

New battery from Interstate this time. Started right up.

[mikios]

I had similar problems the other day... turns out my battery needs replacement, as I forgot the park lights on a couple of times... I found this quite helpful (and will bare it in mind for future reference though I jope I wont have to)

Troubleshooting battery problems! (http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/pdfs/Troubleshooting-3P-PMG-&-RR.pdf)