Forum

[RayBeech]

Right, fully charged new LP dry cell battery GB14L-A2 overnight, laid the starter motor on the engine and connected up (to spin freely) all connections checked end to end, pushed the start button for 1 second and spun ok, let it rest and pushed again 1 sec spun but clicked a couple of times as I let go of the button - wouldn't spin again. Battery down to 11volts. I have ordered a Battery from Hitchcocks so hopefully problem solved and another lesson in life learned! p.s. anyone want to buy a battery? only used a couple of times!!

[jefrs]

A battery can report correct voltage (12.8V - 13.0V as new) but be unable to provide full current if cells are defective. One symptom is the charge voltage goes down very quickly. A good battery but partially discharged may be able to turn a starter from as little as 10.5V

It's about current. Internal resistance of a (defective) battery can reduce current and thus the voltage drops turning the starter over when it's under load (the resistance of the starter motor goes way up when it's asked to turn the engine)

I would be inclined to check the ground resistance from the (disconnected) battery black lead to where the starter ground connects to the engine before throwing money at a new battery.

[papasmurf]

I have a sealed battery that I got from a friends Hardly Dangerous which just would not start the bike.
It still shows 12.45 volts after charging after 5 years of my using it to run the pump I use for pumping up the tyres on our car, motorcycles, sidecars and trailer.
(16 tyres on a regular basis.)

[Les]

It may be a 14 ah battery but that does not mean it is capable of supplying the current necessary to crank the engine, is it a proper motorcycle battery and were did you get it from

[RayBeech]

We will see when the proper battery comes from our hosts, to keep up to date with your great replies, I think they all seem to err towards the same end, the battery that was origionally on the bike was a Yuasa 14L-A2 which, according to the great web is no longer available, I bought an equivilent GB14-A2 paste battery which did no good (as previous thread) after renewing the starter relay, all wiring has been checked o.k. so until the new new battery arrives I can only think that I either got a duffer from LP or it is not a "motorcycle battery" capable of the sudden loading required for start current.

[Leon Novello]

Before you return the battery, take it to an Auto Electrician, they will usually load-test a battery for nothing.

[PeteF]

Or you can do a crude load test yourself. Put a voltmeter across the battery then put a headlight bulb across as well. Watch the voltmeter, it shouldn't dip appreciably.

[RayBeech]

Sorted! after reading all comments a new battery (another new battery) this time from our hosts, ordered yesterday morning - arrived this morning at 08.00, fitted and she runs. Hardly spun bfore it fired into life.
To be fair, although the Hitchcocks battery is branded up Dynavolt Gel the casing is exactly the same as the LP branded one I got off the interweb so I must assume I was unlucky and got a duffer.
Many thanks for the comments and thanks to all at Hitchcocks for freindly and very rapid service.

[PeteF]

It would be interesting to a load test on the "Duff" battery. I bet the voltage drops under load.

[jefrs]

Result, duff battery identified! But you've fixed it, get a refund or take the dead battery down the tip.