Topic: How long battery's really last

[bollingball]

I will not try it and take the risk of damage to my rectifier just to prove or disprove a point

Ken

[Imago]

I test drove a recent acquisition (1976 CB750K) for about 1/2 mile with no battery at all after boosting it with a car battery. Is this unusual and/or did I run any risk of damage to the electrical system? If so, I certainly won't do it again.

Are you saying there was NO battery in the bike?? I thought this was impossible.

Ken

Nope, no battery at all.

I'd guess you never let it idle and/ or you had no lighting operating.  If at any time the current requirements exceeded the alternator output, phttt the ignition quits and the engine stops.

You do risk damaging the rectifier diodes with no battery to quash the voltage spikes.  (Also, anything else electronic hung on to the power buss.)

You'd guess correctly. I haven't done the carbs yet and needed to keep the revs up by blipping the throttle consistently as it wouldn't idle at all. I did notice when I got it home and tried to start it later that it wouldn't turn over. I haven't had time to get into it since then but I hope I haven't done damage to the starter or something else.

[BobbyR]

Bobby,
    The woman in you're Avatar looks "exciting"  ...do you know her? 

No, I have no idea who she is. I started the Babe Thread so I pick a pretty face and use it for an Avatar.  I try to change them every week or so.