Reading another thread on somebody's charging problems reminds me of a trick I never see anyone else write about that might keep someone from pushing or walking. I've had several batteries in various bikes die at inopportune moments (away from home) over the years. The usual way they fail is you turn on the key and the headlight and other electrics come on normally. Then when you push the starter button, all goes dead. Sometimes nothing will come on when the key is turned on. I assume a cell has shorted or otherwise failed in the battery.
Here is a tip that has worked for me every time. When the battery is apparently suddenly dead, there probably still some life left, enough to fire the ignition. Shut the headlight down by pulling the headlight fuse. On my 750 with the Windjammer, I just pull the plug into the fairing. Doing this seems free up enough juice to fire the ignition. With the my old 750 with the handy kickstarter, starting is easy. On bikes handicapped by the lack of the kickstarter, bump starting will work. This works on my 750 with the Dyna S ignition, and has worked on the CBR, CB900, and BMW.
Greg
'75 CB750F
