Topic: Help, Electrical problems 1978 CB 550

[medicineman]

 I bought this bike last summer with less that 4000 miles on the odometer, Looked almost brand new. Former owner claimed he recently put a new battery in. After about 500 miles I replaced the battery because it wasn't holding a charge. I also put a new halogen headlight in at the same time. I hooked the bike up to a 3 amp trickle charger mid-December and started it about once a week till last week. The battery was so weak the bike wouldn't start and after a short while was completely dead. Nothing lights up or works after turning the ignition on. I recharged the battery, hooked it up, still nothing. I pulled the fuses and checked them, no loose end caps or burned filaments contacts in fuse box were not corroded. That is about the limit of my diagnostic capabilities at this point, I'm stumped, any suggestions?

[Roach]

you fried your battery chances are.. you need a battery tender not a charger.

[medicineman]

you fried your battery chances are.. you need a battery tender not a charger.

The battery was removed from the bike and taken back to auto zone because I thought it was fried, they put 13.1 v charge on it and I reinstalled it the the bike, turned the ignition switch on and got absolutely nothing. Every electrical system is dead.

The battery tender does indeed appear to be fried.

[Roach]

just because they put a charge on it doesn't mean it was charging and kept its charge. i would check it and see if it is still charged.

[Deltarider]

I'm afraid 13,1 V is not enough. I'm sorry but there are some good threads here about the right way to charge batteries. Trickle charging IMO is overdoing it. A multistage charger is what you need. Nowadays there are excellent chargers (CTEK, Optimate). Just charge it with one of these every 4-6 weeks and - cool stored - your battery will be fine. The rest is bs.

[medicineman]

just because they put a charge on it doesn't mean it was charging and kept its charge. i would check it and see if it is still charged.

Right on about that, problem solved with new battery.

[TwoTired]

I also put a new halogen headlight in at the same time.

If the wattage was higher than the stock 40/50 W, then get used to the battery running down frequently.

I hooked the bike up to a 3 amp trickle charger mid-December and started it about once a week till last week.

Max charge rate for the 550 battery is 1.4 Amps, which you must discontinue when the battery reaches 14.5V.

Keep using that charger if you like replacing batteries frequently.  Otherwise get one made to charge motorcycle batteries instead of much bigger auto batteries.  An automatic three to five stage battery tender is a better choice for keeping the battery at full power.

Cheers,

[medicineman]

I want to thank for the suggestions and info, Just getting back to 2 wheels after 35 years.
Got a learning curve to deal with.

Greg