Topic: My battery keeps dying

[sprout2290]

Hey guys, got a question for ya.  This is my first bike and I dont really kno much about the electrical systems on them, so Im askin you guys.  My battery keeps dying after about a month or so to the point that i hav to kick it off to start it.  The headlight works once its started so people hav told me the battery isnt dead.  but I dont kno.  I dont ride it much, but its garaged and not outside.  its been pretty stripped down and made into a bobber with nothin but a headlight and taillight so i dont really kno if all the wiring is there or not.  i kno the previous owner said he cut all the wires he didnt need.  Ive been told a lot of different things by the know it alls around here but thout i'd put my problem out here to you guys.  Thanks for any help and i will answer questions to the best of my knowledge.  Like i said, this is my first street.  Thanks

[Johnie]

What bike do you have? How old is the battery? Get yourself a Battery Tender and keep it on there between rides. Light could still be on once the bike is running even with a low battery. At some point you should check the output of the stator to see if it is charging the battery while you ride.

[steam-powered man]

+1, yup, yup.

buy a battery tender, $30 or so. 

get a cheapo meter from radio shack (you can spend a pantload for better ones, but at this point why?) and measure the battery voltage when the bike is not running, then running at idle, at 1500 and 3000 rpms.  you should have 12.5v to 14v or thereabouts. 

clean both ends of your battery leads, making surer whatever they're connected to (ie at the frame bolt) is also clean.

 

[bollingball]

sprout: If you don't ride much you will need to keep it on a charger / maintainer. When you take your charging test the battery needs to be fully charged before the test.

[bollingball]

Here is a place to read every thing about batteries and chargers.

http://www.batterystuff.com/knowledge-base/index.php?action=category&id=10
Here is the maintainer I got and would buy it again if I needed one
https://www.denniskirk.com/yuasa/6-12-v-1-5-a-battery-charger.p282952.prd/282952.sku

and here is my battery if you do need a battery this AGM is nice Yusa makes a good one too plus they are made in the USA but were out of stock when I needed mine

http://www.scorpionbattery.com/powersports-batteries/ytx14ahl-bs.html
Do all your test before buying parts.

[sprout2290]

thx for the info guys.  I will do that.  I hav a tender already, guess i need to use it.  lol  My bike is a 76 CB550 hardtail bobber