Battery Wanted

[YMFB]

I need a new battery for the ST4, this is probably the third one I have fitted, I know its because I abuse them by riding only occasionally. I have a few weeks until I need it but would like to get a good quality one with high current/power starting ability.

I read some older posts where Rushjob reccomended Varta but that was a few tears ago.

[Mac-Os]

Just fitted a PC680 Oddessey battery to my 888. I also cleaned and tightened all the main cables from Battery to earth and to Starter solenoid/starter. Its now no longer a sluggish starter.
These fit the 888 battery tray (I didnt get the Metal Jacket one) with only minor mods (cut the bottom retaining lip off the tray). The new battery seemed well held by the standard top bracket but I fitted a small strap around the bottom for safety.

[gordonparker]

This lot are good for batteries;

http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/shop/productprofile.asp?ProductGroupID=1039

[phil_h]

Odyssey are the absolute best you can get, they hold charge 10 times better than anything else I've ever used, and have a design lifetime longer than anything else.

[mc31@york.ac.uk]

I'm not clear why you are getting through so many batteries in the first place.
I understand you are only an occassional rider, but if your battery is on a trickle charger, it shouldn't really make any difference???

[YMFB]

The trickle charger is great in the garage at home but doesnt work when Im out also i tend to use it after the event. Should I use the optimate all the time at home ? what happens when im away on the bike ?

I have just spoken to the local Odyssey dealer who need to know

CCA
AH Capacity
size of the battery

If anyone can help with the information that would be great as I dont really have time to strip the fairing off tonight.

Thanks

[YMFB]

Has anyone fitted an Odyssey PCA 680 battery to an ST ?

[rockhopper]

Mine lives on the optimate 24/7. I haven't run it since June last year and on saturday morning it started first push of the button.
I think the Odyssy batteries are a bit bigger than standard ones so you may have a tight squeeze getting it in.
I should add though that leaving it standing for long periods will kill it just as quickly as a regular battery.

Cranking current is not the issue with the St''s anyhow, the problem is with the standard cables between the battery (or solenoid) and the starter. Someone in America does a mod kit with some heavier cables which improves things if you are having issues. Simply fitting a bigger battery will allow the engine to turn over for longer but won't necessarily make it turn over any faster as the cables are the limiting factor here.

[YMFB]

rockhopper if it lives on an optimate 24/7 does it start if you go touring for say a week where you dont have the optimate ?

[Jools]

rockhopper if it lives on an optimate 24/7 does it start if you go touring for say a week where you dont have the optimate ?

If yours doesn't start after a week's touring you need to start troubleshooting your charging system or going through all the wiring/connectors to see if you've got a high resistance joint or cable somewhere

[YMFB]

I am sure that previously its been fine when touring but I remember riding from Salisbury to Brands Hatch watching BSB and on my return to the bike park the engine only just catching. My feeling is that I am happy to pay a premium for a better battery and modify the battery tray if it gives some additional security.

I wil definitely check the wiring/charging system, not having done it before what I am I looking for, just something higher or a specific resistance.

[mc31@york.ac.uk]

It sounds like you may have the usual dreaded ST regulator/rectifier problem. You certainly need to check it. Without looking it up, I can't remember the exact figures, but it's ringing a bell that your reg/rect. should be throwing out about 14.5 volts when charging. Also check the state of the cables and connectors for anything that's fried (or rubbed through and shorting).

The ST's gave loads of problems with these. Basically because the originals were pants. So much so that there were warranty replacements available.
Mine was changed with no charge (pardon the pun) when the bike was 6 years old. So ring Ducati UK and see if yours has any outstanding warranty work or recalls. They will still honour them.

If you haven't got a multi-meter, any half decent mechanic will be able to tell you in 2 minutes if your battery is not receiving enough charge. The regulator is under and to the rear of the right hand side of the headlamp housing.
Defininetly check it before bunging money at another battery.

[rockhopper]

You need to be seeing about 14.5 volts across the battery with the engine running at about 2k, the voltage should stay constant when the revs rise but it may drop back at tickover.

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

Howdy Rockhopper. Just noticed you haven't started your ST since June. So, just wondering how your rehab is coming along. Will you be riding soon? (please say yes)
BTW, I keep my ST on Optimate 24/7 during the winter when early morning cranking might create a problem, but when it warms up I generally ride more and the battery seems up to snuff. Optimate is a saver though...great purchase.

[rockhopper]

Hi Jim! I started it up the other day and rode it to Cornerspeed (five miles!!) for him to check rockers (didn't need any) and valve clearances etc, then i collected it on saturday and we went for a 50 mile ride around the area. The arm didn't give me any trouble, infact i'd forgotten all about it till you mentioned it!

Hoping to be doing a lot more riding this year, my new lady friend is a biker (well if you can call a 600 Diversion a bike)!

I'm not on here that much these days, spend most of my internet time over on the Italian Sporting club forum.

[YMFB]

Should the regulator have been changed during services at a main dealer or only if I had pointed out a potential issue.

[rockhopper]

Regulators are not a service item, they would only have looked at it if you'd told them you were having a problem.

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

I thought you were going to say you were not on here much cause you were spending a lot of time on your new girlfriend (despite the Diversion).

Glad to hear the arm is better!

[YMFB]

You need to be seeing about 14.5 volts across the battery with the engine running at about 2k, the voltage should stay constant when the revs rise but it may drop back at tickover.

What is the acceptable range ?

[ratchet]

could be a bit lucky but my ST still has same battery from new, standard fit gel, which by its design will hold charge better when not used than a lead acid cell, anyway, have regularily only run mine in summer boost battery once maybe twice in winter and run trouble free all summer without charge, and will most likely do same this year, why are you lot having so much bother? Are you killing the battery by overcharging or are the chargers you use not suitable for gel packs as they overheat and distort if charged too quickly.

[gordonparker]

3.5 years and my battery seems to be giving up the ghost, you only get 2 good chances to start after that it's back on the charger

Gordon

[ratchet]

mines getting on for 4 1/2 now and not run for last 14 months but appears to still be good yet.

[rockhopper]

What is the acceptable range ?

Why not tell us what you've got?

[YMFB]

good idea, so what im planning to do is get the old batt, charge, it with a normal charger hope it starts then measure the voltage across the batt terminals is that right ?

[gordonparker]

I just ordered a battery from MDS - Varta £48.50 inc postage and saved £30 on other prices quoted

[skidlids]

What is the acceptable range ?

As Rockhopper says you want about 14.5V, trouble is with the 3-phase alternator and rectifier you can loose one phase and still get the volts but not the current capability. so need to check the running volts with the lights on
A 6 cell battery which should be 2.2V per cell when fully charged should read 13.2 volts with no load applied, as soon as the ignition is turned on it will drop slightly, the biggest load is the starter motor so when cranking that the volts are really going to try and drop off and if pulled down to far not only do you get slow cranking of the engine but also week sparks, poor pulsing of the injectors etc and the bike doesn't want to start
Some garages can stll test a batteries condition with a load cell may be worth asking around your local ones

[ratchet]

sorry, most forums ask for and display bike details forgot had never put mine in,
2003 ST4S, if you have a gel cell don`t charge at too high an amperage or for
much longer than 2 hours at a time, best bet is to feel battery randomly once starts to get hot turn off and allow to cool otherwise you will distort the plates, due to being filled with gel they do not transfer heat as well as a lead acid cell

[YMFB]

Update time and hopefully the wise ones can point me in the right direction again. Today I picked up a new battery from SJS in Salisbury, connected it up without the optimate leads connected.

She started first push of the button and I let it warm up a bit, then using the fast idle lever adjusted the revs to 2k.

Using my Fluke multimeter the voltage across the battery terminals was 14.05 volts, I checked it again when the revs were back at tick over and it still reads 14.05.

Is there additional checks I should be making ?

What does the above prove ?

Thanks

[rockhopper]

It proves that the charging system is (probably) okay!