Battery?

[Fiberthree]

The replacement battery lasted one month! The store where I purchased it said it had been more than 30 days since I installed it and that they couldn't do anything to help. The manager acted like he was doing me a favor by checking on prorating it. He tested another battery and showed me the passing results. I told him the defective battery passed when I bought it too! Bottom line is I walked out with a new replacement battery free of charge but I did get a warning from the manager. He said "If it happens again, it's not the battery." I told him if it happens again I'm going to the manufactuer and he wont see me or my friends in his store ever. Buy cautiously from Cycle Parts West!!
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[goldwing1989]

We have a "Cycle Parts" here in Eugene, Oregon also. I wouldn't take a Honda 90 into them for service. They are the Honda dealership for this area and the parts person didn't even know what a side cover on the side of the bike was. I had to explain it to him thoroughly to get the light to come on. I wonder if the two stores are part of the same chain.

The AGM battery I talked about earlier was on my wife's Honda Rebel 250.

Are you running a Compufire now or the original alternator?
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We don't always like the hand life gives us but we must play the cards that we are dealt!

[Fiberthree]

I have had a Compufire unit since November of 2005. In the 33,000 miles since installing it I have added a few more lights and/or bumped up the wattage of existing lights with no electrical problems at all.
The failed battery I purchased was not the Yuasa I would have prefered. (Yuasa makes the Compufire battery) But Cycle Parts West said they had good success with theirs and that they were a local company if I ever had trouble with it. I should have been suspicious since it came in a plain white box. Still, at $104.00 ... So far the replacement has performed well. On the day of the battery failure I went to start the engine and all I got was a loud "SNAP" and then nothing worked. I had recently replaced the kill switch unit (right handlebar switch pod) with a unit I bought on eBay. That wasn't where the snap noise came from but it was the last thing I had changed. I have seen parts on the bike I never should have seen while trouble shooting. But I did find the mystery fuses listed in Honda's wiring diagram! A week later I arrived at the battery having a bad cell. That was confirmed by the teen aged sales person with the extensive training at Cycle Parts West. I think we all know where I'll be going for the next battery when it comes time.
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[cawing]

I owned a '94 GL1500 for approximately 5 yrs. & 80,000 mi. and during that time I experienced 2 battery failures and both times I experienced that same snap/popping noise when hitting the starter button. I've heard of many other 1500's that experienced this.
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We're not here for a long time, just a good time
Paul
'01 Illusion Red, 161,000 smiles
Kwik Kamp Trailer

[goldwing1989]

I also have heard the snap noise you are referring to. I found out what it was on my bike and it probably is the same on yours.

The starter motor, though mounted on the engine block is not grounded to the frame or battery as the block is aluminum and not iron (therefore not conductive). There is a negative wire/cable/what-have-you that comes off the starter and grounds to the frame. Sometimes this connection/cable gets grotty or simply wears out. I ran a new grounding strap off the starter and onto the frame and I have not heard the noise since. Apparently what I was hearing was the ground TRYING to make a good contact but couldn't. I've had no more trouble with it and have not heard it since and that was four years ago.
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We don't always like the hand life gives us but we must play the cards that we are dealt!

[MountainRider]

A little different view on alternators and batteries. (Based on experience)

My '99 Wing (bought new in April 99) was over "seven years old" before I replaced the OEM Yuasa battery. It was still cranking good, I just changed it due to an upcoming (8,000 mile) long trip.

My original OEM alternator did not need brushes changed until 120,000 miles. The rotor finally shorted out at 150,000 miles.

Not bad service from OEM equipment.

I always had/have plenty of electrical power, but I don't have a "ton" of additional electrical accessories on my bike.

I currently have another OEM alternator on my bike.

I can't justify spending 400.00 bucks for a CompUfire (alternator and battery) when the OEM system handles all of my needs.

Just my viewpoint......
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[MountainRider]

[goldwing1989]

That's very nice for you! Just a thought! Based on experience!
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We don't always like the hand life gives us but we must play the cards that we are dealt!