What is wrong with my Battery??

Why does my battery keep on dieing? It is only about two weeks old? I charge it and it runs fine, then the next morning I go out to start and it has no juice? Some one please help me

Thanks

 

Sounds like a bad battery - it does happen, even with new ones.
Take it to a shop and have it load tested - that'll tell you if it's good or not.

 

could be your charging system not functioning properly - start your bike and rev it up to 3 grand or so and check the voltage across the battery. should be ~13.5V or something like that.

 

the battery worked just fine for 2 weeks or so..how do i check the voltage? Hook it up to the charger and do that?

 

To check voltage you need a multimeter - one can be had at any parts store for less than $20.00. Get one, read the instructions to test for voltage.

Hook up the leads (that is the two wires that attach to your new multimeter) one to the red positive (+) terminal and the other to the black negative (-) of your battery. With the bike off you should read somewhere around 11 volts.

Now, start the bike and you will should see the voltage increase to 12 volts or so. Now rev the engine up to 3000 or 4000 rpm and watch the voltage increase. It may get as high as 14.5 volts but should not go over 15. There should be a point where the revs keep getting higher but the voltage should plateau. If the voltage doesn't plateau (that is keeps climbing with the RPMs) then you have an issue with your charging system.

Welcome to wrenching on your bike!
Good luck!
Rob

 

i'd recommend spending the extra money on a digital multi-meter. the analog ones work, but if you're an electrical newb, then there's this whole "confidence in your measurements" thing that you get with a digital one that you don't get with an analog.

 

Check Alternator Charging Ouput.

14.2 -to- 14.5 Volts at 2,000 rpm's and above.

If your Battery continues to die.
Check the Alternator Brushes.

Brush Length = 10.5mm or Greater = OK
Brush Length 10.mm or less = Replace Brushes.

I find using my Analog Meter less confusing.
I bought a Digital Meter, anyway.

If I leave them both out, ... most people grab the small, Radio Shack, Micronta, Analog before the Digital One.

 

Thanks everybody..I will do that asap tom. Glad to be part of the XJ bikes club. And im sure i will have more questions in the future as i am new to owning a bike, ive rode my dads forever. But needed my own so i found a very nice almost perfect condition 85 700 maxim for 1200 and couldnt pass it up..will post pictures soon..thanks again