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1982 XJ Maxim 550 cranking voltage

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by camelCase, Nov 8, 2018.

  1. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    I tested the voltage across the terminals with the bike off. It read 9.33 . When I turn the key, the green neutral light comes on and so does the tail light. However, it doesn't want to start. I press the ignition and nothing happens. I hear a faint rapid ticking on the right side of the bike around the spark plug. Don't hear it again on subsequent attempts.

    Is this enough voltage to start the bike? I've got it hooked up to a trickle charger at .75A and I'll check it out in 24 hours just wanna know if I'm wasting my time.

    It'll fire up if I apply jumper cables to it.
     
  2. fiveofakind

    fiveofakind Well-Known Member

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    Your battery is junk.......Buy yourself a new battery.....9.33 is way too low to start the bike.....
     
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  3. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    you need 10 volts when bike is cranking to fire the tci
    the clicking you hear it the starter safety relay it should just click once when you turn on the key. but only if bike is in neutral or in gear with clutch pulled in

    so your battery needs to be fully charged or replaced
     
  4. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    If it's at fully charged, 12 volts, what should I expect it to drop to after cranking it up? Like I crank it up then turn it off then check it again. What should it ideally read?
     
  5. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    voltage drop test instructions
    hook meter to battery record voltage
    with meter hooked to battery turn on key ,press starter button and read the voltage when starter is cranking. record voltage

    if when cranking the voltage drops below 10 volts tci will not fire bike will not start.

    keep in mind your head light comes on when motor spins which adds to voltage drop. you could pull headlight fuse but that will not give you a real world reading . the bike may start with headlight fuse pulled out.

    a fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts, when left to sit over night after a full charge it should not drop much.

    if when you do the voltage drop test you get less than 10 volts

    battery is under charged.
    battery is bad. even new batterys can be bad
    you have bad grounds
    clean ground at battery, clean ground connections at motor . follow the little wire up to battery box and clean the frame ground. clean the ground at the ignition coil

    starter may need to be rebuilt drawing to much current.

    when you get bike started you want to test the charging voltage that info can be found in this link near bottom of page

    The Ultimate Relay, Switch, Sensor, and Diodes Guide
     
  6. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    Thanks a ton. I’ll do all of that. Getting a new battery today.
     
  7. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    I definitely have a bad battery ground strap. I’m going to replace that. Just found that when I removed the battery.
     
    XJ550H likes this.
  8. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    12 volts fully charged is still too low. The resting voltage of a good battery is no less than 12.6 volts, and typically 12.8 volts (depending on the temperature and battery type).
     
  9. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    I got a new battery. Just filled it with acid, it’s charging now. Load test at oreilley’s said it was toasted.

    Installing it in the morning. Should be good-to-go after that.
     
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  10. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    Make sure to check your charging voltage according to the book after you install the new battery. You dont want to ruin the new battery with a charging system that under/over charges. Been there, got the t shirt
     
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  11. fiveofakind

    fiveofakind Well-Known Member

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    Camelcase,

    For your reference......you should have similiar results......

    My bike '82 XJ750J Maxim

    battery at rest ( after being fully charged ) 12.9V
    key turned on ( all circuits energized & headlight on ) 12.1V
    battery during start button pressed ( starter drawing juice ) 11.0V
    battery after start at idle ( and at all fuses ) 12.2V

    Battery at runup ( 3,000 rpm ) 14.6V
     
  12. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    I’ll check it. And I’ll consult my clymber manual.

    Thanks to everyone in this thread and the other two that I made. Tons of help. This forum is awesome.
     

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