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2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:28 am
by scalewag
Got the bike last week, and it started up and ran great. But it would only run for 20-25 minutes before the bike would just start sputtering and then stall out. When I tried starting it again, it wouldnt start until the battery was recharged. We got the battery checked at auto zone, and they said it was fine.
I went to the local cycle shop, and I was told it had most like the alternator was draining the battery of its charge. Now, the guy didnt actually call it an alternator, but he said it could be one or both of two parts thats not working right and I forgot what he said. So how would I go about trouble shooting which part needs to be replaced?
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:07 am
by HYPERR
Do you have a voltmeter?
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:31 pm
by scalewag
Yeah, I have a volt meter. Earlier today, I put the freshly charged battery into the bike and then started it and let it warm up. Then I used the volt meter and it it said 12.3 v. Took it around the block a couple times, then measured it again and it was down to 11.4. Then I rode it around a couple times, and then when I checked again it was at 6.8 v. At that point, I shut off the bike and it wouldnt even crank when I tried to start it up again.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:48 pm
by jstark47
How old's that battery? And has the battery ever been run down before?
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:30 pm
by pchast
It sounds like your charging system, not necessarily the battery itself. The battery voltage with the bike running at 2000+ rpm should be about 13.5 - 14.5 volts.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:48 pm
by Wrider
pchast is right, get the bike running and put your voltmeter on the battery. When it's around 5000 RPM it should be pushing around 14.5 Volts into the battery.
If it isn't putting out that kind of voltage you need to check two parts. First is your generator. Second is your regulator/rectifier. Test the output into the battery first and let us know, we'll go from there.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:43 am
by totalmotorcycle
Great advice above, couldn't suggest better.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:40 am
by scalewag
UJust put a freshly charge battery in the bike,started it and set the enrichener to 5k. The volt meter was reading 12.5 v. I'm not sure if the battery has ever been rum down or how old it is.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:15 am
by Johnj
The battery isn't charging. You need to check your rectifier, regulator, and your stator. If your not sure how now is a good time to get a service manual.
Re: 2000 Ninja 250: Battery does not hold charge.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:58 pm
by Wrider
Yup, JohnJ has it there. I'd test your stator first. Your regulator and rectifier are both in one piece, but usually when they go bad they go WFO.
