Simple pleasures

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D-Rider · #46 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu May 09, 2013 9:23 pm

nicketynoo wrote:D-Rider I think the basic problem is the fact that the charging system isn't that great, its failed to start twice due to a flat battery. I have a fairly new maximiser and it seems this has also failed. It looks like its testing the battery and charging it . It even shows the battery voltage and how much current its taking and finally showing the battery is strong and fully charged but try the starter and its flat as a fart. A mate has charged my battery on his optimate and I'll be trying it again soon,but have also got a new battery and this started the bike fine. The maximiser is the 3800 model and I've read some bad reviews about it, seems I should have got an Optimate.
The Falco hasn't got an alarm fitted so I dont see why it should even need to be sat on an optimate all the time
And now I've snapped the carbon strap holding the end can on £43 for a new one feel like its fated but its gonna get a good chance

How old is the battery?

The falco charging system is not really a problem but maybe yours has some specific issues.
The workshop manual tells you how to check out the majority of components.
Also check all connectors in the charging circuits are electrically clean/low resistance.

Even if you haven't got an alarm (and they are normally designed to go into sleep mode if left for too long - in order to protect the battery), there is still a current drain from the clocks (shame they didn't design them to have a lower quiescent current drain). Page 78 of the user manual warns of this and tells you to pull the main fuse if you don't use it for more than 20 days (with a poor battery the time will be less)

D-Rider · #47 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu May 09, 2013 9:33 pm

hiscot wrote:................ only to find it would spin over but not fire then flatten again , so back into the van, take it to my brothers work ( motor factors ) to remove the battery ( I should of got one straight away when I got the bike ) we found it only had a 12 amp battery fitted
We fitted a new 14 amp and now it starts first click ( every time hot or cold) of the button no spinning over but instant start as soon as the starter is pressed
My brothers battery book states a 14 amp battery as does this site
http://home.comcast.net/~sl_mille/battery.html
( oddly I think my book lists 12 amp )
I did notice your photo nicketynoo of your old battery is rated at 11 amps
it may of been fine when new but if its tired it wont help
Like i said my old battery would spin it over but not fire it up this new one just fires up no spinning over instant start
I would also think your charger may be ok , on my old battery the optimate we used, said full charge.
it just was not holding it under load , sign of a tired battery !

I think your problem was really that your previous battery was old and the internal resistance had become too great.

Most batteries sold for the Falco are 14 amp-hour though I have one of a lower capacity - basically as the capacity alone is not as important as the CCA (or cold cranking current) and the one I have has a significantly better CCA,

hiscot · #48 Post by **hiscot** » Thu May 09, 2013 9:53 pm

D-Rider wrote:
hiscot wrote:................ only to find it would spin over but not fire then flatten again , so back into the van, take it to my brothers work ( motor factors ) to remove the battery ( I should of got one straight away when I got the bike ) we found it only had a 12 amp battery fitted
We fitted a new 14 amp and now it starts first click ( every time hot or cold) of the button no spinning over but instant start as soon as the starter is pressed
My brothers battery book states a 14 amp battery as does this site
http://home.comcast.net/~sl_mille/battery.html
( oddly I think my book lists 12 amp )
I did notice your photo nicketynoo of your old battery is rated at 11 amps
it may of been fine when new but if its tired it wont help
Like i said my old battery would spin it over but not fire it up this new one just fires up no spinning over instant start
I would also think your charger may be ok , on my old battery the optimate we used, said full charge.
it just was not holding it under load , sign of a tired battery !
I think your problem was really that your previous battery was old and the internal resistance had become too great.

Most batteries sold for the Falco are 14 amp-hour though I have one of a lower capacity - basically as the capacity alone is not as important as the CCA (or cold cranking current) and the one I have has a significantly better CCA,

Quite agree I am trying to say to nicketynoo I would expect a tired battery before looking for any charging problems it would be my first point of call

D-Rider · #49 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu May 09, 2013 10:17 pm

hiscot wrote: Quite agree I am trying to say to nicketynoo I would expect a tired battery before looking for any charging problems it would be my first point of call

Yep

fatboy · #50 Post by **fatboy** » Fri May 10, 2013 6:09 pm

Hmm ....... slippery wet roundabout and which is more forgiving?
The falco with its buckets of low down grunt or the mild-mannered low-revs output of the I-4?

Nothing's that clear-cut with the variety of roads and situations that exist.

I was trying to give my simplistic simpleton comparison!
To answer your questioning question, the falc would most likely wash out first