Dead Battery or Fried Alternator on my '95 K1100LT?

[ICBMW]

Last week, I ran by new battery out by forgetting my key in the bike, lights and everything else on. Tried to roll start her. Nope. Trickle charged at deep cycle, 2AMP, and no real take in the time I had.

Tried to jump using the trickle charger when I ran out of time using the 55AMP jump setting. No go, but regretted doing it.

It's not nothing, it's the grunt of a starter. A lame grunt. Afraid I fried something using the jump mode.

Next day, trickled it on 2A normal and it got some charge.

Called Khanh Nguyen at EUBMW for some help. He's a new dad! A 2nd boy! Mazel tov! He said I didn't do anything wrong and an overnight at 2AMP trickle should make it all right.

The building manager told me I needed to move the bike. Folks pushed me and I got started. Rode 80MPH+ around 495 for around 45 minutes (Columbia Pike to 395S to 495 inner loop to GW Parkway, got hope, parked, tried starting her.

Same lame starter grind, it feels like she didn't take any charge.

Wondering if I fried anything (I didn't jump with a car) or if the battery is shot or if I did something else stupid.

In the perfect world, I would just need a new battery (even though this one is only months old).

Any advice? Any insight?

Thanks in advance!  :yow :eek: :dunno :falldown: :mbird

[johnny]

battery connections come to mind... at the battery and where they terminate...

fully draining even a new battery can waste it out... can remove it and take it in for a load test...

volt meter off and while cranking and while running can be an indicator...

j o

[ICBMW]

Well, that's sort of pretty easy and pretty cheap to deal with.

How about a Lithium Ferrous battery as a replacement. Much more expensive but maybe much more durable, too.

An EVX20L-24 Battery by Ballistic or something like that? Trickier but maybe more forgiving for someone who parks outside, doesn't trickle charge over the winter, and who sometimes forgets to do simple things like actually turn off the bike.

Might be $369.95 well spent and piece of mind.

[MEL]

I took the advice of many here and got an Odyssey pc 680....It was good advice. Batterymart jsut sent me an email and they have them on sale for 109.95.....

[johnny]

had 7 years on a pc680... prolly would be still going if i had not lifed it out...

j o

[K75RT Keith]

I'd think AGM and a cutoff switch, or disconnect the main positive cable. from the battery  Maybe take it out of the bike once every few months bring it in to the residence  and throw it on the BT for a day.

[Zipster]

My old battery was sulfated and acted in a similar fashion. Would get dash lights but not enough juice to crank. Would start when I bumped it but  after an hour riding there still wasn't enough juice to start her! Changed for a new battery and hey presto, all problems solved. I'd recommend it!

[Zipster]

You could check the battery with a volt meter. With a sulfated battery you'll see around 12.5v across the terminals but it'll drop way down when a load (starter) is applied. Mine dropped to 4.5v!! With a new battery I got 14v across the terminals and it only dropped a couple of volts when the starter was cranked (I can't remember the numbers for the fresh battery as all I wanted to do was go for a spin)!

[Grim]

The bike would have never run for 45 minutes if the alternator wasn't doing something.
At 1500-2000 rpm the alternator should be putting something close to 14v on the battery. 
I'm inclined to think you may have a starter problem or a problem with cables if the battery isn't showing a good charge. Now if it is the battery and you keep running it with a bad battery you will fry the alternator. 

Now let me warn you about something. Somebody got screwing around on my bike and left the ground cable off that went to the starter. The bike pulled ground through the ABS and completely fried it. Make sure your main ground to he starter is good.

[ICBMW]

Would start when I bumped it but  after an hour riding there still wasn't enough juice to start her! Changed for a new battery and hey presto, all problems solved. I'd recommend it!

That's exactly what's happening to me, so I will do this. The best BMW mechanic in Northern Virginia is Khanh Nguyen from EUBMW down in Alexandria, VA, so when he gets home from being a brand new dad and is back at the shop, I'll bump her to life and bring her around. Goodbye ~$100, hello reliability.

[ICBMW]

Now if it is the battery and you keep running it with a bad battery you will fry the alternator.

I won't do it any more. I'll just bump her and bring her to get a new battery.

Now let me warn you about something. Somebody got screwing around on my bike and left the ground cable off that went to the starter. The bike pulled ground through the ABS and completely fried it. Make sure your main ground to he starter is good.

Really good to know. I appreciate your advice. I expect to keep my K1100LT forever so really spending the time to learn deep is well worth it. The brick is the best bike I have ever know, though ever since my girl has been binge-watching Sons of Anarchy, those outlaw bikes are surely hard to resist. I wish there was an outlaw MC based on the brick.

[ICBMW]

She started up right away this morning. Rode down to EUBMW anyway. Khanh checked and the battery is at 60%. Will replace it and get an oil change in a couple weeks. Weird. I'm grateful though. Replaced my brake light. All's well.

[ICBMW]

Holy Spirit jumped my bike. Or something. To teach me a lesson. So bizarre. 

[MEL]

Good deal...always nice when something goes right...