Re: Battery vs. Tender

["william kenney" <tnt720@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin Lodahl" <lodahl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>


> I'm just one year into oilhead ownership, and still making puzzling
> discoveries.  My 2002 Roadster has gathered cobwebs since early July as I
> recovered from a non-motorcycling injury, and I was very late in hooking
it
> up to my trusty Battery Tender.  What I'm discovering now is that I can't
> seem to charge it enough for the starter to work.  On one attempt I got
> enough in it for the ABS to go through the stationary part of the
self-test,
> but the solenoid just buzzed.  Other trips through the charge cycle leave
> the Tender convinced that all is well and it just needs to keep a light
> float on it, but there's not even enough to make the ABS happy, suggesting
> that the voltage may be fine but the amperage is not.  Could it really be
> that the battery has given up after barely more than a year in service?
And
> why, oh why, BMW, didst thou see fit to bury the damn thing so deeply,
> making it a royal pain to even check the electrolyte level?

Martin,
  Make sure the Battery Tender is NOT plugged into 110V before you hook it
up to the bike.
I used to plug the BT in while it was live and it would only charge for a
few minutes or so, then it would indicate that the battery was fully
charged.
I think it was Brian that pointed out to me that the BT needs to read the
voltage first in the bike and then plug it into the wall outlet.
I have been doing this ever since and get a fully charged battery.
I have had BMW batteries last in ABS equipped bikes for over five years and
only replaced them because I was nervous....no indicated problems with the
battery.

I went with the Panasonic once and wouldn't recommend it to anyone that
lives in a cold climate with ABS.
I removed it and replaced it with the BMW battery after one week. (numerous
faults even when fully charged)

Bill Kenney
Foster,RI
96 R1100RS

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