Flat battery/Will not start

[Hayden Ellam]

Advice please. My 1050 Tiger Sport had a new battery last year, I put a conditioner on it when stood. It started ,just about ,this morning and got me to work without fault but when I tried to start it again it wouldn't even turn the engine over. Suspect there is something wrong with the charging system. Will check the voltage to the battery with the engine running later. I will be jump starting it (hopefully!).

[Tigermike]

  your having problems,  have you checked the simple things first like making sure the battery terminals are tight? 

[Paul2bikes]

What make, model & CCA is the battery?

Have you checked the battery with a multimeter, voltage static, straight off charge & also following a day or two off charge. What voltage readings are you getting?

If you can jump start it, battery should read around 14v+ with engine running at 2k or more rpm.

[Hayden Ellam]

Had a look this morning. It is 14v with engine running, so charging system seems ok. Had it on charge over night. I did find the negative cable loose on the battery, now good and tight. Went and had the battery tested at my local bike shop, they said it is a good, strong one.  So will monitor it over the next few weeks and fingers crossed it will just be the loose negative. Thank you.

[Paul2bikes]

Originally Posted by Hayden Ellam

Had a look this morning. It is 14v with engine running, so charging system seems ok. Had it on charge over night. I did find the negative cable loose on the battery, now good and tight. Went and had the battery tested at my local bike shop, they said it is a good, strong one.  So will monitor it over the next few weeks and fingers crossed it will just be the loose negative. Thank you.

Do you want to say what make, model & CCA that battery is?

[seangee]

Good catch . Happened to me a few months ago and the bike actually died on me in the middle of London. Was convinced I had killed the battery but its been fine ever since I tightened it up.

[Mike_B]

Yep, same happened to me.  Wouldn't restart after I filled up with fuel on the way to work.  RAC man and I were scratching heads since the battery was fully charged, and his testing machine said it looked good.  After about 15 minutes we noticed one of the battery cables move slightly, as he poked it with his tester lead once more.  Quick nip with a spanner, and it was only about 1/5 of a turn before it was tight, and she fired right up on the button.

[Geiz]

I had the same after a longer period on the conditioner. Started perfectly last season, but now just one turn and then the voltage dropped too much. (I measured with a multimeter direct on the battery poles). Final solution was a new battery and she's happy again.