Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders

HELP! 2015 XC-F 350, battery is not keeping its charge?

Before I replace it, I was hoping someone might have some insight on if I am missing something?
I hadn't ridden for a couple of weeks and went to try and start it on the weekend, nothing happened. The battery was completely dead. Put it on a tender until fully charged, measured 12v on the meter, and it started fine. I have tried it a couple of times and it has started fine this week, including this morning. I would just start it and shut it off right away. This evening, it cranked over slightly and died before it could start.

I don't have a light hooked up to the battery. The only connection is the rad fan wires, but they seem clean and clear of anything.

Is it just a bad battery or am i missing something?
(stock battery - Yuasa YTX5L-BS)

Colin

Check your charging system.

wheels13 wrote:Check your charging system.

After being on the charger for an hour, I just started it fine. The volt meter was reading 12.2 standing and 14.3 when running. Wouldn't that suggest that the stator is working fine?

CPitty wrote:

wheels13 wrote:Check your charging system.

After being on the charger for an hour, I just started it fine. The volt meter was reading 12.2 standing and 14.3 when running. Wouldn't that suggest that the stator is working fine?

Sounds reasonable to me.

What does the battery drop down to while starting it.

Ill test that tonight....left it on the tender all night and it was fully charged this morning. So it seems to be taking a charge fine, just not holding it.

I have a battery tester (just a cheapo PA one, but it does give a load bank test) which you can use if interested. Sounds like an internal failure to me - these batteries are not very durable and replacements are cheap.

better yet, get a Li-Ion one and you are 30% of the way to a 2016. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12015&hilit=and+battery#p84169

RJHenry wrote:I have a battery tester (just a cheapo PA one, but it does give a load bank test) which you can use if interested. Sounds like an internal failure to me - these batteries are not very durable and replacements are cheap.

better yet, get a Li-Ion one and you are 30% of the way to a 2016. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12015&hilit=and+battery#p84169

Thanks for the advice! From what i have researched online, lithium seems to be the way to go.
Colin

A healthy 12v battery should read at least 12.7v.

The standing 12.2v you said you had is a sign that it has a couple plates touching.

Time to replace it.

Yep, vibrations causes interal failures in lead acid batteries and if left at a low charge causes a phenom known as sulfating. Get a li-on battery, lighten you bike by 2 pounds. Brass knows his eletrical stuff

axel99 wrote:Yep, vibrations causes interal failures in lead acid batteries and if left at a low charge causes a phenom known as sulfating. Get a li-on battery, lighten you bike by 2 pounds. Brass knows his eletrical stuff

Thanks for the info....new battery it is!