7 replies to this topic

[Barfy TT Newbie]

"New" never titled 2009 CRF150F bought 3 months ago.  Battery charging problem from day one.  Battery will drain and not recharge while in use.  Retains charge while not in use.  Location: Florida = warm temperatures.  Runs great otherwise.

Replaced battery twice, rectifier once.  Currently running a Yuasa battery that looks just like the original but without the Honda logo.  Dealership says it's a known problem with no solution. They say to use a Battery Tender.  My storage facility has no AC outlets, so I can't just keep it on a tender.

I put a voltmeter on the battery, at idle it will slowly build voltage.  Rev it above an idle and the voltage drops quickly.  I'm pretty certain this is not normal.  It's an air cooled engine so it doesn't run at idle often.  Result is that after running the bike around for a good part of the day, pushing the starter button will not turn the engine over.  Put it on a battery charger for a while and everything is fine.

No kick start on this model so a dead battery is a pain in the rear.  I often run in sand so bump starting is not easy.  Any help you guys can give will be greatly appreciated.

[ramz TT Platinum Member]

Quote

Dealership says it's a known problem with no solution.

Your dealer doesn't know what he's talking about.  I have 3 CRF250Ls and there are a dozen others in the valley and NO ONE has this problem.

Get the Service Manual and use it to check the electrical components and you will find the problem.

[stevethe TT Bronze Member]

Kinda sounds like the problem I had with my 230.  I ended up pulling the left case off and found the charging wire had a short to the case.  It appeared the black glue Honda used somewhat melted the wire. It would charge at moderate

speeds but at high RPM it would make contact to the case and not charge.

Definitely not normal.  I put in the lithium battery and it can sit for months and still start.

[Barfy TT Newbie]

stevethe, on 20 May 2013 - 05:55 AM, said:

... found the charging wire had a short to the case.  It appeared the black glue Honda used somewhat melted the wire. It would charge at moderate speeds but at high RPM it would make contact to the case and not charge.

I can see that a short caused by vibration of the engine above idle makes a lot of sense.  Thank you for your very good advice.  I will look at that this weekend.

[PALMER84ONE TT Addict]

It is a short in the system, check continuity of wires between all components and you will trace it down to the culprit.

[XEN3rd TT Bronze Member]

Man what a piss poor dealer... good luck finding that short.

[4strokeridertt TT Titanium Member]

If your storage area has a light fixture you can get a screw in plug/light socket at the hardware store.
Good luck with the short.

[Barfy TT Newbie]

Many great ideas and so many "good luck" wishes.  You folks are the best!  Thank you.