full story, started the bike earlier, it conked out, then I flooded it and drained the battery flat. after about an hours charge it started but conked out again after a few minutes on tickover. Question does the battery need to be fully charged or will it continue to conk out if the charge is low if I disconnect it from the charger. it is a 865 carb model, not the efi Thanks jerry
What have you got tickover set at? It is entirely possible that with a discharged battery you are drawing more than the alternator is replacing but the battery would then be too flat to start up again. Ideally tickover is 1050-100 rpm but prolonged tickover is not good for the plastic oil pump gear as the bike needs airflow to moderate oil temperature.
tickover is what it came with, it is non tacho biker so can't say, it had seemed fine but today it dies after a minute then again then the battery was too flat again. I have left it on charge and will try again later but does the battery need to have a minimum charge for it to run the bike, some bikes will run with it flat if you can start them, others need a minimum amount to keep going I suspect the issue is the carbs, the bike was stored in a collection off the road for 4-5 years, which never does the carbs any good in my experience of bikes, unless they were properly cleaned/emptied before storage and then cleaned before use
A warm Bonnie will tick over at about 900-950 rpm below which it will stall. I would set it as low as it will run then dial it up a little and you will be in the ball park. Most garages should still have a strobe with Rev counter that should verify settings.
The fact that its been stored for that time and if the battery has not been kept charged it will almost certainly need a new one...the carbs could also be a problem if the fuel has dried out and left sediment to get pulled up into a pilot jet and partially block it.
Thanks I think the battery is fine, but the issue of sediment in the carbs is the problem. Luckily I bought it from a dealer and it has some warranty, and there was one issue before I took it away last week suggesting there is a problem with the carbs, so it is booked back into them tomorrow, they are picking it up. hopefully they will sort it and that will be the end of it. Jerry
