Dead Battery?!

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:18 am

Just got my Buddy 125 last week. Been sitting in the basement but have been starting it every other day. But today nothing was happening. The blinkers & brake lights won't even come on. Do I have a dead battery? Is there a battery charger I can buy out there? Please help. Thank-LC

10gallonhat · Post by **10gallonhat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:36 am

Just a thought - are you sure you didn't flip the engine kill switch on the right handlebar last time you turned it off? This has happened to me and many others.

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:53 am

Thanks for your suggestion. Yes - I had the Engine switch on ON and nothing is happening. The kick start worked and that seems to run smoothly and the blinkers work. But when I turn it off and start it back on - nothing happens. Could be a dead battery.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:00 am

If you've been starting it every other day and idling it for a few minutes at a time, I'd say your battery is dead. The charge circuit doesn't start working until your RPMs are above 2500 or so and even at that, it takes a while to charge the battery. It might be a good idea to get one of those automatic trickle chargers that remain connected to the battery when the scooter is not being used for an extended time.

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:09 am

I think you're right. Need to get one of those and have it connected while it's not being ridden. It's just too wet out the and I'm dying to ride it. Thanks for the advise.

gt1000 · Post by **gt1000** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:30 am

If I understand what you're saying, you're starting the bike but not riding it? If that's the case, don't. It's not doing your battery any good and it's not doing your brand new engine any good either, although I don't think it's doing any real harm.

One of the old rules of thumb for new engine break-ins, especially with air cooled engines, is to make absolutely damned certain that you fully warm up your engine the first few times you start it up. That means starting it and riding it for at least 20 minutes. For all my new bikes, I do this for the entire break-in period. I also try to let the bike cool completely before restarting. With today's machining tolerances I'm not convinced this is still necessary but old habits die hard.

Once you're through the break-in period there are different schools of thought on whether or not to start your engine every week or two (if you're not riding). My preference is to let the bike sit but others like to start the bike once a week or so to "get the fluids moving".

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:38 am

Thanks GT1000 - that's great advice. I'm still new in this scooter world. Here I am thinking starting it and letting it run for a minute can help. But you're right - I gotta get out there and ride the darn thing and break it in the right way. Once we get that dry day I'll be out there.

scullyfu · Post by **scullyfu** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:42 am

dubbylove wrote:I think you're right. Need to get one of those and have it connected while it's not being ridden. It's just too wet out the and I'm dying to ride it. Thanks for the advise.

hey, you know our motto in washington is 'you do it in the rain, or you don't do it!'

seriously though, i totally understand your hesitancy to ride in the rain if you're new to riding, but eventually you're going to need to get yourself some warm and dry gear cuz once you start riding, you won't want to stop.

that said, i may take the bus tomorrow, not because of the rain, but we're supposed to get gusts up to 40mph. some here will remember my last encounter with those gusts, so i'm in my 'been there, done that' mode.

have you taken the msf course? it does wonders for one's confidence.

dubbylove · Post by **dubbylove** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:36 am

Yeah I know what you mean. Been buying my all-weather gears but mainly use it more for some long distance riding. But I do admire you for riding your scooter at any types of weather. Just got my permit last week and plan to take the course test in Feb. By then I'll be ready. Don't get blown away tomorrow.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:37 am

scullyfu wrote: hey, you know our motto in washington is 'you do it in the rain, or you don't do it!'

There's another motto for your area: "Washingtonians don't tan, they rust".

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:14 am

dubbylove wrote:Is there a battery charger I can buy out there?

Yes! What you want is a 12V trickle charger—namely, the Battery Tender Jr. At $30 it's a "must have" for all scooter owners. The benefit of this over a regular charger is that you can leave your battery plugged in without doing any harm. It's very easy to use and you can even hard-wire the plug to your battery to make it easier.

louie · Post by **louie** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:42 am

dubbylove wrote: Just got my permit last week and plan to take the course test in Feb. By then I'll be ready. Don't get blown away tomorrow.

don't get the wrong idea about needing to get ready for the course. scoop is, it's easier to learn when you don't have any bad habits to change. My body's too old and a little too fragile

for on the job training in traffic at speed.

i don't have any other choice as i suppose you don't either but to take the advanced course in the spring. It sounds like as great fun as the first course was.

Modern Buddy

Dead Battery?!

Dead Battery?!

Re: Dead Battery?!