I have a 2001 SPortsman 500 HO with a brand new battery. Usually after a week of driving (this has happened before with a different battery) everything starts to go dead--the lights then I cant start it and have to pull start it. Whats the problem here? Any help for a guy thats not the most mechanically inclined guy would be great---thanks--Dave

 

First thing I would check is the ground wires. A loose one will not let your bike charge right.
If thats not the case have the charging system checked.
My 700 will show the voltage in diagnostic mode. Its around 13- 13.4
Hope this helps.

 

Have you added anything electric to your atv. Do you have a winch?

 

Ya, it sounds like your missing out on the ground....and if you added anything electric you don't want it draining juice while your quad is at rest.

 

Mine wasnt charging for a while either. I checked my grounds and that wasnt the problem so I added distilled water to each of the cells because they were low.

 

HAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Welcome to the forum, Dick Head!

As to the question, did you have the problem before you put the new battery in? If not, you might want to exchange it. Otherwise, if you know someone with an ammeter, you can check to see if there is current drain while the quad is off. I've had this happen twice on trucks and it was the alternator both times. If you have a current drain with it off, you need to try to isolate what is draining the juice. Pull fuses out one at a time until the meter shows that the drain stopped. Whatever circuit that fuse is for is causing the drain.

 

If you have a voltmeter, heres how to check the charging system. Attach the two leads, directly to the battery, with the quad off. Check the voltage, should be around 13.2 for a good battery. Then , leaving the voltmeter hooked up, start it up. Watching the voltage, accross the battery, it may be a little less than the 13.2 at idle. Slowly rev the motor up, and by about 3000 rpm, the voltage should be more than the starting voltage(more than the 13.2 example). If its not getting above that voltage, then the stator or the regulator is bad.
If this checks out ok, then youve got something draining the battery while its sitting.
If thats the case, you may want to disconnect the battery, when its sitting off. Then youll have to start disconnecting, electrical circuits, until you discover the one with the leaking voltage. Id start with anything, thats been added, and not stock, winches, lights, hand warmers and so on.

 

To all that have answered thanks---Its a brand new battery and it did it with the last one as well that I thorugh away---I have no aftermarket stuff at all---the thing sat for a week and a half and started right up, then when I hit the trails the battery is dead

 

Check the voltage regulator and the wiring that leads to it. Its mounted behind the front bumper under the front rack and cover. I have found corrosion at the connector for the battery.
Its a good place to check for AC volts coming in on the yellow wires and 12 volts DC coming out of the red.

 

yep do a charge check at the battery. Check the connections at the voltage regulator. pull the yellow and yellow/red wire and set your meter to AC Amps and check for more than 7 if I remember right but do not run your quad longer than 3-5 seconds while doing this as it will overheat the stator. Then check the voltage on the red wire at the voltage regulator should be battery voltage. check the ground while there too. Check for broken wires coming from the stator housing and at the voltage regulator (common). Last but not least check the unit for current draw from the battery when the unit is off - ie a ground.