I have a 2002 350 fourtrax and it keeps draining the battery. Anyone have an idea as to why? Battery is good and bike is in great shape with only 1500 kms on it. It runs great but if I don't use it for about a week the battery is dead! Thanks

 

Do you have a multi-meter? If not, buy one (they are cheap these days).

With the key off, take the negative battery cable off and take an amp meter reading between the cable and battery. A few mili-amps would be normal, but start on a higher range so as not to peg out the meter if there is a large drain.

If there is excessive key off drain, I'd look first at aftermarket accessories (heated grips or whatever), and next try unhooking the regulator/rectifier to see if that makes the drain go away.

You may also want to see what the charging system is doing. Take a volt meter reading from the battery with machine off, and with it running and reved up a bit.

Also, it takes an ATV's charging system a long time to bring a dead battery back to full charge... How are you recharging it when you found it dead?

 

thanks. I've been throwing it on the battery charger.

 

Post back the results when you check for key off drain.

Even if the battery is relatively new, it still could be the problem.

Also, welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks. I had a load test done on the battery and they said it was good.

 

Sometimes they can load test good, but have an internal drain...

Anyway, a quick test with a meter will tell you if the drain is the quad.

Regulator/rectifiers have been known to go bad and result in a key off drain. Usually Hondas are wired so that the main things connected to battery voltage all the time are the ignition switch, and the regulator, and the key switch rarely fails.

 

thanks. I'll have to get a tester.