Blackbird - I read your comments (maybe I missed something), but it sounds like your original battery went bad and now you've got one that's fine.

Seems to me you are looking for answers that may not lie anywhere you're looking for them. It's very possible you simply got a bad battery from the manufacturer. Perhaps it was dropped during shipping, perhaps it was manufactured out of spec, etc... Seems like you are making a big deal out of nothing and jumping to conclusions.

Now, if you continue to have problems, then it's time to start looking for answers.

Personally, mine goes on many 5 to 10 minute rides around my house - no problems so far. Starts great every time.

Seems many here are jumping to conclusions over what was likely a bad battery....

 

ATC 250R,

Think what you want, BUT IT IS DEFINETELY NOT A BATTERY PROBLEM. You must not have seen my earlier posts. Let me give you a quick rundown: Me and a friend of mine went to the dealership. We bought matching 2003 Cannibal LE's. We brought them home, it was late, but we were excited to ride them, so we broke them in in the dark, with the lights on of course. The next morning, we rode long enough to warm them up, and changed the oil. My friends was dead when he went to start it. I got a few miles out of mine and it started cutting out, and finally died. We BOTH bought brand new batteries, thinking the originals were bad. My BRAND NEW battery lasted 3 miles. His lasted a little longer, but still died. The new batteries would not pull a load on a tester after a charge. Took them to the dealer. they couldn't find a problem. They put new batteries in them again, and sent us home. We tested them with a voltmeter and they were charging fine with the lights on, I think 14.5 or so, and up to 16 volts with them off. We haven't had anymore problems since we started running with the lights on constantly.

Between 2 quads that are 8 vin #'s apart, we fried 4 new batteries. Please reply and explain if you still think it could be a battery problem.

I sincerely believe I am looking for answers right where they lie, in the charging system, but I am NO technician by any means.

Thanks so much to everyone that has thought about this and tried to figure it out!

 

Ok.. Sounded like from your original post here you had one bad battery and your new one was fine... Seemed you were reading too deeply into things - note the phrase I started my post with >>> "Maybe I missed something" <<<

 

I was checking my battery and charge rate last night. Before I started the quad, the battery was at 12.55. I started it and let it idle, think it was at 12.39 then. As I revved it to about 5-6000, it was staedily rising to about 13.30. Then I let off the throttle and wished I had some ear plugs. Lay your head down next to the motor and roll through a few revs!! That thing is loud.
As some may recall, I had a charging problem too on my first 2 rides. I got 3 hours the first time, and 2 hours the second, before being left for dead in the woods. 2 subsequent rides for about an hour or so each and the voltage has stayed strong. Around 12.50 to 12.60 when I finished both times.

 

Whew, thursdays are my traveling days. Fly 200 miles by chopper, then 100 miles by car. Not sure what wares me down more. The travelling or the beer at the end of the ride.

Now see what NRATH just posted is what a charging system should do. The figures he posted you could go rite out to your car and it would be very close to the same as that.

Warrior007, I'm going to call special today and see if he can help me out getting a 03 moddle. He has one I believe and he is sponsored by the closes C-dale dealer.