in a nut shell:

2004 kodiak 450 I bought it new, only 350 miles on it, dont get to ride more than twice a year [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

last years first trip, the lights started dying out and the electric start wouldnt have enough juice to do anything other than make a clicking sounds, and then even when running, it would only run at a slow speed

i was told the battery was dead by a local shop, replaced that, and i kept it on a one of those battery maintainers made for storing the battery long term and keeping it charged

next trip end of that summer, same problem.

i really dont want to bring it to the same shop again, but not sure what else to look for?

the only mods i have done are piaa replacement bulbs (the high intensity ones listed for the bike) could these be the problem? (i some how doubt it though) it would do it during the day even with the lights off.

my other problem is i dont have local spot to go ride for a 4-5 hours to see if its truly fixed beforing taking the six hour drive to maine for a week, so i am really tying to figure this one out.....

any tips or suggestions would be appriciated

 

Sounds like your battery is getting a constant draw on it with the ignition off... where in Mass are you? I am in tewksbury..

-Steve

 

danvers.... the bike is kept in Ipswitch though

i took the battery over last weekend and hooked it up, started up fine, let it run for a bit, hooked a volt meter up to it, got just over 12 volts, gonna go back tomorrow and hook the volt meter up.

if there is short or a draw, should the volt meter read lower than what it was last time?

 

To check for a draw... disconnect the Positive terminal on the battery.... Turn off the ignition. Place the red lead from the meter on the Positive terminal on the battery and the black lead onto the red positive terminal wire.

You should read ZERO Volts.. if you get a reading... then the meter will read whatever voltage is being drawn "through" the voltmeter.. Effectively the voltmeter is making the final connection from the Positive wire to the Positive terminal on the Battery. You can use an Automotive Test Light which does the same thing. Light goes on - draw, Light off - no draw.

 

dam, never would have thought of that.

thanks for the help, i'll definitly be doing that tomorrow!

 

just got back from testing it.

i left the battery in, hooked up and everything, for the last week.

the volt meter red 12.5 volts.

i turned the lights on, dropped to 12.

i disconnected the positive wire and hooked up the volt meter, and then hooked it to the positive termial, and it was a constant 'wagging' from 4 volts to 8 volts rapidly.

not sure if that describes it correctly, but it varies from 4 volts to 8 volts and back in a rapid movement, no pause or anything, just the rapid back and forth movement.

seems like a strange reading?

 

Ignition was OFF right???

 

yes, it was off, no key in it

 

bump!

 

Check your Private messages - I sent you a PM requesting ur regular email address so I can send you an attachment