Drained!

[Tony S]

Sac NewUltraClassic Man, I need your help again Bro. I replaced the starter (in my last thread) & got the bike all buttoned up. Fired it up...Everything was fine. Rode it for a couple hours w/ the ol' lady,stopped & ate, fired right up & went home. Next day after work went to fire it up, battery barely turned the bike over,but it started. I figured its been well over a year since I bought the battery & I just had the charging system checked so I know that's all good & figured hey,I might as well buy a new battery. Anyway,I went & bought an Interstate YB-16B-LM...Top Crankin' Battery. Next day after work, same FREAKIN" weak start...but it started. Thought I got a defective Battery & took it back for a new one...got the new one & everything good...for a minute! Didn't ride for two days & when I went to fire it up...NUTHIN'. One half turn from the motor,then click, click, click. What the F$#@ Brother is goin' on with my scoot? Somethin' is drawin' all my juice & I don't have a clue as to where to start. '82 Shovel FXE Thanks Bro, Tony in Frisco

[springer-]

There are several ways to find the problem if something is constantly drawing power.

First is with a meter. Put it on amps (10 amps) and remove a battery cable. connect up the meter between the cable and the battery and see if it is drawing current (amps). If it is, then start disconnecting stuff one piece at a time. First disconnect the regulator wire. Then ignition circuit by disconnecting the wire from the circuit breaker. Until there is no more draw in current shown on the meter. What ever you disconnected just before the current draw went away is the problem.

The other ways involve looking for spark to indicate current draw and I don't recommend that method.

[Tony S]

Thankyou friend...I will give that a try. Before I do this though, is there any one certain area or part I should concentrate on that is commonly known for causing a problem like this?

[newultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Tony S

Thankyou friend...I will give that a try. Before I do this though, is there any one certain area or part I should concentrate on that is commonly known for causing a problem like this?

What Springer said is the way to go. Also, check for wiring touching the frame. Those harnesses can wear through. I've had several times when that happened before I rewired the entire machine.

Good luck.

[dcfatboy]

Originally Posted by springer-

There are several ways to find the problem if something is constantly drawing power.

First is with a meter. Put it on amps (10 amps) and remove a battery cable. connect up the meter between the cable and the battery and see if it is drawing current (amps). If it is, then start disconnecting stuff one piece at a time. First disconnect the regulator wire. Then ignition circuit by disconnecting the wire from the circuit breaker. Until there is no more draw in current shown on the meter. What ever you disconnected just before the current draw went away is the problem.

The other ways involve looking for spark to indicate current draw and I don't recommend that method.

We disconnect the wire at the negative post, right?

[springer-]

I am not sure what you mean by negative post. If you are talking about finding a current draw then no you would disconnect them at the circuit breaker. There is no negative on the circuit breaker.

[dcfatboy]

Originally Posted by springer-

I am not sure what you mean by negative post. If you are talking about finding a current draw then no you would disconnect them at the circuit breaker. There is no negative on the circuit breaker.

Thanks, Springer. Yes, I was referring to finding a current draw.

So I would disconnect a battery cable at the circuit breaker?