Battery failed...hoping to hear from Scorpion...

flyguy said:
I may try the battery recommended in this thread or the Odyssey route. The Odyssey seems like the better choice.
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FYI, I posted the following over in a "Battery Bug" thread ...

The 28% and 21% (life remaining) values had me a little concerned, but the battery continued to start the engine as it always had when in cold temperatures. The voltage numbers are good, but I haven't checked them while cranking. I'm waiting to see if I get the "ST1300 telltale sign" that the battery is nearing its death ... when the clock/tripometer displays zero out after a start.

I was curious to see if I could reset the BB, so I left it disconnected from the battery this afternoon for 10 minutes, and when reconnected, the display said 0% (ZERO!) life remaining with 12.4 volts, beeped for 30 seconds, and displayed an "X" in its battery symbol. Funny thing, the bike started fine and I still have not had the clock/odometer-reset signal.

I'm not too sure what to think of this Battery Bug.

Well, the Battery Bug is still telling me "zero life remaining" and beeps for 30 seconds every time I turn off the engine. Funny thing, I still haven't connected the Battery Tender and the bike keeps starting as usual. I'm not overly thrilled with the Battery Bug because I have since purchased another Odyssey expecting the first one to crap out at any time. There's still been no telltale sign (clock & tripometer have not reset while cranking). I'll probably go ahead and install the new Odyssey & start the countdown over, but I'll wait at least until April which would be 3-1/2 years of use from the first one.

3/17/13 update ...
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/sh...installation&p=1595062&viewfull=1#post1595062
 
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The MotoBatt is working great for Uncle Phil but I have trouble with the CCA's. Its only 160 unless that is a mis print. The only bad part about the Odyssey is the bat. compartment mods. In the long run however, it might be worth the effort. Choices choices.. I'm just glad to read about everyone's experiances to help me choose a solution. Thanks everyone!
 
flyguy said:
The MotoBatt is working great for Uncle Phil but I have trouble with the CCA's. Its only 160 unless that is a mis print.
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Is the one for ST1300 less CCA than the ST1100 (it appears the answer is yes)? IIRC, the model for the ST1100 has higher CCAs than the stock YUASA. Maybe that's why the girls like it better. Time will tell how reliable they are, but I know how unreliable the replacement Yuasas are 3 times over! ;-)
 
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flyguy said:
The MotoBatt is working great for Uncle Phil but I have trouble with the CCA's. Its only 160 unless that is a mis print. The only bad part about the Odyssey is the bat. compartment mods. In the long run however, it might be worth the effort. Choices choices.. I'm just glad to read about everyone's experiances to help me choose a solution. Thanks everyone!
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I have had the MotoBatt battery in my DR650 for over three years with no problems only once in a blue moon on a battery tender. I also have one in my wife's ST for over two years with no problems cranking it over, I do keep this one on a tender.
 
That's good to know 970mike. Uncle Phil's right; the 9u version of MotoBatt is 160cca vs 200cca on the 12u version. The only trouble is the 12u is likely too tall for the st1300. Its about an inch taller. All this is according to the specs on MotoBatt's site.

On a slightly related note, I was reading an article on airplane batteries this morning. The short of this is that AGM batteries are superior in every way to standard lead acid except one... discharge below 20% capacity. They don't tolerate this well. Wet cell standard batteries like in our cars are much better at this.
 
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FlyGuy - I pulled the spacer off mine (just cause I like the extra room on top) which reduces the height about 5mm, IIRC. Don't know if that would give the clearance you need or not. Seems like the ST1100 version is 151 mm long and the ST1300 version is 150 mm long so that may be a bigger issue. The spacer just clips on the bottom and is no effort to remove. I also like the 'second' set of terminals on the back for hooking up the 'extra stuff'. I attach the bike cables to the front (nice and clean) and my add-ons to the back. You do have to buy an extra set of 'terminals' unless you want to connect the 'extras' to the bolt holes in the battery (5mm short bolts IIRC).
 
I don't think my 05' ST has a lower spacer. I'll have to look. I ordered a MBTX9U yesterday from MotoBattBatteries.com and they had free shipping. The bill is around 68.00 just can't beat the price. This and a 2yr warantee. I'm hoping for better luck than with the Scorpion. The Scorpion warantee is kind of worthless too. Thanks for the recommendation Uncle Phil.
 
Uncle Phil said:
I ride all three of my ST1100s regularly and so far I've got Yuasas dying about every 2 years. Right now one died, one is dying, and one is still working. Just bought a MotoBatt (AGM) to see how they work. My Yuasas used to last 5-7 years but I guess Yuasa got the ST1100 and Boeing 787 mixed up ... ;-)
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Pretty much my experience. My original lasted 7 years, the replacement Yuasa went 2 and some change. I chalked it up to not riding as much as years past. My 13 is now on its 3rd Yuasa in 9 years. I just replaced it last month, we'll see how it it goes. The battery was twice as much as the 89.00 Scorpion he had on the shelf. They sell so many of the Scorpions dealer quit stocking the Yuasa.

Look, I told y'all along time ago, I'm not puttin a Chinese battery in my 1300, but thats just me.

UP- keep us posted on the Motobatt.
 
Get an odyssey pc545 and forget about it..I always replace oem battery with pc545, goldwings and st1100 and 1300. The oem battery is way under-powered. My st1300 set for 5months, put the key in and started immediately. A little work to make it fit is easier than worrying about it starting or not. BTW if anyone who is running the gytt is listening please inform about your milage. thank-you SR
 
SteveR said:
Get an odyssey pc545 and forget about it..
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I just replaced my Odyssey PC545 yesterday. I got 41 months of service from my first PC545 ... not a terrific amount, but I'm satisfied because both Yausa batteries (original & replacement) last only about 18 months each.
 
The good thing about the pc545--they are less likely to catastrophically fail. The pc545 appears to be a better product than the "bug monitor. I replaced the oem after I waited less than a minute with the switch on and the under powered oem would not start. I've got flashlights with bigger batteries. Owned a 1800GW and 1500 both with odysseys working for years...thats using electric clothing and many other farkles. Of course your milage may vary. I never gave it a second thought turning the engine off on a lonely Arizona middle of no where road. I suppose the only products that are better made today are cars and high definition tv's. They last 5 times as long as yesterdays cars and tv's. Now after all this--my 1300 may not start tommoro... But I bet it will. and the odyssey is an easy install. But I have a goodyear triple tread CT on the rear so take what I write with a box of salt. SR
 
Correct me if I'm wrong--but the 1100 and the 1300 both kill the headlight while starting--anytime you push the start button ( which is a good thing--you can use it to warn other motorist of an impending tax hike like we did in the south when I was growing up) Of course its good to have a switch to turn it off if you think your battery or charging system is not up to speed. Don't know what use this info is--just in keyboard mood tonight I guess. SR
 
SteveR said:
Correct me if I'm wrong--but the 1100 and the 1300 both kill the headlight while starting--anytime you push the start button ( which is a good thing--you can use it to warn other motorist of an impending tax hike like we did in the south when I was growing up) Of course its good to have a switch to turn it off if you think your battery or charging system is not up to speed. Don't know what use this info is--just in keyboard mood tonight I guess. SR
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So you're saying that hitting the starter button while the engine is running does NOT engage the starter motor and nothing bad happens? I've never tried it it, but that's a good tip if it works.
 
Interesting thread...I'll probably regret even posting this, but I purchased my 1100 from the 2nd owner 4 years ago, don't keep it on a tender over the winter and have never had any issues with it firing right up every spring. I don't even know for sure what kind of battery is in it...will have to check in the next few weeks when I get the bike out for our IN Tech day.

[Now headed somewhere to go knock on wood...]
 
SteveR said:
Correct me if I'm wrong--but the 1100 and the 1300 both kill the headlight while starting--anytime you push the start button ( which is a good thing--you can use it to warn other motorist of an impending tax hike like we did in the south when I was growing up) Of course its good to have a switch to turn it off if you think your battery or charging system is not up to speed.
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Actually, I do have a toggle switch wired inline with the low beam headlight relay, and I leave my headlights off until after the engine has started. Those few seconds waiting for the fuel pressure to come up (with headlights energized) could be the difference between go and no-go if one's battery is on its last breath. As far as tax hike warnings go, I thought the standard cage signal was to flash the high beams twice ... and the MC signal was to tap the top of your helmet to signal other riders.

I guess this thread has been sufficiently hijacked by now.:eek::
 
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ddemair said:
So you're saying that hitting the starter button while the engine is running does NOT engage the starter motor and nothing bad happens? I've never tried it it, but that's a good tip if it works.
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Yes it engages the starter motor.
No nothing bad happens.
The starter motor spins but doesn't hook up with the engine.
 
Well I put an end to this saga. My Yuasa battery arrived from Evapar today and I did some testing. I charged each battery then turned on the ignition for 10 seconds to remove any surface charge, then turned it off. I tested the Key Off voltages of each battery, and they were nearly identical (Yuasa beat the Scorpion by about a tenth of a volt). Then I started a timer and turned the ignition on and left it there (no start) to simulate leaving the key on during a stop. I wrote down voltages every 30 seconds from the start.

The most impressive comparison is that the Yuasa had a higher voltage after 2 mins, 30 seconds (when I stopped the test) than the Scorpion did at the 30 second mark! The Scorpion was under 12 volts by the 1 minute mark. The Yuasa stayed well over 12 volts the entire 2 1/2 minutes. By the end of 2 1/2 minutes, the dash lights were dropping out and the trip odometer had zero'd out with the Scorpion. After 2 1/2 minutes, the Yuasa started the bike...cranking it noticeably faster than the Scorpion did when fully charged!

I now have my reliable bike back. Thank you Evapar! I should have ordered one when they were first offered!
 
Well, that's good to know. More proof that you get what you pay for.

--Mark
 
So here are my numbers:

Key off: S: 12.94, Y: 13.03
Key On (0 mark): S-12.24, Y-12.45
30: S-12.16, Y-12.35
1:00: S- 11.98, Y-12.32
1:30: S-11.64, Y- 12.30
2:00: S-11.08, Y-12.28
2:30: S-9.5, Y-12.26

I'd call that an improvement. I didn't do a starting voltage test because I didn't have time to recharge both batteries after.
 
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