Dead Battery

[old_chopper]

Got all bundled up to ride to work this morning. I started the GS up in the garage to let it warm up while I zipped up and put the lunch box on. It started right up but might have cranked slightly slower than normal. I rolled it outside and closed the garage door. When I went to take off I killed it (sticky clutch cable). When I turned the key it clicked and the headlight went real dim. No time to troubleshoot but obviously way low voltage. I have been riding to work daily, 2 miles each way. It fired right up the other morning at 16 degrees. The charging system was working good 3-4 weeks ago after I had a ground cable break. My list of suspects are :
1-Short rides not charging enough
2-Battery (Bike is a rigid and cheap Wal Mart battery)
3-Electrolyte level in battery
4-Charging system
I don't really have enough information or a question, just putting this in writing to see if you all have any ideas. I'm at work at the bike is in the garage at home. The battery is my #1 suspect at this time. I broke the ground cable to the battery a few weeks ago and rode home on just the charging system. After I installed the new cable I had 14+ volts at the battery with the engine revved up so it was charging then. Any ideas?

[Nessism]

First step, read the Stator Papers... http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_statorfacts.htm

[waterman]

The routine, short ride is most likely not going to charge it up. I would get in habit of throwing on a charger every week or so. How old is battery? If more than a couple years, it may be at end of life for cheap Walmart battery.

In the present time, recharge battery so that it doesn't completely go flat and not be able to recharged. Before and after charging check battery fluid levels, bring back to spec with distilled or at least softened water.

Can check your stator for charging issues, but I would be surprised that even a well functioning charging system would keep battery charged after such a short ride, just too much discharge without enough time to fully recover.

[Steve]

The order in which I would address the issues would be: 3, 4, 1, 2.

3. Check the electrolyte level. If it's low, only use distilled water to top it off, then charge it before using it again.

4. Charging system. Needs to be checked with a decent battery in place, so let your battery charge for a while, then check it.
Nessism gave you a link to a very good troubleshooting process.

1. The short rides won't really give it enough time to properly charge the battery. Waterman suggested putting it on a charger every week or so. Just in case you can't plan that with any regularity, make it an easy connection and do it every night. If you have a proper charger/maintainer (Schumacher Battery Maintainer from Wal Mart, about $20 or a Battery Tender or similar device), they come with a quick-connect plug so you can leave a pigtail connected to the bike and just plug in every time you come home.

2. You didn't say if you have any cushioning around the battery, but if you find that you will be needing a new battery, consider the extra money for a sealed AGM (that's a type of battery, not a brand). They are a bit more robust than a conventional wet-cell battery, can be run in any position and typically have higher cranking power.

.