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So I?m in trouble. My bike (1983 GS550L) is dead, and as I?m new to motorcycles I?m not exactly sure what?s going on. To figure it out I?ll tell you what happened. I bought the bike back in March, and since it had been sitting for about 2 years did the standard draining/replacing fluids, lubing things, and got a new battery. Everything was fine, and then my schedule got really tight and I didn?t have time to ride. The other day I went to go for a ride, and the bike was dead! So I thought that there was a slow drain somewhere, pop the clutch to start it and let the engine do the charging. The headlight blew either when I popped the clutch or shortly after, but was working (dim) when I turned the bike on.
I went and rode for a little while before stopping for lunch. After lunch the battery still wasn?t strong enough to start the bike with the electric starter, so again pop goes the clutch and I was on my way. About 15 minutes later I was stopped at a light, started to accelerate and all of a sudden lost power. I pulled over, and there was a sulfur smell. I took the seat off, and there was a white smoke coming from the battery breather. The battery was very hot to the touch. I decided that the course of action was to get the old battery (which I still had and worked with the bike when I got it) and try and see if I could get going again.
After getting the old battery and swapping out the shot battery I started the bike up again (another pop o? the ole clutch) and she sprang to life. I got about 2 minutes of life out of that battery and again lost power. This is where I am now.
My best guess is that the stator and R/R both need replacing, as well as a new battery. Are there other things that could be at fault? Possibly a short somewhere? If so how do I determine where the cause is; and more importantly how do I fix it? I was going to order a Clymer manual, and the Electrex stator and R/R and try and install them myself. From the stator papers, and the Electrex site this doesn?t seem like a terribly difficult task. Are these papers deceiving? Am I in over my head? Would it end up being cheaper for me to just take it to a local shop? If I replace the parts myself (and do it properly) if there is a short somewhere will it ruin a new stator and R/R?
Oh so many questions. I hope you all have some answers.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
I went and rode for a little while before stopping for lunch. After lunch the battery still wasn?t strong enough to start the bike with the electric starter, so again pop goes the clutch and I was on my way. About 15 minutes later I was stopped at a light, started to accelerate and all of a sudden lost power. I pulled over, and there was a sulfur smell. I took the seat off, and there was a white smoke coming from the battery breather. The battery was very hot to the touch. I decided that the course of action was to get the old battery (which I still had and worked with the bike when I got it) and try and see if I could get going again.
After getting the old battery and swapping out the shot battery I started the bike up again (another pop o? the ole clutch) and she sprang to life. I got about 2 minutes of life out of that battery and again lost power. This is where I am now.
My best guess is that the stator and R/R both need replacing, as well as a new battery. Are there other things that could be at fault? Possibly a short somewhere? If so how do I determine where the cause is; and more importantly how do I fix it? I was going to order a Clymer manual, and the Electrex stator and R/R and try and install them myself. From the stator papers, and the Electrex site this doesn?t seem like a terribly difficult task. Are these papers deceiving? Am I in over my head? Would it end up being cheaper for me to just take it to a local shop? If I replace the parts myself (and do it properly) if there is a short somewhere will it ruin a new stator and R/R?
Oh so many questions. I hope you all have some answers.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
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