300/440/550 A couple 550sx questions!

[rschap1]

.031 amps...

Well my brother the Master Electrician was nice enough to bring his meter out and take a look at my 1990 that I had been fearing was pulling a draw on the battery while sitting. His meter showed .031 amp draw. He thought that would have the minute amount that was just juice traveling from the bateery, through cables, to the start switch. At this point I am guessing that I had a junk battery when I got it, the Odyseey I purchased had issues (was junk upon arrival even), and now I have finally got a decent battry in it. I don't think the MagnaPower AGM is anything super. It was actually just a few dollars more than a lead acid Magna Power so I decided to try it. I have had the ski sitting for a week or so w/o disconneting the battery by accident and it still started fine. Hopefully this is fixed, or was never really broken. Just wondering though...is there a spec for an acceptable draw? The .031 amps sounds like it must be OK, right? THANKS!!

 

[ger87410]

I don't think it should be reading any draw when sitting. Just charge the battery the night before riding and disconnect when winterizing. U should be OK.

 

[rschap1]

Brother said that the reading was WAY low and as close to nothing as anything ever gets. Thought maybe Kawasaki had a spec for this in a tech's manual or something like that. THANKS again!

 

[rschap1]

Well the 1990 DOES drain the battery. I made a couple thumbscrews this weekend to make it easier to un-hook between rides, but I still gotta wonder what in the world could be sucking juice outta this thing while sitting? No add on accesories, must be a short somewhere? Anything in the ignition (CDI right?) ever go bad and allow an open draw? Appreciate any ideas, otherwise I will keep on un-hooking the battery when not in use. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

 

[ger87410]

Check all your wires and inspect the e-box's contents.

When a similar problem cropped up on my old Saab, I started disconnected components 1 by 1 until the current draw went away completely. Do the same with the contents of the e-box. Also, check your switches for corrosion.

 

[rschap1]

I have never even peeked in the box, my brother mentioned draw to/from the switch; so I will start looking closer at those connections. Really just wanted to make sure that this wasn't a sign of a coil winding in the CDI broken and letting the battery get drawn down or something like that. APPRECIATE the advice, Thanks!

 

[rschap1]

Update...
Been riding both skis and they're doing well. Used a bunch of different trim fasteners (the christmas tree type like link showed ) and some tiny screws with black plastic caps to fasten the pads on the 1992, otherwise gas and go. The 1990 must have a slow drain on the battery put a thumb screw cap on the negative terminal connector and un-do it when done each time. Got the $20 cover from overtons (black color faded in the sun, but doing its job fine) and riding that too. My son enjoys them too when its quiet on our lake and Mom isn't watching
Hope everyone else has been enjoying summer and their skis!