should I be using my lights more??

[RRP]

I have an 05,I know if you take the lights off,you are supposed to install the resistor kit so the battery doesnt over charge.I still have my lights on my quad but I never use my headlights.Should I be?The only light that gets used is the brake light.

[Mean250r]

just take em off, on the 05's it doesnt matter, only on the 04's. just unplug it, and cover the open conectionn up with tape

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by RRP
I have an 05,I know if you take the lights off,you are supposed to install the resistor kit so the battery doesnt over charge.I still have my lights on my quad but I never use my headlights.Should I be?

Yes, run it with the headlights on. The problem occurs with the lights turned off and installed.

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by Mean250r
just take em off, on the 05's it doesnt matter, only on the 04's.

Not true. The updates came on the 2006 model. The 2005 has the same issue as the 2004.

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by rpyfz450
Not true. The updates came on the 2006 model. The 2005 has the same issue as the 2004.

i unpluged mine and it works fine!

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by Mean250r
i unpluged mine and it works fine!

I believe that, because a vast majority of even the 2004 YFZs don't demonstrate the problem.

They didn't make an engineering change to the charging system until 2006 when they added a larger ceramic resistor which is visible on the right front down tube in front of the radiator.

They also added two relays to the charging circuit which turns on the resistor automatically when the headlights are turned off (even when they're installed).

[gbcap]

for this reason...i have a kick start. no need to worry about all this electrical bs! haha.

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by gbcap
for this reason...i have a kick start. no need to worry about all this electrical bs! haha.

I'm not certain a kick starter eliminates the problem. You still have the regulator/rectifier which is the source of the problem. I don't know if removing the battery from the circuit affects the problem, but I'd guess it helps more than hinders.

[ZSK]

I've been through this with my 05 also. Lights on or off the battery still gets drained down. Running the lights on high prolongs the batttery life but it still drains down over time. I'm on my 3rd battery in about a year, running a 400ex battery which is larger. I put mine on a trickle charger when not in use, and I have a kickstart backup just in case.

[RRP]

so far I haven't had any battery problems.I don't use my lights but I do shut it off and start it back up quite often when I am trail riding.I figure the juice the starter uses must be helping it from over charging some.I figured it would be wiser to invest in the resistor kit instead of buying new batteries all the time.If just running the lights helps then I guess i'll just do that ;)