Rep Power: 784

I have a 1981 Skidoo Everest 500,

Has Electric Start, 12V, And The battery Died and wont hold a charge, So I didnt put it back in. I figured Eh, Who needs electric start.. So i havent put a new battery in it.. Now i Cant seem to keep Light bulbs in the thing, they dont last any longer than 5 seconds.. I figured voltage regulator, But Could it be that theres no battery? And I wrapped the positive battery cable in electrical tape to keep it from hitting any kind of ground..

 
Rep Power: 819

haha thats funny you have one of those. my buddy use to have the same sled and we beat the crap outta it.

but to your question...nope, having a battery in that will not have an effect. if it was 15 years newer and had EFI then yes. the only thing the battery is used for on your sled is the electric start. you must have a short somewhere

 
Rep Power: 784

yea a regulator cost like 45 bucks.. So I guess, i'll look at the wiring a bit closer..

well, my everest is a bit moded.. lol i post up a picture..

 
Rep Power: 819

haha yeah i would before putting money into it.

 
Rep Power: 784

Well I am broke, i have no money.. i cannot work for a few weeks.. so its like ****! lol

And the side looks all bashed in.... Its not.. its actually pretty straight..

 
Rep Power: 766

I don't know anybody familiar with electrical systems who doesn't think a missing battery will cause your problem. Your battery is your load, and is used (and usually required, these days) to stabilize your voltage and wattage. probably won't matter if the battery is dead or not ( as long as it's not broken/cracked), but your Electrical system needs a load. In the 60's and 70's I do recall the systems had heavier duty regulators, so a battery could be removed from the system without problems.

 
Rep Power: 784

You know your right.. Im going to take the battery out of the race camaro, 12v, and hook it to the skidoo and see if it blows a bulb.. Because all the lights worked until i took out the batt.

I'll save that for tomarrow..

 
Rep Power: 870

haha i just learned a lot of that today in electronics about having the load on w/e. your right

 
Rep Power: 784

so matt, without a battery i will blow my bulbs?

 
Rep Power: 766

Unless you have a really heavy duty regulator, or multiple regulators. Depending unpon the style/design of your regulator, you may have actually blown the regulator, but the battery should save your bulbs until you rev the engine or otherwise spike up the voltage/wattage. Putting the battery on for a half hour will tell you if that is how to save your bulbs, and then after that is verified, have your regulator checked - usually can be done for free, some auto parts stores do it for free, since it's a 12V regulator. A 12V sytem should run around 14.4VDC

 
Rep Power: 784

Oh I See what you mean. I Have Another regulator.. The bulbs in that machine(Skandic.. parts sled) Thebulbs worked great.. But was electrice start.. the regulators seem to be te same according to parts book..

 
Rep Power: 870

yeah what he said. haha

 
Rep Power: 766

Any of that working yet?

 
Rep Power: 784

Um, sort of. The Electric Start works great all dash and tail lights came on, and still work however the head light still blows.. It lasts abit longer though.. before they'd blow instantly.. However Im saving money for Camaro Mods.. Sick of tinkering and screwing around.. Im sure theres a short in the wire going to the headlamp... after all most find there way to the exhaust and burn a little bit..

But all in all It does work..

 
Rep Power: 799

**** the headlight.. dont need to be driving that ***** in the dark anyway lol