my battery on my 77 sporty wont hold a charge at all, even with the new battery i just put in. I would think it would be a problem with the generator not charging the battery back up when im riding. I dont know if this would have something to do with it or not but the wire going to my generator light have been cut by the previous owner, Also my turn signals dont work, i have no idea if that has something to do with it just thought i would throw that out there. I would appreciate any help. Im tired of having my friends push start me when were out riding.

Also what is the coorect battery to put in these bikes? When i got it it had a UL7 (i think) lawn and tractor battery in it so i just replaced it with a new one just like it.

 

hi,
did you polarize the gen. take a jumper from the A terminal on the gen and touch it momentarily to the pos. side of the battery

 

no, would i have harmed anything by not doing this?
just use a normal jumper cable?
and should i do this with the bike running or off?

 

no you should not have harmed it, just a peice of jacketed copper wire will be fine. do it with the bike off

 

do you have/did you check it with a voltmeter?
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I believe the right battery for your bike would be an H12 or HD12, its the size of a lawn tractor battery but the terminals are different.&nbsp\\; You have to polarize the generator if you disconnect the battery or generator wires.&nbsp\\; The manual has the procedure.&nbsp\\;

 

no i havent checked anything with a voltmeter.
I tried polarizing my generator today, i think&nbsp\\; i did it right. (service manual is on its way, ordered from jp last night)
I just took speaker wire and touched it from the posotive terminal on the battery to the A terminal on the generator, i might have touched it twice, i dont know, it sparked a little.

 

i tired touching the gen and the bat togethor on the regulator with the wire and nothing happen, maybe i just didnt have good contact with the wire or something

 

You should have got a spark touching the BAT and Gen terminals.&nbsp\\; Check those wires to make sure they are not broken or damaged at the generator and battery.&nbsp\\; Make sure the wire that used to go to the generator light is not grounded or you will not charge.