Changing battery on 2018+ Softail is NOT easy!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,710
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From: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
Certainly not addressable in the parking lot of an auto parts store, evne if it happens to carry a suitable motorcycle battery.
Jim G
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
If this is what you do for fun, you REALLY need to get out more! 
Jim G
Jim G
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
Yes, but Preston did not cover some of the things that someone inexperienced on the Softail, or on motorcycle maintneance in general, would not know. Like:
- How does the fuse holder box properly mount? (In fact, he did not even mention that the main fuse must be removed for the changeover)
- How do you uncouple the WSS connector without wrecking something? (Every electrical connector seems to have adifferent secret method)
- How does the fuse holder box properly mount? (In fact, he did not even mention that the main fuse must be removed for the changeover)
- How do you uncouple the WSS connector without wrecking something? (Every electrical connector seems to have adifferent secret method)
Every electrical connector is it's own mystery and minor hell. That's not new or a Harley special. Though almost without exception, it's either push something down or lift something up to release.
I really don't get the instructions about placing the off/run switch into the run position (really, the run position?), or the need to pull the main fuse.
Once you've disconnected the negative of the battery, all that is superfluous, power is cut.
If a bike is equipped with a siren (that's an add on, they don't come with it), and it has it's own power supply, I can see disconnecting that. Since the video bike didn't have it, it wasn't there to be disconnected.
he didn't cover what to do if accessories are connected directly to the battery either. Meah.
The job doesn't involve removing the fuse box, so I'm not sure why you're worried about describing how to do it or how to remount it.
Not an easy job, but not horrible either. I've certainly done worse battery replacements. But yes, it's not a quick and easy job either.
My note is I wouldn't simply tighten up the battery connectors with a phillips screwdriver. That often won't have them tight enough and they can vibrate themselves loose later. I'd use a wrench or nut driver myself. But that's just me.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Heritage ain't no cakewalk either, A little 20L battery shoehorned into a hole with funky plastic brackets and alignment snap tabs is not my idea of great routing service item design.
More reasons to go lithium: higher power density to start same size engines as touring models with bigger batteries, don't have to replace as often as AGM, holds charge longer, don't need to charge over winter (if you shut bike electric down by pulling main fuse or neg terminal off batt).
I just paid the man the money for Lithium battery, btw.
More reasons to go lithium: higher power density to start same size engines as touring models with bigger batteries, don't have to replace as often as AGM, holds charge longer, don't need to charge over winter (if you shut bike electric down by pulling main fuse or neg terminal off batt).
I just paid the man the money for Lithium battery, btw.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,710
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From: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
. . .
I really don't get the instructions about placing the off/run switch into the run position (really, the run position?), or the need to pull the main fuse.
Once you've disconnected the negative of the battery, all that is superfluous, power is cut.
If a bike is equipped with a siren (that's an add on, they don't come with it), and it has it's own power supply, I can see disconnecting that. Since the video bike didn't have it, it wasn't there to be disconnected.
he didn't cover what to do if accessories are connected directly to the battery either. Meah.
The job doesn't involve removing the fuse box, so I'm not sure why you're worried about describing how to do it or how to remount it.
. . .
I really don't get the instructions about placing the off/run switch into the run position (really, the run position?), or the need to pull the main fuse.
Once you've disconnected the negative of the battery, all that is superfluous, power is cut.
If a bike is equipped with a siren (that's an add on, they don't come with it), and it has it's own power supply, I can see disconnecting that. Since the video bike didn't have it, it wasn't there to be disconnected.
he didn't cover what to do if accessories are connected directly to the battery either. Meah.
The job doesn't involve removing the fuse box, so I'm not sure why you're worried about describing how to do it or how to remount it.
. . .
The reason HD insists on removing the main fuse is safety. They do this as a first step for almost all maintenance or repair work.
If you pull the main fuse with the off/run switch in the "off position", again, you activate the security system, because any rmeoval of power to the system activates its internal battery and generates an alarm.. So, this is why you need to turn the switch to "run" beforehand.
It is truly getting more and more complicated to do much of ANYTHING on the latest model bikes.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Feb 29, 2024 at 04:10 PM.
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Plover, WI
Jim G, sorry for straying off topic, sort of.
Just my opinion based on purchasing ten different HD service manuals for various models over the years.
The techs that wrote the service manuals never intended it to be a step by step manual for a novice mechanic/tech. Instead, it was written for a mechanic/tech that has previous experience. If every single service procedure included a detailed explanation/image, the manual would be twice as thick, and cost twice as much as as it now.
I would compare it to a cookbook. If the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of melted butter, the writer assumes the cook is experienced in melting butter. No need to devote extra pages to explain how to properly melt butter.
Just my opinion based on purchasing ten different HD service manuals for various models over the years.
The techs that wrote the service manuals never intended it to be a step by step manual for a novice mechanic/tech. Instead, it was written for a mechanic/tech that has previous experience. If every single service procedure included a detailed explanation/image, the manual would be twice as thick, and cost twice as much as as it now.
I would compare it to a cookbook. If the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of melted butter, the writer assumes the cook is experienced in melting butter. No need to devote extra pages to explain how to properly melt butter.
Last edited by barneyboy; Feb 29, 2024 at 04:14 PM.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 529
From: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
Jim G, sorry for straying off topic, sort of.
Just my opinion based on purchasing ten different HD service manuals for various models over the years.
The techs that wrote the service manuals never intended it to be a step by step manual for a novice mechanic/tech. Instead, it was written for a mechanic/tech that has previous experience. If every single procedure detail involved a detailed explanation/image, the manual would be twice as thick, and cost twice as much as as it now.
I would compare it to a cookbook. If the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of melted butter, the writer assumes the cook is experienced in melting butter. No need to devote extra pages to explain how to properly melt butter.
Just my opinion based on purchasing ten different HD service manuals for various models over the years.
The techs that wrote the service manuals never intended it to be a step by step manual for a novice mechanic/tech. Instead, it was written for a mechanic/tech that has previous experience. If every single procedure detail involved a detailed explanation/image, the manual would be twice as thick, and cost twice as much as as it now.
I would compare it to a cookbook. If the recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of melted butter, the writer assumes the cook is experienced in melting butter. No need to devote extra pages to explain how to properly melt butter.
Jim G