Normal behavior or?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 102
Likes: 54
From: Treasure Coast, FL
Normal behavior or?
Go easy on me, I’m a noob.
Im a new rider and have been stretching out my rides. 2-3 times a week I try to get an an hour or so of local seat time around town, top speed around 50 MPH on main road, average 30-35 on side roads.
Took a longer ride this past Sunday and stopped after an hour averaging more like 55 MPH the whole way. Fifty miles in the blazing *** Florida sun.
Stopped and shut bike completely off for a few minutes. When I went to start up again, cranking was extremely slow and it barely turned over.
Walked bike out of parking spot and it died.
No power, no lights, no crank.
Few minutes later turned ignition back on, everything lit up and it cranked enough to fire up. Odometer message screen gave a quick message that I couldn’t read, and the clock even reset to flashing 12:00 After that everything acted normal on the trip back.
When I got home, I shut it down and it starts right back up. Battery tests good 2 days later, it’s a Deka brand and it tests at 13 Volts.
Called HD service and was told that unless I’m running at 2000 RPM average on longer trips, bike isn’t really charging battery enough on my local putzing around town rides.
Said I should get a battery tender and keep it plugged in when I’m not riding.
Like I said, I’m a noob just looking for some informed opinions on whether or not this sounds legit.
Thanks Everyone
Im a new rider and have been stretching out my rides. 2-3 times a week I try to get an an hour or so of local seat time around town, top speed around 50 MPH on main road, average 30-35 on side roads.
Took a longer ride this past Sunday and stopped after an hour averaging more like 55 MPH the whole way. Fifty miles in the blazing *** Florida sun.
Stopped and shut bike completely off for a few minutes. When I went to start up again, cranking was extremely slow and it barely turned over.
Walked bike out of parking spot and it died.
No power, no lights, no crank.
Few minutes later turned ignition back on, everything lit up and it cranked enough to fire up. Odometer message screen gave a quick message that I couldn’t read, and the clock even reset to flashing 12:00 After that everything acted normal on the trip back.
When I got home, I shut it down and it starts right back up. Battery tests good 2 days later, it’s a Deka brand and it tests at 13 Volts.
Called HD service and was told that unless I’m running at 2000 RPM average on longer trips, bike isn’t really charging battery enough on my local putzing around town rides.
Said I should get a battery tender and keep it plugged in when I’m not riding.
Like I said, I’m a noob just looking for some informed opinions on whether or not this sounds legit.
Thanks Everyone
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,982
Likes: 2,141
From: Ohio
Well, at least you didn't get the typical Harley service department answer of ...."They all do that!"..........I'd figure out how old your battery is. Sounds like it's on it's way out. Mine acted the same way right before it completely died.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 361
Likes: 56
From: Lancaster, CA.
Same here. You most likely need a new battery.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 870
From: Iowa
Are you actually cruising under 2K RPM? If not the hour long ride should have charged your battery and I think you need to look elsewhere, especially if you were able to start it then it died. If it was bad battery you wouldn't have been able to start it again and it runs off the recharge system, not the battery, so dying after starting is either a spark issue or a fuel issue.
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 16
From: Lake Stevens, Wa
5 year old, exposed, electrical connections at the Florida coast? You may have loose and/or corroded connection(s), somewhere. The heat & humidity can play intermittent havoc with a bad connection, a strong battery will overcome only so much. Pull the battery box out, for easy access to the ground wires behind. Take these apart, clean the connectors & ground stud/bolt really well. Do the same at the starter & battery. There are various things you can do to slow corrosion, I like a thin coat of anti-seize on my wire connectors. When you get it cleaned & running, check charging voltage at the battery. Anybody that rides a vibrating machine near the coast can expect this to be regular maintenance. Also, get the battery tender.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 102
Likes: 54
From: Treasure Coast, FL
Here’s what home tester gave me.
Tender on the way, and the ground screw was not as snug as it it should be. Wonder if I should put a little blue lock-tite on the battery post screws.
Thanks for the replies so far!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,175
From: Oxford, Nc