Tonight I noticed that my Fat Bob strains the battery when I start it shortly after turning it off ... like when i stop for gas. I rode it to work tonight, turned it off so i could walk around and open the shipping door (I park it inside) and when I went to restart it the battery practically died. It struggled and actually "clicked" a few times before finally starting.

This bike is an 08 ... I just got it, but technically it's used. Some poor soul bought it last winter and couldn't afford it and brought it back to the dealer. So i have a year and 1/2 left on the warrantee but it's "as is" and i don't think the battery is covered. This is my 1st Harley, Is it NORMAL for them to have battery issues when the battery is only 6 months old? (The bike now has around 2100 miles on it ... about 400 of them mine!) I love riding the bike but obviously I don't want to worry it won't start each time I shut it off and have to restart it while it's hot.

BTW ... On a different topic I calculated my mileage tonight. Driving mostly country roads I averaged 42 MPG ... not bad!

 

are you using a battery tender?
short trips, heat, lots of starts, wear down the battery quick.
also the battery may have sat and been discharged and has gone south...
anyways check your connections... take to stealer to load test if connections are good...

 

^^^^ hes right, everybody i talked to told me the 2 years in the longest you will get from a HD battery, i milked mine to three, but almost trashed my starter doing so!

I mostly comute with my bike and I pick one day a month to put the bike on the "tender" for the day.

you may just have a **** battery. getting a new one wouldnt hurt. I also just bought some heavy duty battery cables from Terry components. to aide on those Hi compresion restarts! might want to look into that too.

 

Thanks for the info ... we'll see what happens in the weeks to come. Just for kicks I went to shipping where my bike is (I'm at work 3rd shift) ... powered it up, hit the starter and it started instantly. Really seems to only take more juice to start when it's hot.

This riding season is almost done. I'll buy a trickle charger and get in the habit of charging it every few weeks. Never had a battery issue with other brand of bikes I've owned to be honest ... but I guess it's a Harley quirk that I'll learn to live with. Perhaps I need to look into a different brand of battery?

 

I've had that happen before...it was only once though. It hasn't done it since. Who knows? Gremlins...

 

Could be! Honestly I've noticed it is harder to start when it's hot ... takes a few extra turns to kick in. I've only had the bike since last Thursday so I'm just starting to know it but it's something I've recognized.

I have read on the forum that some people think the security system puts a drain on the battery and I have the security system. If it really becomes an issue I'll call the dealer but I intend to pick up a battery tender for the winter anyway. My shed is good shelter for the bike, it's dry and secure, but it's not heated or powered. So when the bike goes into storage i'll leave it alone for the winter and I'll hook up the tender in the spring for a few days before i put the bike back on the road. HOPEFULLY the battery won't be an issue for the next 4 to 8 weeks. By October it'll be too cold to ride and the bike will be in winter storage. ......... I just got the bike .... it's going to be a LONG winter!!

 

IMHO - If you are going to store the bike all winter, I would remove the battery and put it on the tender somewhere inside the house..............basement, mud room.

 

does it only strain when you start it shortly after turning it off?
how about when you start it cold?
seems if the battery had issues, you would have more problems when cold?

also agree with fat67, if you're gonna put it up for the winter, and not hook a tender up, then you need to remove the battery and put it on a tender somewhere inside the house/basement/garage. if you don't do this - your battery will certainly be dead and past recovery come spring.

 

also - after a short stop - and a warmed up bike, don't wait for the little yellow light to turn off before you start it, just turn the key and let hit the button - mine starts right away if I don't wait for the light.

 

I'll try that .. thanks for the suggestion. And I'll also take the advice about battery storage, I won't need the security system armed during the winter.
And yes ... it is strange that it's harder to start warm than cold! I'll figure it out ... and thanks again for the advice.