Battery question
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 676
Likes: 2
From: Glendale, AZ
It would be interesting to compare....but even if I get only 8 years out of it...it is would still be cost effective.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 251
From: Connecticut
I bought one of those batteries on Amazon with 500 cranking amps for a hundred bucks to save a little money over the HD one. Big mistake within two months it only had 10.4 volts across the two poles. Talked to the HD parts guy and he told me HD batteries are specially made with interior walls inside the battery to absorb the vibrations from the engine. The others he told me are no so made. So I shelled out the money and got one, at least it is guaranteed for a year.
Not that the CCA isn't important, but you only really need a little over what the bikes CCA requirement is. Not sure what HD's requirement is for my bike (if anyone knows where to find that please let me know). I'm guessing it's either at or slightly less than the 280 CCA the stock battery has. For both my Dyna and Softail (they take the same battery), a 310 CCA with a 20 AH is perfect.
Just as important, and IMO more important is the AH (amp hour) and the RC (reserve capacity). For my bike the highest AH (10 hour) I could find is 20 (which is 8 higher than the Odyssey), and the highest RC I could find is 20 (2 higher than the Odyssey).
I have a 3 year old Yuasa GYZ20HL, 310 CCA, 20 AH. 40 RC on my Dyna and it starts up strong every time. It hasn't been on a tender for a week and hasn't been ridden in over 2 months, but it still reads 12.78 volts. I'm looking to replace the stock battery in the Softail and was thinking I might try something else just to see but I think I might stick with the Yuasa.
Last edited by JekyllnHyde; Jan 28, 2014 at 04:09 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 583
Likes: 4
From: australia
also the stronger the acid sg mix also gives you extra cca but the down full it shorten battery life, in the factory if we had too many failures we would change the acid reciepe,from 1260sg to 1310sg do as the boss says
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,046
Likes: 398
From: sugar land, gulf coast, tx
+1 on that, here in the Gulf coast too, for bikes and autos. The battery started giving me slow starting troubles just before the bike's warranty expired. Should have taken it in, but too late now. Thanks for all the great info and advice. tomp dd50
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,729
Likes: 6,491
From: Honah Lee
I cannot tell any difference in the old $200 Harley and the $80 AGM Walmart one I put in last year. You pour in the acid but it is a glass mat AGM. Once you press in the caps, there is no leaks or vents. Requires a good 24 hour maintenance charge to get it to full steam but the shelf life like that is much longer.. And there is a Walmart in ever town. Even where I am at Playa del Carmen. Unlike their Everstart car batteries, it is made in China.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 27, 2014 at 06:26 PM.
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