Battery Meltdown on new FatBob

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May 10, 2014 | 11:10 PM

#11

upflying

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 35,818

Likes: 38,662

From: Post Falls, ID

I would not touch it and told the dealer to bring a tow truck or trailer and to come get the bike.
Who knows what else burned up.

May 11, 2014 | 03:12 AM

#12

Foxster

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,739

Likes: 10

From: Suffolk, England

Just loose battery connections will do that. The heat of the arcing will melt the connectors and lugs.

For some odd reason Harleys are more prone to loose battery connections than any other bike I've known. The vibration?

May 11, 2014 | 08:47 AM

#13

hdbob2006

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2013

Posts: 3,466

Likes: 425

From: Illinois

That's what I would guess-loose cables. My softail has just the rubber strap holding the battery in.That lets the battery jiggle around just a tiny bit,and the cables work loose. I had to pack some insulation in front and back of the battery to keep it from moving.

May 11, 2014 | 09:06 AM

#14

skinman13

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 2,557

Likes: 235

From: Texas

I am going to play Devil's Advocate here...

I know from professional experience that this much heat damage can only be caused by a seriously bad connection or terminals shorted at the battery. The scenario you described is that you had just installed an after market light kit and subsequently had difficulties re-installing the battery and cover (was this because of the position of the new wire you installed???). Then the bike runs rough when you operationally checked everything before riding off into the sunset...

If you came into my repair station with that battery and this story expecting a warranty adjustment or new battery I would tell you to get bent also because...

Unless you KNOW for certain that you did not cause this damage and take your bike to them and agree to allow them inspect your bike for free to verify the cause, then you should not expect any warranty adjustments...In another life, I was in the business of providing maintenance services and this is a normal, sound, and reasonable business practice, and I think that you were in their position, then you would do the exact same thing.

I do not know the whole story...only you and the dealer rep you talked to know that...and I am not trying to be disrespectful, but maybe you might need to rethink this before going off on this dealer...Just say'n...

Good luck, hope you get this resolved and back on the road, and let us know how it goes...

Last edited by skinman13; May 11, 2014 at 09:11 AM.

May 11, 2014 | 09:10 AM

#15

VIN1800

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 501

Likes: 3

From: Saint Joseph Mo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxster

What he said.

May 11, 2014 | 11:24 AM

#16

saddlebag

Tourer

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 436

Likes: 71

Quote:

Originally Posted by case013

New battery went in smooth is working like a champ. Even pulled cover off a couple times today during my ride and checked to make sure it wasn't going nuclear on me. I can see how that conclusion might be drawn. Last time was more of making sure that fuse on the positive cable was laying just right and not cocked out blocking the edge of the battery box, but then again you never know. Something could have shifted when and lined up just perfect for meltdown. I do have that kind of horrible luck.

Did you install a current limiting resistor in series with the LED?

http://www.augustica.com/Electronics...g_Resistor.jpg

R = V/I. IIRC, LEDs need about 10 ma of juice to turn them on. Per the calc, 12V/10 mA = 1.2k Ohm resistor in there. If not, when that diode forward biases, you have essentially a dead short.

May 11, 2014 | 11:26 AM

#17

case013

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 169

Likes: 1

From: Alexandria, La

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinman13

Awesome I love the devils advocate. Keeps ya honest. There were no new wires running to the battery. Just replacing old tail wiring new. I even checked all my electrical stuff(four years as an electrician in the navy so I'm reasonably sound here) after install. I installed everything and bike ran great for a few days then this happened. Rough start one day and I say rough but it took a little longer to catch than normal maybe an extra two seconds. Then next day dead. I KNOW the connections were tight because I checked them after moving that stupid fuse wire so it wasn't sitting on the battery strap.

I agree with the business practice. I didn't go in wanting a new battery or anything. I was just surprised at the full on laugh in the face when asking if the inspection or battery or anything could be put under warranty or what. I've just never had this happen with any of my other bikes and god knows they are anything but stock.

Anyways not trying to dealer bitch. Just wanted to show the guys a real head meet wall kind of day.