Third battery in three years
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
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From: SW Florida
Third battery in three years
Headed off to get my third battery since getting my Fat Bob, the last one lasted a couple years at least. I am diligent about plugging the bike into the battery tender when I get home, don't have any unnecessary accessories, but have a big bore kit and sometimes forget to set the compression releases. Between work, weather (raining a lot lately), and having two bikes I don't get to ride as much as in the winter. But I do get it out once a week.
Should I look for a different brand, change my habits, or just grin and bare it and hope it doesn't strand me in the middle of no-where?
Should I look for a different brand, change my habits, or just grin and bare it and hope it doesn't strand me in the middle of no-where?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
sounds like you should be taking a look at the whole charging system. Have you checked all the battery connections (not just on the battery). Have you checked the voltage output on your system?
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Alhambra, CA
check your bike and battery tender both. Although uncommon, don't rule out overcharging. I've had numerous experiences non-bike with charging during high heat condition also is a death knell for batteries
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 498
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From: Timbuktu
Perform a parasitic draw test. This is accomplished by taking a high quality DVOM and measuring from the battery to the ground cable on the A or mA setting.
This value will tell you your parasitic draw value. If it's beyond spec, then find the source of electrical draw. If not, check charging, starting systems and electrical connections.
This value will tell you your parasitic draw value. If it's beyond spec, then find the source of electrical draw. If not, check charging, starting systems and electrical connections.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 84
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From: SW Florida
Thanks guys, I knew I would get some ideas on what to check. I have checked the draw and the charging system, am going to have my local indy take a look also. As far as charging, the system shows around 14.2-14.4 when it's running and after the tender is done it's around 12.9. I'll look into the other stuff. Thanks
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 210
From: Manila, Philippines
I had a similar problem. Going through a battery every 1-2 years. Its the heat that kills them. Best thing I did was to add the compression release (107") and religiously use them.
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Texas
Putting on a tender when the bike is going to sit up for more than a month is a good habit to get into. Putting a tender on every time you park overnight is a bad habit to get into...it will kill a battery just as surely as grinding away trying to start will.
My battery is going on 3 years old now and I have never used a tender and it has sat in the garage for as long as 5 weeks without starting and it always fires right up. It has gone dead three times, once when the stator went out, once when I forgot to turn off the master switch, and once when a fog light housing got loose and shorted out during a ride...wouldn't start after refueling. Jump started right up and went on and rode to the closest dealer...they could not find anything wrong with the battery or charging system. I found the fog light problem when I was chasing down why the fuse was blown and they were not working a couple of days later.
Get a digital multimeter set it up for amps, and do the static system drain test. If you are not seeing any drain, then there is no reason for your battery to go dead so often....unless your charging system is faulty or you are using cheap aftermarket batteries and not the HD battery designed for your ride. There IS a difference.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
My battery is going on 3 years old now and I have never used a tender and it has sat in the garage for as long as 5 weeks without starting and it always fires right up. It has gone dead three times, once when the stator went out, once when I forgot to turn off the master switch, and once when a fog light housing got loose and shorted out during a ride...wouldn't start after refueling. Jump started right up and went on and rode to the closest dealer...they could not find anything wrong with the battery or charging system. I found the fog light problem when I was chasing down why the fuse was blown and they were not working a couple of days later.
Get a digital multimeter set it up for amps, and do the static system drain test. If you are not seeing any drain, then there is no reason for your battery to go dead so often....unless your charging system is faulty or you are using cheap aftermarket batteries and not the HD battery designed for your ride. There IS a difference.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Last edited by skinman13; Aug 6, 2014 at 01:15 AM.