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Charging Issue

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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 10:09 AM
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Default Charging Issue

Wife’s 2020 TriGlide battery went dead after the bike was idling for about five minutes. We were going through the Canada Port of Entry and waiting to show our paperwork. She pulled up to the window, shut off the bike and when trying to restart, the battery was dead. Pushed it over to the side, used a jump pack and we were on our way. Noticed the voltmeter is about 14V when running but goes down to less than 12V when idling but, only when warmed up. It stays at 14V when first started and cold. Battery is original but still checked out at 12.6V after sitting for 24 hours. What would make the voltmeter drop when hot? It comes right back up to 14V when RPM’s are increased.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 11:32 AM
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Battery may show voltage but not have enough amperage to start the bike.

Battery is at least 4 years old, get a new one and I am sure all will be well.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 02:15 PM
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Harley's charge when the RPM's are above 2K, usually not at idle.
Your stator and voltage regulator might be putting out voltage but your battery might not be holding it.
The cells could be failing.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 02:50 PM
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Check your connections. They tend to loose. If loose, they tend to show excess voltage. Loose causes heat and that tends to get a temporary connection.

​​​​​If connection is good, I would replace a 4 year old battery.

Voltage sounds a tad low after 24 hours. What does it show then when you hit starter. It can show 12.6 and with a warn out battery low on CCA will drop below 9.7 cranking.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2024 at 02:53 PM.
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 03:48 PM
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Load test the battery and then start troubleshooting the system.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 04:42 PM
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While I think you should get more than 4 years out of Harley battery, if it is, in WI, I'd probably just buy another. Especially since you are road. Plus 4 years is not new. Unless you have a ton of miles probably not volt reg or stator. If it is running after you jump, charging system probably ok. Some times you run off battery at idle. Turn off spot lights and any other thing you can. If during the day, you could disconnect headlight, and switch spots on and off, and have her stay behind you. I know I will catch grief for suggesting this.

I have started bikes with less than 12.6 too. But maybe bad battery Could alway double check battery connects.

As said should be around 12-13 at idle, and go up to 14.4 when you rev it up. Did you come in by Grand Maria MN or Sault?
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Rounders
While I think you should get more than 4 years out of Harley battery, if it is, in WI, I'd probably just buy another. Especially since you are road. Plus 4 years is not new. Unless you have a ton of miles probably not volt reg or stator. If it is running after you jump, charging system probably ok. Some times you run off battery at idle. Turn off spot lights and any other thing you can. If during the day, you could disconnect headlight, and switch spots on and off, and have her stay behind you. I know I will catch grief for suggesting this.

I have started bikes with less than 12.6 too. But maybe bad battery Could alway double check battery connects.

As said should be around 12-13 at idle, and go up to 14.4 when you rev it up. Did you come in by Grand Maria MN or Sault?
Not true, when the plug from my stator to regulator melted, I jumped it and road home 1.5 hours.
But I'm also running all LED's so there wasn't much load besides the spark.
When I got home my VR was only putting out 8.5 volts.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by RANGER73
Not true,
But I'm also running all LED's so there wasn't much load besides the spark.
.
Which is why I said some years,

You yourself, should be aware that harleys run off the battery at idle, on many years, if not all.

Put an ampeter on the battery. Maybe newer one built for lots of accessories do not.

But stators output is based on RPM.


 
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Old Sep 15, 2024 | 01:27 PM
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I only get 3 years out of batteries on my tri-glide. Put a good multimeter on it and see what it is really putting out.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2024 | 02:29 PM
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Heat is hard on batteries. For me I usually get around 7 bikes, sleds, ATVs, sxs.
 
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