About 2 months ago, toward the end of a 70 mile ride, my bike died. When i pulled of the rode, I felt massive heat coming from my battery. I looked down and saw that it basically exploded. It was hissing and spewing battery acid all over the place. At that time, the battery was about 6 years old. I just figured the battery went bad.

well.... a couple days ago, I took a 90 mile ride to orlando. 3/4's of the way there, my blinker indicators gave me a light show and then the bike died. battery was hissing and puking all over the place. I'm getting the battery warranted, but I'm curious as to what else I need to check. Obviously, something must be going on with the charging system, but it seems to be intermittent. two weeks ago, i did about a 140 mile round trip, no problem.

Bike is a a 1993 wideglide. Not sure if there is any other necessary details. let me know if you need more info.

Thanks for the help.

 

not sure if you have a vent tube but it maybe kinked

 

That and you better check the charging system voltage. Your regulator could be allowing it to overcharge.

 

Sounds like a bad voltage reg (over charging the bat )

 

I to will second the regulator. Buy the current issue of American Iron and there are some great info on the chageing system in the tech section and how to check .Also more info in the back half in a question answer section.Sounds like it make'n more that 14.8 volts and that will cook a battery.

 

- hook a voltmeter across the battery and rev the engine.

- you should not see anything more than 14/15 volts.
.

 

awesome thank you all. I have tuesday off. I will pick up a new battery, hook up the voltometer, and pick up that mag. i'll let you guys know.

I will be looking this up myself as well, but just as a ballpark, how much is a regulator gonna run me? ninjas broke these days.

 

32 amp reg approx $60

 

All above is good ideas but is there any way the positive terminal of the battery is intermittently grounding to the frame when it's running? I know a bad regulator and a pinched vent tube can "cook it" but I would think it would everytime you ride.

 

i'll check this. seems to make sense.