Do batteries fail intermittently?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Batties can cause some goofy stuff to happen, the wierdest one was on a 911 that would do the maybe I'll start tango. It ended up (and I'm not kidding) the Positive post, it had full volage at the center of the post but at the sides where the cable clamp connected there was squat, some kind of flaw in the post casting. Felt pretty good about nailing that one but it was dumb luck.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Katy, TX
I found the problem, and can't believe I overlooked it. The regulator wire connecting to the main circuit breaker was loose. The wire had actually fallen out of the connector! I guess it wasn't crimped well from the factory. It really bothers me to think I've been riding around with this loose electrical wire.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks everyone!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 18
From: SE Michigan
Agreed on both counts.
I have an AGM here that I use for checking small amp 12 volt stuff. It will charge to 13.8, hold 12.3 indefinitely, run an FM radio or CD player for days. Hook it to a starter on a bike - 8 volts and does not come back until it's had a deep, long charge. But I do like them for a bike, especially.
And what I find even more disappointing about HDs considering the fact there are no kick starts any more, only electric starters, they have no charge light or volt gauge on most of the models. That in itself causes more riders to be stranded and left scratching their head for answers than any other thing about the bikes....
I have an AGM here that I use for checking small amp 12 volt stuff. It will charge to 13.8, hold 12.3 indefinitely, run an FM radio or CD player for days. Hook it to a starter on a bike - 8 volts and does not come back until it's had a deep, long charge. But I do like them for a bike, especially.
And what I find even more disappointing about HDs considering the fact there are no kick starts any more, only electric starters, they have no charge light or volt gauge on most of the models. That in itself causes more riders to be stranded and left scratching their head for answers than any other thing about the bikes....
I put this little sucker on my '91 FLHS and it is cool. I connected it to the "load" side of my "lights" circuit breaker to monitor the heaviest loaded part of the electrical circuit. The multi colored LED's dance as the voltage goes up and down with rpm and accesories loads. Very neat to glance down and see the "green/good" light on.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/ZZ38119
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: The Great Southwest Desert
When my bike was about a year and a half old I started having problems with the battery staying charged. These problems started after I'd left the key on a couple of times and totally discharged the battery.I'd charge it on a battery charger and ride it for a week or so and the battery wouldn't have enough charge to crank the engine. Had the charging system and the battery checked two or three times and everything checked out fine. Finally replaced the battery and haven't had a problem since.
Good Luck
Tom
Good Luck
Tom
These batteries will not tolerate a deep discharge. They are considered fully discharged at around 11 volts. They must be kept charged and not left in a discharged state. Doing so destroys their ampacity and although they will show a full surface charge, they can not handle a large load and the charge density is lowered to an unusable level. The common method to test is to use a load tester. A more telling test is to measure the Mho's of the battery. (Dynamic mutual conductance of the internal structure.) Not many people have a tester for Mho's, I'm fortunate that we need tham where I work and I can use them on any 12V battery up to an 80AH rating. (That is 80 amps drawn for 1 hour before the battery is discharged, not 80 cold cranking amps!)
Discharging the battery to low voltage or leaving one discharged will severly shorten it's life. The older it is, the less tolerant it is.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 2
From: Tegucigalpa
"Quote:
Originally Posted by texasridr
...Shouldn't I be able to hobble along on a bad battery once the engine is running, as long as the stator and regulator are doing their job?
Not necessarily. If the battery isn't capable of holding a small charge, the bike will die. Or if the battery isn't getting any voltage from the regulator/stator (due to a bad connection), the bike will eventually die. Like mine did on I-75 outside of Flint, MI."
So... u cannot bump start a harley with a dead battery?
Originally Posted by texasridr
...Shouldn't I be able to hobble along on a bad battery once the engine is running, as long as the stator and regulator are doing their job?
Not necessarily. If the battery isn't capable of holding a small charge, the bike will die. Or if the battery isn't getting any voltage from the regulator/stator (due to a bad connection), the bike will eventually die. Like mine did on I-75 outside of Flint, MI."
So... u cannot bump start a harley with a dead battery?
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