Had to happen.....sooner or later
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 95
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From: Holland, Mich.
Had to happen.....sooner or later
Electrical issues. My worst dream. Have '92 Heritage. 50,000 on her. Won't hold full charge over night. Once I ride it for 20 miles, she'll start right up. If I don't put it on a Tender overnight, she'll start, but oh so grudgingly. Have new battery in her. Where do I start looking for the gremlin?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: St.Louis Mo.
agree with above post, look for something that's pulling the battery down while sitting. bad diode in the regulator can do this. what is it putting out voltage wise while running ? feel the regulator in the morning before starting the bike and see if it feels warm, if it does it's draining the battery to ground .
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Before doing the above, take the battery off the bike and charge it fully using a normal battery charger. New batteries are often claimed to be 'fully charged' but that ain't true! There is an excellent Sticky by Dr Hess at the top of this Evo section, which will tell you how to check your charging system. A draining battery can be caused by problems elsewhere.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
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From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
weak battery ?
Before doing the above, take the battery off the bike and charge it fully using a normal battery charger. New batteries are often claimed to be 'fully charged' but that ain't true! There is an excellent Sticky by Dr Hess at the top of this Evo section, which will tell you how to check your charging system. A draining battery can be caused by problems elsewhere.
Remove battery positive cable and connect a 12V. test lamp or multimeter set to 12vDC between battery and battery cable . If you find a faint light in the test lamp or a reading on the meter , then you have a voltage leak to ground somewhere in your wiring system.
Let us know what you find.
Last edited by machinehed; Jun 4, 2014 at 06:32 PM. Reason: forgot to mention
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
battery
Remove all sources of voltage use at shut off including radio tuner memory etc.
Remove battery positive cable and connect a 12V. test lamp or multimeter set to 12vDC between battery and battery cable . If you find a faint light in the test lamp or a reading on the meter , then you have a voltage leak to ground somewhere in your wiring system.
Let us know what you find.
Remove battery positive cable and connect a 12V. test lamp or multimeter set to 12vDC between battery and battery cable . If you find a faint light in the test lamp or a reading on the meter , then you have a voltage leak to ground somewhere in your wiring system.
Let us know what you find.
New batteries can be defective .
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Most motorcycle battery's reccomend a 2 amp charge for a minimum of 8 hours before putting them into service.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,187
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From: Montgomery, AL
If it is a new battery I'd check through all connection and make sure they are clean. Then if no charge, go through DR Hess sticky above.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 95
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From: Holland, Mich.
O.K., ready to tear into it with the info provided here. Took off seat, looking around under there, getting ready to pull battery and noticed a bad indent on one off the wires under the seat. Lifted it up a little and sure as ****, the bottom was worn through & grounding on the frame. And now you ask: Why the indent? My wife made me a nice seat fitting foam pad covered with a nice furry cloth to cushion my old ***. Well, the knot (1/4" dia) of the tie-down/tightening string that wrapped around the seat underneath just soooooooooooooo coincidentally landed right on that wire and put pressure on it and eventually it wore through. You know, kinda like the odds of being hit by lightening. Anyway, knot's re-located, wire is heat taped back up and the 'ol girl's back on the road.
Thanx for the info though. Good for future reference.
Thanx for the info though. Good for future reference.
