Brake switch/battery question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5,947
Likes: 5,152
From: Louisiana
Recommendations. if you are having a small parasitic draw over the max for your bike and you can not put a finger on it, Do as I and many others here do and plug into a battery tender as soon as you park the bike. You just replaced a bad battery. Keep it good by keeping it topped off with a tender. A small parasitic draw could be caused from many electrical applications.
Fix the front brake light switch. As others here, I use my front brakes more than my rear brakes. 70% of your stopping capability is the front brakes. You want your brake light to illuminate when you pull that bake lever. Having to remember to tap your read brakes can slip your mind.
Fix the front brake light switch. As others here, I use my front brakes more than my rear brakes. 70% of your stopping capability is the front brakes. You want your brake light to illuminate when you pull that bake lever. Having to remember to tap your read brakes can slip your mind.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 31
Just suggestions, A security system can pull a battery down within a week or so by itself. I had to go back through the whole thread to come up with something. If you pulled all of the fuses and the only one that made a difference was the battery fuse,
Unplug the main fuse and do an amp draw from the fuse holder. That will kill power to the EMC. That will kill power to everything.
If you have a good reading from the main fuse holder, reinstall the main fuse and disconnect the ECM and see what the reading is. Although the EMC should be powered from one of the fuses under the seat.
Leave the key fob out of range of the bike.
Unplug the main fuse and do an amp draw from the fuse holder. That will kill power to the EMC. That will kill power to everything.
If you have a good reading from the main fuse holder, reinstall the main fuse and disconnect the ECM and see what the reading is. Although the EMC should be powered from one of the fuses under the seat.
Leave the key fob out of range of the bike.
updated info: when initially testing I only held the multimeter in place 10-15 seconds and got the 100+ mA reading for total drain value. After more reading I retested holding multimeter in touch for 30 seconds . Then at about 20 seconds the value dropped to 68.2mA. better but still above the 50mA suggested many places as upper limit of acceptable. When disconnecting speedometer (which is in battery circuit) drops to 38.2 mA. Since everything seems to be functioning okay Im going to ride and monitor. May have to tender although I do ride it regularly. Thanks for input
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 1,487
From: Black Hills of SD
If it dropped when you disconnect the Speedo - the speedometer may be where the memory chip is to hold all the data it stores. Just a thought.
I know it was on a Honda CBR I used to have.
I know it was on a Honda CBR I used to have.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 31
I was thinking along the same lines because there are so many wires in the speedometer connector
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 841
Likes: 579
From: Canonsburg Pennsylvania
How many states have inspections for motorcycles?
Is this the norm?
There is nothing in Michigan, never has been.
They tried it with automobiles 30 or 40 years ago and it was a disaster they stopped it.
(But yeah I wouldn't ride without both my brakes activating the stoplight, just like wearing a helmet or pants - I don't need the government to tell me that).
Googled it - 15 states don't, 35 do.
Is this the norm?
There is nothing in Michigan, never has been.
They tried it with automobiles 30 or 40 years ago and it was a disaster they stopped it.
(But yeah I wouldn't ride without both my brakes activating the stoplight, just like wearing a helmet or pants - I don't need the government to tell me that).
Googled it - 15 states don't, 35 do.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
It's not unusual for a H-D OEM battery (nor any other brand) to have short life span.
I keep ALL of my batteries on "tenders" during the winter months or whenever they may not be in use for a week or more.
I removed the battery from my '18 Tri-Glide and put it in my '13 CVO for what would be it's THIRD SEASON.
That bike was started TWICE in one week and on the THIRD ATTEMPT it would only "click"!
I usually replace the battery(s) in my "road bikes) after two full seasons of riding and use them in my generator but the one currently in my Tri-Glide has been in it for THREE SEASONS and it WILL be replaced next spring.
Make sure your battery cables are CLEAN (check the ground to frame connection) and tight and IF you have a battery charger (not a tender) give the battery a good overnight 2AMP charge and then from there but my first guess is that that you have weak battery.
I've owned and rode many H-D's since late '74 and I've only had ONE bad voltage regulator and ONE stator that that had to be replaced.
Also, I agree that you should repair your front brake switch.
I keep ALL of my batteries on "tenders" during the winter months or whenever they may not be in use for a week or more.
I removed the battery from my '18 Tri-Glide and put it in my '13 CVO for what would be it's THIRD SEASON.
That bike was started TWICE in one week and on the THIRD ATTEMPT it would only "click"!
I usually replace the battery(s) in my "road bikes) after two full seasons of riding and use them in my generator but the one currently in my Tri-Glide has been in it for THREE SEASONS and it WILL be replaced next spring.
Make sure your battery cables are CLEAN (check the ground to frame connection) and tight and IF you have a battery charger (not a tender) give the battery a good overnight 2AMP charge and then from there but my first guess is that that you have weak battery.
I've owned and rode many H-D's since late '74 and I've only had ONE bad voltage regulator and ONE stator that that had to be replaced.
Also, I agree that you should repair your front brake switch.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 658
From: Eastpointe, MI
I've never used a tender, I've heard some bad things about them and some good things what else I don't really need the good things I stay away from them.
I never really put my motorcycle into storage. Even in January and February there's a day or two I can take it out for a ride. So 30 days or so is the longest it usually goes without starting.
My boss puts his into winter storage in a storage facility even with the battery tender and jacked off the ground.
That would suck when there's a nice 45 or 50° day in January or February and you can't easily access your motorcycle.
I never really put my motorcycle into storage. Even in January and February there's a day or two I can take it out for a ride. So 30 days or so is the longest it usually goes without starting.
My boss puts his into winter storage in a storage facility even with the battery tender and jacked off the ground.
That would suck when there's a nice 45 or 50° day in January or February and you can't easily access your motorcycle.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 31
I've never used a tender, I've heard some bad things about them and some good things what else I don't really need the good things I stay away from them.
I never really put my motorcycle into storage. Even in January and February there's a day or two I can take it out for a ride. So 30 days or so is the longest it usually goes without starting.
My boss puts his into winter storage in a storage facility even with the battery tender and jacked off the ground.
That would suck when there's a nice 45 or 50° day in January or February and you can't easily access your motorcycle.
I never really put my motorcycle into storage. Even in January and February there's a day or two I can take it out for a ride. So 30 days or so is the longest it usually goes without starting.
My boss puts his into winter storage in a storage facility even with the battery tender and jacked off the ground.
That would suck when there's a nice 45 or 50° day in January or February and you can't easily access your motorcycle.
I did dig out my tender but think I left the pig tail on an ultra when I traded it cause didnt have opportunity to remove, so ordered another one to put on the Softail. I have also ordered a new front switch which I will endeavor to install.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5,947
Likes: 5,152
From: Louisiana
In post #6 the OP stated that his bike is a 2010 Softail custom