Help on pig tails
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 8
I say you can't jump off a battery using the battery tender cables. The pig tails to jump off a dead battery would need to be the same gauge as the battery cables in order to carry the amp load. Do not use the alternator to attempt to charge a low battery. It can ruin the alternator.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,458
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Oh I go there.
LOL I was an electrician for several years and anything can be done if given enough thought. I used to ride with a guy who had been riding for 50 years and had done all kings of things from build a carrier for his Suzuki 850 on the back of his converted Frito truck to making his own trailer. I can get some heavier gage wire and find some way to close off the ends so they will not be prone to getting weather or touching the frame but yet I can give a jump to the bat without removing the frame. It can be done,I just have to find the best way to do it. I was just told that I had to remove the shocks at the same time and with the bike jacked up and rear wheel hanging. I did it one side at a time and compressed the shock with a ratchet strap. Worked fine and I had the saddle bag supports on in 15 min each. I just took a few days of pondering. 
LOL I was an electrician for several years and anything can be done if given enough thought. I used to ride with a guy who had been riding for 50 years and had done all kings of things from build a carrier for his Suzuki 850 on the back of his converted Frito truck to making his own trailer. I can get some heavier gage wire and find some way to close off the ends so they will not be prone to getting weather or touching the frame but yet I can give a jump to the bat without removing the frame. It can be done,I just have to find the best way to do it. I was just told that I had to remove the shocks at the same time and with the bike jacked up and rear wheel hanging. I did it one side at a time and compressed the shock with a ratchet strap. Worked fine and I had the saddle bag supports on in 15 min each. I just took a few days of pondering. What I have done on a few hard to get to battery setups , I get a small high amp connector like for golfcarts or forklift battery packs and mount somewhere , on the old bikes I'd bolt it to the bottom of the bat. tray and toss the adapter in the saddlebags .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Sep 30, 2011 at 01:38 AM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
I have read all the post here on this thread and am a little confused about the consensus. I am going to state that one cannot use the pig tail that came with my battery tender to jump start a bike. The wire is to small to carry the required cranking amps. The best choice is to install a battery tender and the battery will last for years.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 8
I have read all the post here on this thread and am a little confused about the consensus. I am going to state that one cannot use the pig tail that came with my battery tender to jump start a bike. The wire is to small to carry the required cranking amps. The best choice is to install a battery tender and the battery will last for years.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
I'm not reading all the posts, you can't use he battery tender pig tails to jump start your bike. The wires are to small to handle the starter load.
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
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island, BC
-
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gosman454
Touring Models
12
Jun 23, 2010 01:58 PM