Complaint
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Can't help but think about that old saying though, insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result. Here's to this thing getting un-****ed and no more problems.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Not necessarily. The service manual provides guidance about charging on bikes equipped with security. They stipulate usage of a tender such as you have.
Just a thought; but I'm thinking you may have gotten a "hurry-up" charge on the battery initially. Then a combination of the flashers draining your battery, and the fault while hooked up to the tender probably spelled the end of your battery unfortunately. Use of an amicable approach with your dealership may get you a replacement battery at best, or possibly at a discounted cost.
Seeing as there may have been an opportunity or two to prevent loss of battery voltage, you dealer may be unwilling to shoulder full responsibility. Your location certainly does play into a bit more disadvantage on your part. I've got two dealerships and several independent shops within spittin' distance.
Good luck bud...
Just a thought; but I'm thinking you may have gotten a "hurry-up" charge on the battery initially. Then a combination of the flashers draining your battery, and the fault while hooked up to the tender probably spelled the end of your battery unfortunately. Use of an amicable approach with your dealership may get you a replacement battery at best, or possibly at a discounted cost.
Seeing as there may have been an opportunity or two to prevent loss of battery voltage, you dealer may be unwilling to shoulder full responsibility. Your location certainly does play into a bit more disadvantage on your part. I've got two dealerships and several independent shops within spittin' distance.
Good luck bud...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
If you didn't see a green light, you didn't follow the directions that came with the battery tender:
"The main red led will illuminate when the battery charger is connected to the mains. As the battery charges the next LED will give you a half charge indicator and the the last green LED will illuminate to indicate the battery is fully charged and ready for operation."
I check my tenders occasionally to make sure all are green. If one's red, something is wrong. I put the tenders where I can see the display. If I don't check them, it's my fault.
I sense this is your first bike and don't have a lot of experience taking care of the battery. No big deal. I bet every person on these forums whose ever owned a bike has made lots of mistakes but most of us accept the responsibility.
"The main red led will illuminate when the battery charger is connected to the mains. As the battery charges the next LED will give you a half charge indicator and the the last green LED will illuminate to indicate the battery is fully charged and ready for operation."
I check my tenders occasionally to make sure all are green. If one's red, something is wrong. I put the tenders where I can see the display. If I don't check them, it's my fault.
I sense this is your first bike and don't have a lot of experience taking care of the battery. No big deal. I bet every person on these forums whose ever owned a bike has made lots of mistakes but most of us accept the responsibility.
Last edited by barjbar; Feb 21, 2012 at 11:58 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
If you didn't see a green light, you didn't follow the directions:
"The main red led will illuminate when the battery charger is connected to the mains. As the battery charges the next LED will give you a half charge indicator and the the last green LED will illuminate to indicate the battery is fully charged and ready for operation."
I check my tenders occasionally to make sure all are green. If one's red, something is wrong. I put the tenders where I can see the display. If I don't check them, it's my fault.
"The main red led will illuminate when the battery charger is connected to the mains. As the battery charges the next LED will give you a half charge indicator and the the last green LED will illuminate to indicate the battery is fully charged and ready for operation."
I check my tenders occasionally to make sure all are green. If one's red, something is wrong. I put the tenders where I can see the display. If I don't check them, it's my fault.
Last edited by James Riley; Feb 21, 2012 at 12:19 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From: Wildomar, CA
Thanks again, man. The only thing I worry about is buying a brand new battery and that not being the problem, and then that battery getting screwed too. I should go pull my warranty service work order and see if they mentioned putting in a new battery or not. I hope there is no gremlin in the electronics somewhere, as someone else suggested.
You brought it in before and they "fixed" it? What exactly did they do to it? Did they give you paperwork saying what was done? If so, pull the paperwork out and let us know what was done. If not, call the dealer and ask them.
You said you are 150 miles from the dealer so hopefully there is an auto parts store closer to you. After the battery is charged take it to an auto parts store. Most will have a battery tester that does a load charge. That will tell you if the battery is junk or not.
If the battery is bad I'd just buy one from any aftermarket supplier. Your local parts store may even have one. You don't need and HD branded battery.
Did you check the tender pigtail to make sure it was connected to the battery properly? The dealer installed it but they could have F'd it up.
If the connections are correct I would remove them and plug in the tender to the battery on the bench. Then check the lights for correct operation. Also, put a volt meter on the battery while the tender is connected to see if it's charging.
I know stuff like this can be frustrating but at least it f'd up while in your garage. I've had to do plenty of repairs while in the middle of no where or in bad weather.
Last edited by ChiliPepperGarage; Feb 21, 2012 at 12:24 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,741
Likes: 1,599
From: Danbury CT
You should check the inline fuse located in the pig tail connected to the battery. If you plug your charger into it & it's goes to red it could be blown. I just had my original 06 battery load tested at Sears. Passed. I had to replace my 09's battery at 2 years. **** happens. Both always kept on tenders. Find the problem & move on or just keep posting all your dribble so we can laugh some more.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: USA
If you think checking on something occasionally to make sure everything is ok equates to 'having to babysit' it, then you clearly just refuse to accept any responsibility for anything. You think everything should just work perfectly all the time, and you should never need to check anything.
They put those red and green lights on there FOR A REASON. You walked right by it and were too lazy to even look at it and see it was working properly. Even worse, you totally ignored a flashing red light that you SAW (and the fact that you DIDN'T see a green light), and didn't even bother to see where the red flashing light was coming from. Try reading the instructions sometime so that you have some sort of clue as to what you are doing. You accuse others of having no reading comprehension, but you REFUSE TO READ.
As to giving Colt another chance, was the wrong? Seems people around here are wanting me to give Harley another chance. Would that be wrong? Now I think you are telling me otherwise? It's like the guy offering $500.00 for the bike. Seems like there's some schizoid waffling going on here with some of you.
Last edited by str8jacket; Feb 21, 2012 at 12:52 PM.