Complaint
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
I read this whole thread and if i where the OP I would chalk this up as a lesson learned. Not that Harley's suck, but that stuff happens.
Ok so you did not understand how the battery tender worked, now you do.
Most likely your battery is toast, get a new one.
I have had many bikes and had some problems, this will happen with any vehicle. I have learned alot about my bikes and i know that if anything happens i may be able to fix it, but if i do basic maintenance i most likely will have mostly enjoyment in the future with my passion.
Stop blaming Harley for a simple issue, most of us ride many trouble free miles year after year and when something does happen we fix it and keep on riding.
Get your battery fix and go out and enjoy your bike!
Ok so you did not understand how the battery tender worked, now you do.
Most likely your battery is toast, get a new one.
I have had many bikes and had some problems, this will happen with any vehicle. I have learned alot about my bikes and i know that if anything happens i may be able to fix it, but if i do basic maintenance i most likely will have mostly enjoyment in the future with my passion.
Stop blaming Harley for a simple issue, most of us ride many trouble free miles year after year and when something does happen we fix it and keep on riding.
Get your battery fix and go out and enjoy your bike!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Just so folks don't get mixed up, it's 150 round trip. It's only 75 one way.
Anyway, I took it to the nearest town's auto parts store and load tested it and gave me a print out which says:
Voltage: 12.92
Measured: 539 CCA
Rated: 315 CCA
Temperature: 63 degrees
Battery Good
I don't know what all that means, but they told me the battery was in excellent condition. Now, if I understood one of the previous posts correctly, just because the charger works, the tender works, the battery is charged, and the battery is load tested okay, it could STILL be draining to fast or some **** like that? I wouldn't know what else to do with the battery except put it back in the bike and do what I've done before. The question is, if the snow sets in again and I don't ride if for a while, should I put the tender (which appears to be fine) back on it or not?
In any event, I was going to put it in the bike and see if it starts up and then, next time I get a chance, take it to a dealer, tell them everything, and let them take if from there. I know most car dealers have diagnostic computers they hook the car up to and it checks out all the electronics and what not to see if there is anything out of whack, like in the wiring or fuses or whatever. I'm beginning to think the dealer who did the warranty work just put an new battery in it and didn't check for anything else that might have caused the battery to drain or quit working. ???
Oh, and I'm only an ******* on the internet. I'm polite and reasonable in person, have always treated dealers like they know more than me (they damn well should, that's what I'm paying for), and my family, horses, friends and dogs love me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,902
Likes: 29,882
From: PNW
I just want to say that I get it and sometimes you just have to vent.
Sorry about the shitty colt. Sell it and buy a Ruger.
Do not give your bike a blow job. It has absolutely no affect on a dead battery......not that I know first hand. Just a guess really.
Buy an Odyssey battery, pop a cold one, and rekindle your relationship with a nice bike, hopefully over a sweetass ride.
Cheers
Sorry about the shitty colt. Sell it and buy a Ruger.
Do not give your bike a blow job. It has absolutely no affect on a dead battery......not that I know first hand. Just a guess really.
Buy an Odyssey battery, pop a cold one, and rekindle your relationship with a nice bike, hopefully over a sweetass ride.
Cheers
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 480
Likes: 17
From: Northern Virginia
Just a suggestion. Put the battery back in the bike and then check the battery voltage. Let it sit over night, then check the voltage again and see if there was a drop. That would tell you if there is something on the bike that is draining the battery. Troubleshooting for the dealer, but it may help the dealer figure out what the root cause is.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Just a suggestion. Put the battery back in the bike and then check the battery voltage. Let it sit over night, then check the voltage again and see if there was a drop. That would tell you if there is something on the bike that is draining the battery. Troubleshooting for the dealer, but it may help the dealer figure out what the root cause is.
Okay. I just put it back in the bike and the voltage is 12.86. It is not on a tender or charger. I'll check in the morning. The red light on the console is blinking like usual.
Last edited by James Riley; Feb 22, 2012 at 07:36 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 5
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Ride your bike and stop putting it in a garage for months at a time, problem solved.
I didn't read all 22 pages but have or have you not swapped out a battery off another bike that starts yet?
I didn't read all 22 pages but have or have you not swapped out a battery off another bike that starts yet?