Battery: Winter Storage
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Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 22
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From: Boston Massachusetts
Battery: Winter Storage
Hey. So I find myself having to rent a storage unit for my bike for the winter that is about 25-30 miles away from home. The battery is already 7 years old. In the spring I plan on installing a new battery but I don;t want to do that right now. I will to be able to get there on a weekly basic to jump start the bike and let the battery charge a little bit then lock it up and come back 1-2 weeks later. I wanted to disconnect the battery but I can't ... because I tried and as much as I tried, I the screws were on the posts so tight I felt I was going to strip the screws and I didn't want that to happen. It's a 2012 Road Glide. So I am going to have it stored as is for the winter. I don't want to buy a new battery now just to let it drain over the winter.
So I have a few questions.
1) Should I just let the battery drain over the winter and will the bike start with a jump?
2) Should I buy a new battery and set it on the ground and run cables from the new battery to the installed battery -- kind of like a winters long term jump
3) Should I get there every 1-2 weeks to jump it and let it charge from my car battery for 10-20 minutes?
Any other suggestions?
So I have a few questions.
1) Should I just let the battery drain over the winter and will the bike start with a jump?
2) Should I buy a new battery and set it on the ground and run cables from the new battery to the installed battery -- kind of like a winters long term jump
3) Should I get there every 1-2 weeks to jump it and let it charge from my car battery for 10-20 minutes?
Any other suggestions?
Last edited by balson; Oct 11, 2024 at 08:05 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,496
Likes: 30,782
From: Pennsylvania
1. If you let the battery drain fully, it may or may not take a jump.
2. Jump starting a bike can be iffy.
3. Not a good idea as the new battery would be drained by the old one if the old one shorts out the plates inside.
4. It may or may not start by jumping with your car battery; however running the bike for 10-20 minutes without fully heating up the engine to burn off all the moisture is not the best for an engine. Idling and not riding using the RPM range does an engine no good.
5. If you were using a screwdriver and trying to remove the screws on the post, get you a 10mm 6 point socket wrench and that will remove the screws. If you break a screws on the post, so what you are getting a new battery anyhow.
6. If you bike has an alarm system, follow the directions for battery removal so it dies not mess up the alarm system,
2. Jump starting a bike can be iffy.
3. Not a good idea as the new battery would be drained by the old one if the old one shorts out the plates inside.
4. It may or may not start by jumping with your car battery; however running the bike for 10-20 minutes without fully heating up the engine to burn off all the moisture is not the best for an engine. Idling and not riding using the RPM range does an engine no good.
5. If you were using a screwdriver and trying to remove the screws on the post, get you a 10mm 6 point socket wrench and that will remove the screws. If you break a screws on the post, so what you are getting a new battery anyhow.
6. If you bike has an alarm system, follow the directions for battery removal so it dies not mess up the alarm system,
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 975
Likes: 1,364
From: South of Heaven
Listen to Cool Breeze. Just pull the battery and get rid of it.
Also, starting your bike during the winter to idle it periodically only leads to bad things. First off, idling the bike does not charge the battery, multiple cold starts are hard on the engine, and idling does not get the engine hot enough to evaporate moisture and burn off contaminants, which collects in your oil.
Also, starting your bike during the winter to idle it periodically only leads to bad things. First off, idling the bike does not charge the battery, multiple cold starts are hard on the engine, and idling does not get the engine hot enough to evaporate moisture and burn off contaminants, which collects in your oil.
Last edited by Addicted to Chaos; Oct 11, 2024 at 08:27 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,554
Likes: 3,978
From: San Diego, CA
You're gonna have to deal with those battery screws sooner or later. I'd pull the battery, take it home with you to keep it warm, maybe buy an inexpensive maintainer. And, just starting and running it for a few minutes won't recharge the battery, and it will cause moisture to accumulate within your motor, which is far worse than a dead battery. You might as well just leave it be without the battery until riding season comes again.
John
John
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 385
Likes: 325
From: Coastal Carolina
As others have suggested, If you want to remove the battery I would use a nut driver to remove the screws ( a screw driver don't work). take the battery out, take it home and connect it to a battery tender all winter ( in the house if at all possible so the battery stays warm ) then re-install next Spring.
However, you say your battery is 7 years old, I have never got over 7 years on a battery no matter how well I did all the right things. I for one on a bike or a new car with electronics, I will jump one if I must but I try to not jump and I would never make jumping a bike from a car part of my storage plan. Shame you don't have a window or a way to solar charge the battery if the storage building does not have AC power.
What ever you do, DON'T start a bike unless you can get on it and ride it a good 20-25 min at highway speed. You don't want that moisture that comes with that.
Just fill the tank to the top with ethanol free gas (if you have that ) mixed with Sta-bil and start it next Spring but regardless of whatever you do, I bet you need a new battery next Spring as anything over 4-5 years on a battery is doing good IMO based on my 28 years of AGM bike batteries. I have no idea on the life of the new batteries?
However, you say your battery is 7 years old, I have never got over 7 years on a battery no matter how well I did all the right things. I for one on a bike or a new car with electronics, I will jump one if I must but I try to not jump and I would never make jumping a bike from a car part of my storage plan. Shame you don't have a window or a way to solar charge the battery if the storage building does not have AC power.
What ever you do, DON'T start a bike unless you can get on it and ride it a good 20-25 min at highway speed. You don't want that moisture that comes with that.
Just fill the tank to the top with ethanol free gas (if you have that ) mixed with Sta-bil and start it next Spring but regardless of whatever you do, I bet you need a new battery next Spring as anything over 4-5 years on a battery is doing good IMO based on my 28 years of AGM bike batteries. I have no idea on the life of the new batteries?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,272
Likes: 3,684
From: backwoods
Sooner or later you need to learn how to remove the battery. Do it now at home. It's not rocket surgery for bleep sake.
If you are not capable of taking it out now. How will you do it in the spring??
Id just put the battery in the car you are driving home in.
My bikes in winter I charge batteries 4-8 weeks. I don't have newer security drains.
If the battery is ready for replacement you could leave it. But might as well disconnect. Read you manual to see if anything needs that be done on newer bike.
But if you can't figure out how to get a battery out today,how are you going to do it in the spring?
If you are not capable of taking it out now. How will you do it in the spring??
Id just put the battery in the car you are driving home in.
My bikes in winter I charge batteries 4-8 weeks. I don't have newer security drains.
If the battery is ready for replacement you could leave it. But might as well disconnect. Read you manual to see if anything needs that be done on newer bike.
But if you can't figure out how to get a battery out today,how are you going to do it in the spring?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,272
Likes: 3,684
From: backwoods
I have a 10mm ratcheting wrench that I wrapped in tape. They might even sell some by the batteries.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
A 7 year old battery is not worth worrying about, get it out of the bike.
Buy a new battery in the Spring.
Don`t try loosening the bolts with a screwdriver, use a 10mm wrench.
Never leave a discharged battery in a vehicle if the temperature will go below freezing.
Buy a new battery in the Spring.
Don`t try loosening the bolts with a screwdriver, use a 10mm wrench.
Never leave a discharged battery in a vehicle if the temperature will go below freezing.
