electric gremlins or something else
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 186
Likes: 38
From: bendigo
electric gremlins or something else
Hi have had an electrical issue which is intermittent, in nature. The engine light and battery light come on. i went to dealer who said battery was good, mind i had just taken it off trickle charge! it will just right it self and start easily for a period. It then gets a bit sluggish ir it hasnt been on charge. I tend to use trickle charger fairly regularly.
Any help greatley appreciated.
Any help greatley appreciated.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 934
Likes: 677
From: Ohio
I would take a multi meter and check at the battery should be around 12.5v with engine off, then start it and check should be around 13.8 -14 v
If it doesnt raise up close to 14 look at your charging system. If it does either you dont ride long enough or its a bad battery.
If it doesnt raise up close to 14 look at your charging system. If it does either you dont ride long enough or its a bad battery.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,533
Likes: 30,855
From: Pennsylvania
1. How old is the battery?
2. A load test is always prudent.
3. What is the voltage read with a VOM when starting.
4. Check all battery connections on both ends.
5. Check all fuses for corrosion and tightness in their holder.
6. Trickle charger or battery maintainer?
Rounders will be along to provide his expertise.............
NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.
2. A load test is always prudent.
3. What is the voltage read with a VOM when starting.
4. Check all battery connections on both ends.
5. Check all fuses for corrosion and tightness in their holder.
6. Trickle charger or battery maintainer?
Rounders will be along to provide his expertise.............
NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.
Last edited by CoolBreeze3646; Apr 25, 2025 at 07:14 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
There's 2 stickies in the electrical section for testing your stator voltage output.
Then check you voltage regulator output at the battery.
Finally check your ground for your voltage regulator.
Then check you voltage regulator output at the battery.
Finally check your ground for your voltage regulator.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,460
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
Problem with this is you may not learn you have a bad charging system or battery until later in the day.
Battery light will also come on for charging issues, or low voltage.
Check the codes through the dash. Bike off, hold trip button in, and turn on.
Check connections on battery. When it happened to me I had bad connector on volt reg from having volt reg off so much.
Rev bike up to 3-4k rpms should have 14.4ish volts dc. Problem is this doesn't help with intermittent But it is a start.
Try to note when it is happening, idle or lower speeds? Stator output is dependent on RPM.
My employer had bought me quite a few expensive flukes, how about you?
Plus I a maintain my bikes.
Battery light will also come on for charging issues, or low voltage.
Check the codes through the dash. Bike off, hold trip button in, and turn on.
Check connections on battery. When it happened to me I had bad connector on volt reg from having volt reg off so much.
Rev bike up to 3-4k rpms should have 14.4ish volts dc. Problem is this doesn't help with intermittent But it is a start.
Try to note when it is happening, idle or lower speeds? Stator output is dependent on RPM.
Plus I a maintain my bikes.
Last edited by Rounders; Apr 25, 2025 at 06:47 AM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 176
Likes: 43
From: New Port RicheyFL
I would take a multi meter and check at the battery should be around 12.5v with engine off, then start it and check should be around 13.8 -14 v
If it doesnt raise up close to 14 look at your charging system. If it does either you dont ride long enough or its a bad battery.
If it doesnt raise up close to 14 look at your charging system. If it does either you dont ride long enough or its a bad battery.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,071
Likes: 1,006
voltage is not the only consideration
you can have volts and little amps
a vom will not detect all issues
went through a similar issue and never caught it until the very end.
all it take is a few strands to get voltage but clearly not enough to carry the amps.
you can have volts and little amps
a vom will not detect all issues
went through a similar issue and never caught it until the very end.
all it take is a few strands to get voltage but clearly not enough to carry the amps.