wtf! I'm going thru batteries
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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wtf! I'm going thru batteries
I'm on battery number 4 since november, I run them down a little because my horse is a hard starter and suddenly they won't charge up. The bike has been completely rewired, I'm at wits end what to do.
I keep my battery on an automatic, 1.5 amp charger constantly - all the time that the bike is not on the road. So i am never trying to start the bike with a marginal charge on the battery.
Using a charger at a setting greater than 2 amps can toast the battery. Best chargers for motorcycle batteries are between .75 amps and 2 amps. I would never use 6, 10, 12 or whatever setting on a large battery charger; those are for large car and truck batteries.
The ironhead should start with perhaps 5 seconds of cranking even when cold. Best to find out why it is hard starting.
If the battery runs down overnight the regulator may be at fault, assuming a solid state reg, not a mechanical one. It contains 3 circuits, one of which is specifically to prevent charge from draining from the battery thru the reg to ground while the bike is not running. Here is a test for that circuit ...
5. Regulator Test
Disconnect the regulator. Connect your ohmmeter to the orange and tan wires. Note the reading. Reverse the connections. Note the reading. One reading should show continuity, the other should show no continuity. If the regulator does not pass this test it is no good. This is the circuit that prevents the reg from draining the batt when the bike sits overnight.
This test only tests one circuit in the regulator, so even if it passes this test it may still be no good. There are other tests of the regulator that require specialized equipment. These tests are in the factory and Clymer manuals. I recommend taking both the reg and the gen to an automotive electric repair shop for testing if needed. Note: these shops usually want to test both parts together.
Using a charger at a setting greater than 2 amps can toast the battery. Best chargers for motorcycle batteries are between .75 amps and 2 amps. I would never use 6, 10, 12 or whatever setting on a large battery charger; those are for large car and truck batteries.
The ironhead should start with perhaps 5 seconds of cranking even when cold. Best to find out why it is hard starting.
If the battery runs down overnight the regulator may be at fault, assuming a solid state reg, not a mechanical one. It contains 3 circuits, one of which is specifically to prevent charge from draining from the battery thru the reg to ground while the bike is not running. Here is a test for that circuit ...
5. Regulator Test
Disconnect the regulator. Connect your ohmmeter to the orange and tan wires. Note the reading. Reverse the connections. Note the reading. One reading should show continuity, the other should show no continuity. If the regulator does not pass this test it is no good. This is the circuit that prevents the reg from draining the batt when the bike sits overnight.
This test only tests one circuit in the regulator, so even if it passes this test it may still be no good. There are other tests of the regulator that require specialized equipment. These tests are in the factory and Clymer manuals. I recommend taking both the reg and the gen to an automotive electric repair shop for testing if needed. Note: these shops usually want to test both parts together.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
exactly as mick says, are you buying the sealed battery? a little bit more money but i am on my 4th year with mine(89$ at napa) and have never took it out of the bike or even hooked a charger to it over winter! my brother in law was going thru batterys like mad also, went to a good batteye and has ran the same batteye for a year now
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
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From: Western South Dakota
Also, has the stator ever been changed out?
Novice
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
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A thought, when you rewired the bike did you use a big enough wire from the gen to the bat? It's probably a 10g or 12g.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
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<i got a sealed battery. And its been on the tender for three days now. And I assumed that they would send me the correct wires with that expensive *** kit i bought. I'll check. But i think this battery might be toast and i literary rode with it once.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Take it to a parts store for a load test.Sounds like You have charging probs,maybe get Yourself a bat. tester and maybe You have a years warranty on these battery's You have already bought?
Lionsm13, I believe Evil has a genny on His bike,no stator
Lionsm13, I believe Evil has a genny on His bike,no stator
Last edited by 70Weight; May 14, 2010 at 08:35 AM.