Max probably knows what he's talking about..

Everything I have read says a properly matched milamperage name brand maintenance charger suited for the the CCI rating should not hurt it.

My last Softail was a easy battery pull and I always pulled it when we went South for sometime up to 6 months.

I left it on it in an unheated garage. The maintenance charger was a Harley 0.75 miliamp
I didn't want the risk of something melting down in the middle of my bike.

My other maintenance charger is a Bell. Think same milamp but it does have the lights Harleys has. It's probably 50 years old.

Now riding season I did this...what I recently told this user. Post 7

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/2018-...-replaced.html

I have always gotten 4 or so years out of a battery. Harley branded tended to last a little longer but sure not worth paying double the price for me. I have always stated within a 100 miles of home except for two long trips. (FL and Stugis years ago.. neither was enjoyable for me..wife wants no part of bikes..)

I been biking since the 60s. Zundapp, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha . Not till late 90s did I go Harley.

 

Barney boy is seeing if Max's statement was sarcastic. Boy oh boy, not a dull moment on the HDFORUM..

Yes, an overcharged AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery can absolutely dry out and suffer permanent damage
. While AGM batteries are sealed and designed for internal gas recombination, persistent overcharging causes excessive heat and gas production that forces the safety valves to vent, releasing water and leading to premature failure.

How Overcharging Dries Out an AGM Battery:

• Excessive Gas Generation: Overcharging breaks down the water in the electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen gases through electrolysis.
• Venting: If the generation of gas exceeds the battery's ability to recombine it, the internal pressure causes the safety valves to open, releasing the gases.
• Irreversible Loss: Once the gas escapes, it cannot be replaced. The electrolyte level drops, the glass mats dry out, and the battery loses capacity.

• Signs of Damage: A hot battery, swollen sides, or a rotten egg/sulfur smell (indicating sulfur venting) are signs of a ruined, dried-out AGM battery. Overcharging by as little as .05 to .1 volts per cell can reduce AGM battery life by.
• Temperature Matters: Higher temperatures mean the battery is more prone to overcharging; the charging voltage should be lower in warmer conditions.
• Use Proper Charger: Always use a charger specifically designed for AGM batteries to prevent this damage.

To avoid this, ensure your charger has the correct voltage settings for AGM batteries and does not leave them in a high-voltage state for too long.

 

Who is your information directed at? In post #3 the Thread Starter stated he has this charger.

 

From reading Max's response to your question, he still thinks like me that it's best not to use a maintenance charger all the time.

For sure for me, I don't use the 750 milamp but occasionally.

I would see no need to use the one in the picture.

My post was just my opinion and what I do. I am not an expert or qualified to tell people what to do.

Thomas knows the results he gets and is satisfied with them. Now up there somewhere in thread someone said alway keep it on. I disagree for sure on that and gave my opinion why.

 

Wouldnt using an AGM specific battery tender mitigate the issues you’re talking about? Seems like the AI explanation you posted thinks it would.

 

AI says it won't hurt it.

I use to do it .. Probably at least 3 months out of the year.

Then I worked on my brother's in law Ford that had a battery explode spraying battery fluid up on hood and raining down on engine. The car had a habit of just cutting off driving down the road after that.

After that, it stuck in my head to stop doing that.

Now like I explained, during riding season, the other reason...

 

Yes. You will be fine. I have several, and have customers with several AGMs that have been on a good smart maintenance charger for many months at a time, and are several years old.

The new Nocos are great. I have one AGM that is 10 years old for my Jeep that lives on one. Still tests in spec.

You would be wise to watch some of the advice you get from certain members here. The AI is always part of his schtick.

 

Oh no! AI. I thought it said it was OK? So did I...

That No came from another thread, a very no AI person and was fact checked no less..

Might want to read before you make your accusations. And actually know for yourself helps.

I once has a cheap Walmart EverStart last 8 years in a Toyota 4X4.

And the battery in the Harley just got 4 gallons of fresh 10% and started with a China AMG from Walmart that was bought back when Covid 19 was raging.

Now it needed a good soak from the maintenance charger. It's worked ever 6 months since 2020 when I parked it.

Spring when the son grabs the bike hopefully, it will get a new battery. Even for a 50 year old kid, these bikes are a bitch to push.