Battery Question
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 135
Likes: 40
From: Chicago Area
Battery Question
I have a new BikeMaster Conventional Battery, J&P Cycles Part Number: 912-470 on my 1973 Electra Glide FLH. I get about three good turn-overs before if fails to crank again. I pulled the battery and had it load checked, and that came out ok. I have clean grounds and have run 10 Gauge wire with additional grounding directly from the battery to the starter. I have a new solenoid and a new relay. I think the battery is 290 CCA. I have a new rectifier and Im charging at 14v or so. When it fails to crank, it clicks with the started motor turning but knocking in and out of the ring gear for cranking. Normal???
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 135
Likes: 40
From: Chicago Area
I ran an additional ground from the battery to the ground terminal on the starter - not totally trusting the frame ground path. All of the original cable is still there. Thanks, Jim
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 152
Likes: 50
From: Long Island
#1 you can't expect much from a $90 Chiwanese battery
#2 are you running 10awg wire from your battery>solenoid / solenoid > starter? if so, I would check to see if its melted somewhere.... replace those cables with the properly rated 4awg wire before you rig yourself up for another problem..
The additional ground is good to have - useless if your starter / battery cables are cooked well done.
#2 are you running 10awg wire from your battery>solenoid / solenoid > starter? if so, I would check to see if its melted somewhere.... replace those cables with the properly rated 4awg wire before you rig yourself up for another problem..
The additional ground is good to have - useless if your starter / battery cables are cooked well done.
Last edited by TommyShovels; Oct 24, 2019 at 05:00 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 135
Likes: 40
From: Chicago Area
#1 you can't expect much from a $90 Chiwanese battery
#2 are you running 10awg wire from your battery>solenoid / solenoid > starter? if so, I would check to see if its melted somewhere.... replace those cables with the properly rated 4awg wire before you rig yourself up for another problem..
The additional ground is good to have - useless if your starter / battery cables are cooked well done.
#2 are you running 10awg wire from your battery>solenoid / solenoid > starter? if so, I would check to see if its melted somewhere.... replace those cables with the properly rated 4awg wire before you rig yourself up for another problem..
The additional ground is good to have - useless if your starter / battery cables are cooked well done.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
Proper gauge wire is first... Then... Look very very carefully at the Ground side of the battery...same heavier gauge wire, and Spotless clean...metal to metal connection to the Frame...
What is the Battery voltage? [Digital voltage meter please]
1] at rest
2] key on
3] Starter engaged
4] post start attempt or running....
What is the Battery voltage? [Digital voltage meter please]
1] at rest
2] key on
3] Starter engaged
4] post start attempt or running....
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 135
Likes: 40
From: Chicago Area
Cables are good. All are original gauge which looks to be 4 gauge or so. I did a ground up resto on this bike... all is perfectly clean. I could order new cable though... to get that out of the factor.
I did the voltage checks before.... will do again - as I recall 12.45 after trying to start. 14 while running... but will double check the four states tomorrow.
I did the voltage checks before.... will do again - as I recall 12.45 after trying to start. 14 while running... but will double check the four states tomorrow.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
Cables are good. All are original gauge which looks to be 4 gauge or so. I did a ground up resto on this bike... all is perfectly clean. I could order new cable though... to get that out of the factor.
I did the voltage checks before.... will do again - as I recall 12.45 after trying to start. 14 while running... but will double check the four states tomorrow.
I did the voltage checks before.... will do again - as I recall 12.45 after trying to start. 14 while running... but will double check the four states tomorrow.
12.45 feels low...does it rise itself as it sits??
The Ground up Resto scares me... Powder coat huh??
You Must recheck and clean any coating whatsoever off at all ground points...cable as well as Any sheetmatal, engine, trans... all of it...
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 135
Likes: 40
From: Chicago Area
Please double check... the 14 is OK ... a bit high for my taste... but probably the higher output system..
12.45 feels low...does it rise itself as it sits??
The Ground up Resto scares me... Powder coat huh??
You Must recheck and clean any coating whatsoever off at all ground points...cable as well as Any sheetmatal, engine, trans... all of it...
12.45 feels low...does it rise itself as it sits??
The Ground up Resto scares me... Powder coat huh??
You Must recheck and clean any coating whatsoever off at all ground points...cable as well as Any sheetmatal, engine, trans... all of it...
Battery is at 13.2 when charged by the battery tender.
I had a load test done at Autozone... it reported OK
I left the battery on my workbench for 3 days, and it's discharged to 12.1
Installed in bike and it's all but dead
I opened a case with J&P
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,590
Likes: 3,361
From: Cental, MI
No powder coat on this bike.
Battery is at 13.2 when charged by the battery tender.
I had a load test done at Autozone... it reported OK
I left the battery on my workbench for 3 days, and it's discharged to 12.1
Installed in bike and it's all but dead
I opened a case with J&P
Battery is at 13.2 when charged by the battery tender.
I had a load test done at Autozone... it reported OK
I left the battery on my workbench for 3 days, and it's discharged to 12.1
Installed in bike and it's all but dead
I opened a case with J&P
12.1 is beyond dead BTW...