I have one for your thoughts: 2008 Heritage Classic. Started it today (1st time in a month or so) and went about 35 miles. Came out of Lowes and turned the switch on, no prob so far; pushed the starter and it gave a quick clunk (not a bad sound, just did nothing after that). Then it was 100% dead, like I disconnected the battery. Electronics out, had to reset clock etc. flipped it off/on ... same. After about 2 min I turned it on again and it fired right up and I rode home. Pulled into garage and shut it down. About a min later I hit the starter and it was totally dead again (everything was out). Took off the seat to check the battery and just for the heck of it I hit the starter, fired right up. Took out the battery and put it on a charger, it was at 12.56 v and the charger said 85% when I took it from the bike. Let it go til charger said 100% then checked voltage, only 12.95 (just 5 min off charger). To the best of my knowledge this bike does not have a resettable ckt breaker. Main fuse is good (and tight), wiggled all the connections, all tight, ground straps tight and no corrosion. Main system relay good (bench test).
I'm thinking that the battery has destroyed itself internally and one (or more) of the cell interconnections is on it's last leg. Battery was new 05/2017. Because I run it so little I have it on a battery tender but I also have a timer on it. The tender charges the battery twice a day for 1 hr each time.
Before you ask, no I did not check the charging rate with the motor running (my bad), but with running 35 miles (50 min) and only a 30 min stop, it should have been charged.
Thoughts???

 

Sounds to me like you're tripping a circuit breaker. Takes a few minutes to cool down. Get rid of the timer on your tender. They are designed to charge, then maintain.

 

I have one your thoughts as well; try hitting return when you post.

Having sentences run into each other without any breaks makes it difficult to read and almost impossible to follow.

 

what do you do when you have to read a paragraph in a book? this post wasn't bad at all.

 

I had noticed I need to change out the battery approx. every 3 1/2 years. They are kept on a battery tender while hanging out in the garage. This is my situation.

 

The post was difficult to follow, sentences all run together in a large paragraph are difficult to read on a screen.

OP: Take the battery to an auto parts store and have it load tested.

Replace the main circuit breaker.

 

FWIW: I have my battery on a tender a day / month; I copied this from my dealer who maintains their winter storage bikes in this way; seems to work well...

 

I'm not reading a book; I'm trying to read and interpret someone's problem so as to provide them with possible assistance.

My response was not meant to be trolling but rather provide advice on a clearer way to post a question so as others will be more willing to take the time to read it and provide a possible solution to the problem.

You tell me if this is easier to read and interpret:

"I have one for your thoughts: 2008 Heritage Classic.

Started it today (1st time in a month or so) and went about 35 miles.
Came out of Lowes and turned the switch on, no prob so far; pushed the starter and it gave a quick clunk (not a bad sound, just did nothing after that).

Then it was 100% dead, like I disconnected the battery.
Electronics out, had to reset clock etc. flipped it off/on ... same.

After about 2 min I turned it on again and it fired right up and I rode home.
Pulled into garage and shut it down.

About a min later I hit the starter and it was totally dead again (everything was out).
Took off the seat to check the battery and just for the heck of it I hit the starter, fired right up.

Took out the battery and put it on a charger, it was at 12.56 v and the charger said 85% when I took it from the bike.
Let it go til charger said 100% then checked voltage, only 12.95 (just 5 min off charger).

To the best of my knowledge this bike does not have a resettable ckt breaker.
Main fuse is good (and tight), wiggled all the connections, all tight, ground straps tight and no corrosion. Main system relay good (bench test).

I'm thinking that the battery has destroyed itself internally and one (or more) of the cell interconnections is on it's last leg.
Battery was new 05/2017.

Because I run it so little I have it on a battery tender but I also have a timer on it.
The tender charges the battery twice a day for 1 hr each time.

Before you ask, no I did not check the charging rate with the motor running (my bad), but with running 35 miles (50 min) and only a 30 min stop, it should have been charged.

Thoughts???"

 

My first thought is a loose connection somewhere.
However since you checked all the connections then since the battery is 3-4 years old that's what I would try next.

I've had pretty good luck with Duracell's for my local Battery + Bulbs..

 

Check the ignition switch for crud and corruption.
ETA:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...le-riding.html