battery trouble and other mishaps

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Sep 22, 2010 | 07:21 PM

Good Time Gang

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From: swamp-east missouri

battery trouble and other mishaps

The ol'boy i bought my heritage from told me i was going to need a battery, but i figured since i drive it every other day at the least i would be fine. Well, as of late it has been getting sluggish and i knew it was only a matter of time. So today i drove off planning on stopping on the way home and getting a new one. Needless to say i did not make it. it petered out on me at the filling station. i let it sit for a while and got it to fire up and did the only logical thing, called my father. Hell he is retired and always lookin for something to do. he got a non-hd battery, but the same specs and brought it to me at work. I got it installed after work and headed home. Now, let me say here, non HD batteries do not fit to the cables nearly as well. the connections are not flush and i really needed some washers, but did not have them. I head home and get two blocks from being able to coast in when i lost all power. This was a first, but i assumed it was due to the new battery. I got to a safe spot, yanked the seat and wiggled the wires, EFI kicked on, but power cut off when i hit the starter, and there was an odd click. i wiggled and fiddled some more and got it running. i came home and slid a few washers in to make a better connection. I guess my question is, if the battery has a poor connection will it cause a loss of all power, lights, odometer, ect? and what could the click have been?
GTG

Sep 22, 2010 | 07:30 PM

Other Sheep

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Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Escondido, CA

Yes, a bad or loose connection will do exactly that. The click is the starter trying to engage but it eats too much power and you lose connection at the weak point.

Sep 23, 2010 | 07:11 AM

tk353

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Leander Texas

i had that post issue with non hd battery. i bent the eye on the cable so i could top mount the cables. much better than washers and cable direct contact with the battery post.

Sep 23, 2010 | 08:11 AM

DR. V-TWIN

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Joined: Jan 2009

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From: Los Angeles, CA

Loose cables are trouble. I got the Harley battery as I don't want to mess with the cables. You think they get loose on a softail, try riding a bike with an "A" motor. the cables loosen up much quicker due to all the extra vibration and shaking of that motor.

Drew

Sep 23, 2010 | 09:08 PM

oct1949

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Joined: May 2007

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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

Only time I've had problems was when the bolts was loose on the battery... NOw I keep them snugged all the time.

Sep 23, 2010 | 09:46 PM

magnum629c

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Joined: Jun 2008

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From: redbank new Jersey

every time I take my seat off I check the bolts there 10mm. Harleys do not run well on a low battery so when mine gets to 4 years old I just get a new one .......stuck on the side of the road is know fun.