Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

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Oct 29, 2006 | 07:26 PM

RenoRainesRenegade

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From: Central Ohio

Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

My Softail Custom is my first softail, and I am not sure of the best place to anchor the battery tender pigtail. I got it out of the front of the battery compartment easy enough, but unlike a dresser, where you can anchor it to the frame just in front of a side cover and it's pretty unobtrusive but very accessible, nothing on my bike jumps out at me. The stealer said to anchor it to one of the oil lines, but that looks stupid, imho, especially since the pigtail is black and the lines and oil tank are chrome. I can run it downward between the rear of the coil cover and the front of the oil tank on the left side, but it would be hanging loose, no place to use a cable tie.
I'm sure the best place is staring me right in the face, but as of now, I am blind to it. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Oct 29, 2006 | 07:30 PM

Shovelhead Bob

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RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

Anchor it to the coil wires, and make sure that you leave enough cable so it can fold UP (SnapClip end), and be hidden by the coil and cover....

Oct 29, 2006 | 10:28 PM

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From: Rochester, NY

RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Shovelhead Bob
Anchor it to the coil wires, and make sure that you leave enough cable so it can fold UP (SnapClip end), and be hidden by the coil and cover....

Not sure that's a very good idea, you don't ever want to attach anything metalic or a wire, especially a grounded one to the coil wires. It may not cause trouble with brand new wires today, but its nearly guarenteed to give you fits trying to find the cause of miss fireing plugs down the road.
I have seen it happen inumerabe times in cars and trucks where the wires are touching or just too close to some part of the block, body or other wires. Start it up at night with the hood open and its like a blue light show with high voltage arc's jumping all over the place.
I looked on my Custom and found a couple of places that might suit your needs.
This first one is behind the oil tank, there already is a harness running through there that you can strap it too.
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This second one is in the front of the oil tank. Behind the coil there is a wire running down the fron of the tank that you can strap it too..
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I'll be getting a tender in the next week or two and I'm thinking that the first one looks like the best bet.

BTW when you had the seat off and the battery exposed did you notice if the terminals looked a little close to the tank sides?
Somebody had a problem with their battery shorting out to the tank and cooking the braided oil lines and starting a fire. Might not be a bad idea to make sure it has something non-conductive between the terminals and any metalic parts of the tank its sitting in.

Oct 29, 2006 | 10:57 PM

RenoRainesRenegade

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From: Central Ohio

RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

Thanks for the tips, guys. I saw the thread about the fire, that would freak me out. Yeah, I think I will see if I can put something between the terminal ends and frame, kinda close, but not touching at rest. Rubber or maybe cover the ends of the terminals with electrical tape.

Oct 29, 2006 | 11:11 PM

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From: Rochester, NY

RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

I haven't opened mine up to see if mine might be a problem, but I already am looking for some hard plastic to stick in there. I don't trust tape at all. Its way too easy for metal parts to cut through for my taste.

Oct 30, 2006 | 01:00 AM

Shovelhead Bob

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RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

COIL WIRES!!!!!

Not SPARK PLUG WIRES.......

Guess what???? You gave pics to where to attach it to... and guess what those wires are (in the 2d pic)?????

The coil lead....

And when you zip tie it, you ensure that you have some length, so the end isn't dangling down and hidden.....

You tuck it behind the coil......

Oct 30, 2006 | 01:08 AM

In Memoriam Citoriplus

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From: Rochester, NY

RE: Where to anchor a battery tender pigtail?

Sorry, I misunderstood your posting and stand corrected. Rereading it I realized I jumped to a conclusion that's not supported by the facts and appologize for thinking that you must have been well into your second six pack when you typed that.
I have no such excuse, I don't particularly like beer. But i do like Vodka!!! [sm=icon_cheers.gif]

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Shovelhead Bob

COIL WIRES!!!!!

Not SPARK PLUG WIRES.......

Guess what???? You gave pics to where to attach it to... and guess what those wires are (in the 2d pic)?????

The coil lead....

And when you zip tie it, you ensure that you have some length, so the end isn't dangling down and hidden.....

You tuck it behind the coil......