Battery issues maybe more?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,081
Likes: 1,127
From:
Bulb is most likely a separate issue: either the filament in bulb is broken,incorrect bulb installed or there is a brake switch problem.
The battery: highly unlikely that 20 minutes with switch powered would kill the battery unless battery is in poor condition or bike has lights like a christmas tree. Consider a free load test on battery at an autoshop. Consider review of charging system with cheap digital meter..check both ends of battery positive cable and both ends of negative cable..jumping the battery multiple times can kill the electrical system and cost big money..
Do not add ANYTHING electrical until the present situation is resolved.
NOTE: that a taillight burning out is sometimes a sign of too much voltage..like a voltage regulator taking a dump.
The battery: highly unlikely that 20 minutes with switch powered would kill the battery unless battery is in poor condition or bike has lights like a christmas tree. Consider a free load test on battery at an autoshop. Consider review of charging system with cheap digital meter..check both ends of battery positive cable and both ends of negative cable..jumping the battery multiple times can kill the electrical system and cost big money..
Do not add ANYTHING electrical until the present situation is resolved.
NOTE: that a taillight burning out is sometimes a sign of too much voltage..like a voltage regulator taking a dump.
Thread Starter
|
Supporter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville, TX
So should i just go ahead and take it to the dealership and see whats going on? The one closest to my house is HD of north texas but I bought the bike in allen. I trust the techs up at north texas more and the warentee should still be accepted by them, yes?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 4
If you have a volt meter you can check the charging voltage that your battery is seeing. First check the battery with the ignition turned off. You should see a little over 12 volts across the +/- terminals. If you can get the bike started check the voltage (at the 3k min RPM's) you should be seeing over 13.5 volts give or take a little. If not then it may be your stator is not functioning properly. If you have had the bike on a battery tender and it's not reading at least 12+ volts you make have a shorted cell.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
If U do take it to the dealer I probably would volunteer info about jump starting it.
Never heard about the 3k rpm's before the system starts before.???
heres a couple good reads to help Ya.
http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...ng-system.html
http://community.jpcycles.com/articl...g-systems.aspx
also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOEkm3YFew
.
Last edited by oct1949; Mar 5, 2012 at 11:06 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
Sounds very similar to my problem I had last year with my 09 Fatboy with 25K miles on her. I was going along fine, then my 6 gear indicator and check engine light did some magic light tricks for about 10 minutes. then the check engine light came on. I got it home and noticed my headlight was out. So, I replaced the headlight. Started it back up, and it seemed fine. Went to go to work the next day, started right up, but about 3 minutes down the road the check engine light came on. Not trusting it, I parked it and took the car. Took it to the shop and it turns out the stator was bad. Apparently the stators are known to go out in the 20-25K mile range. There was also a bad rear O2 sensor. My guess is that when the stator blew, it took the headlight and O2 sensor with it. They replaced those under warranty and I've been good for about 8K miles since then.
the video in the post above seems solid. Check your voltage, because one of those components aren't working properly. My guess is either a bad cell in the battery or a bad stator.
I've never seen or heard of an issue coming from a car charging a motorcycle. Both are 12 volt systems. High school electronics class tells me that volts are "pushed" where amps are "pulled" or "drawn." So, as long as the volts match up, it doesn't matter that you're revving your car engine. The system will pull whatever amps it needs as long as the source can deliver it.
Get your stuff fixed under warranty and don't worry about what caused it. Just bad timing.
the video in the post above seems solid. Check your voltage, because one of those components aren't working properly. My guess is either a bad cell in the battery or a bad stator.
I've never seen or heard of an issue coming from a car charging a motorcycle. Both are 12 volt systems. High school electronics class tells me that volts are "pushed" where amps are "pulled" or "drawn." So, as long as the volts match up, it doesn't matter that you're revving your car engine. The system will pull whatever amps it needs as long as the source can deliver it.
Get your stuff fixed under warranty and don't worry about what caused it. Just bad timing.
Try putting a volt meter on the battery, then start the engine you'll see it charges with it running on tick over,increase the revs to about 1200rpm at it will charge at it's maximum.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
I've never seen or heard of an issue coming from a car charging a motorcycle. Both are 12 volt systems. High school electronics class tells me that volts are "pushed" where amps are "pulled" or "drawn." So, as long as the volts match up, it doesn't matter that you're revving your car engine. The system will pull whatever amps it needs as long as the source can deliver it.
Thread Starter
|
Supporter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville, TX
Well I will stop by and get a tender within the next few days and make sure that the battery gets a full charge and go from there. Thank you everyone for the idvice and I will keep ya'll posted on what the outcome is.