time for a new battery
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 3
From: Mebane, NC
time for a new battery
Looks like it may be time for a new battery. My bike hasn't been cranking like it used to and it appears the battery is weak.
My last two batteries have been HD and each have lasted about 2 years. My bike is stored in a garage and I use the HD tender most of the time.
I was looking at an Odyssey battery specifically the PC545MJ. It has great specs and many good reviews. I was about to pull the trigger and I came across some info about the proper way to charge this battery. Apparently Odyssey recommends their chargers/tenders because many will not fully charge the battery. They even say the factory HD stator will not be sufficient to properly charge the battery. Anybody ran into this?
My local Indy is a Deka dealer so I may just go that route.
My last two batteries have been HD and each have lasted about 2 years. My bike is stored in a garage and I use the HD tender most of the time.
I was looking at an Odyssey battery specifically the PC545MJ. It has great specs and many good reviews. I was about to pull the trigger and I came across some info about the proper way to charge this battery. Apparently Odyssey recommends their chargers/tenders because many will not fully charge the battery. They even say the factory HD stator will not be sufficient to properly charge the battery. Anybody ran into this?
My local Indy is a Deka dealer so I may just go that route.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,732
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
www.batterymart.com they sell Odyssey and Big Crank which i think is Deka...They are in Winchester VA so you will get it in 2 days. I have a Big Crank in my bike. for 1.5 years now and now issues. Best price i could find at the time.
Last edited by Notgrownup; Aug 24, 2012 at 12:19 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
I've been running one in mine for 2 years now with no problem. Matter of fact its the only battery I've used that seems like its standing up to my 113". Could be they are just trying to sell you a $66 charger but it sounds like a bunch of crap to me. I don't think their charger puts out special Odyssey brand electrons.
As far as what they say about custom bikes with high draw not charging them enough, I guess that depends on how much you ride. I average about 2200 a month on mine. If yours is a garage queen you may have problems. But consider this, the odyssey has more CCA than most batteries out there and definitely a lot more that the HD (deka) batteries you have been using. If the bike draws more than the Odyssey can give it with out having to charge it sometimes what do you think a lesser battery will give you?
Another thing to consider is compression. I'm running 10.2:1 with 101.5hp and 124 ftlb tq. I have compression releases. When I forget to hit them before I start the bike I would say it cranks a good 50% slower. If you are running through batteries quick you may want to consider putting some in.
As far as what they say about custom bikes with high draw not charging them enough, I guess that depends on how much you ride. I average about 2200 a month on mine. If yours is a garage queen you may have problems. But consider this, the odyssey has more CCA than most batteries out there and definitely a lot more that the HD (deka) batteries you have been using. If the bike draws more than the Odyssey can give it with out having to charge it sometimes what do you think a lesser battery will give you?
Another thing to consider is compression. I'm running 10.2:1 with 101.5hp and 124 ftlb tq. I have compression releases. When I forget to hit them before I start the bike I would say it cranks a good 50% slower. If you are running through batteries quick you may want to consider putting some in.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
Nothing Wrong With DEKA!
I call BS on Odyssey batteries not being able to be charged by ALMOST any charger other than their own! I'll go even further to say that if they state that the HD factory stator will not be sufficient to properly charge their battery then according to them their battery will fail in a stock HD!
All wet cell batteries are supposed to come FULLY CHARGED and ready to go. AGM batteries offer the latest in battery technology. Because they are sealed, if they need to be charged, they need to be charged at a slower rate. If you need to not use the vehicle over an extended period of time, a tender is a good thing. If you go DEKA make sure it is AGM.
Don't be so quick to plug in the tender. Only use it when you know the bike will be laid up for an extended time.
All wet cell batteries are supposed to come FULLY CHARGED and ready to go. AGM batteries offer the latest in battery technology. Because they are sealed, if they need to be charged, they need to be charged at a slower rate. If you need to not use the vehicle over an extended period of time, a tender is a good thing. If you go DEKA make sure it is AGM.
Don't be so quick to plug in the tender. Only use it when you know the bike will be laid up for an extended time.
Last edited by jeffreydsilver; Aug 24, 2012 at 01:15 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 3
From: Mebane, NC
I've been running one in mine for 2 years now with no problem. Matter of fact its the only battery I've used that seems like its standing up to my 113". Could be they are just trying to sell you a $66 charger but it sounds like a bunch of crap to me. I don't think their charger puts out special Odyssey brand electrons.
As far as what they say about custom bikes with high draw not charging them enough, I guess that depends on how much you ride. I average about 2200 a month on mine. If yours is a garage queen you may have problems. But consider this, the odyssey has more CCA than most batteries out there and definitely a lot more that the HD (deka) batteries you have been using. If the bike draws more than the Odyssey can give it with out having to charge it sometimes what do you think a lesser battery will give you?
Another thing to consider is compression. I'm running 10.2:1 with 101.5hp and 124 ftlb tq. I have compression releases. When I forget to hit them before I start the bike I would say it cranks a good 50% slower. If you are running through batteries quick you may want to consider putting some in.
As far as what they say about custom bikes with high draw not charging them enough, I guess that depends on how much you ride. I average about 2200 a month on mine. If yours is a garage queen you may have problems. But consider this, the odyssey has more CCA than most batteries out there and definitely a lot more that the HD (deka) batteries you have been using. If the bike draws more than the Odyssey can give it with out having to charge it sometimes what do you think a lesser battery will give you?
Another thing to consider is compression. I'm running 10.2:1 with 101.5hp and 124 ftlb tq. I have compression releases. When I forget to hit them before I start the bike I would say it cranks a good 50% slower. If you are running through batteries quick you may want to consider putting some in.
I have compression release valves and use them every time I crank the bike. I also only use the tender when the bike bike will be sitting for a while. I'm usually on my bike 3-4 days a week so it's definitely not a garage queen.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
Yeah, once again, I'm with Jeffrey. I call BS on having to use their charger. As far as them saying you have to drive at least 150 miles to put a charge on the battery with 32 amp stator...I don't know. All I know is in two years I've never had a problem and I don't own a tender. I ride year round so I've never had a need for one.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 91
Likes: 1
From: chicago
I guess I was lucky .. my stock battery lasted 6yrs .. has a battery tener on during winter storage and garage new got colder than 40.
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
07 Heriage, bought in May of 07..
Battery lasted till May of this Yr, 5yrs almost to the day. And I put her on the tender during the 5-6 months of winter storage, but not during the summer.
Our rides usually are 50 to 100 miles everyday that its nice out, so usually 4-6 days a week.
Installed a new Battery Plus battery,, their just across the street, so I didn't have to drive 90 miles to get a HD one.
On any new battery I buy I always put it on the 2 amp trickle charger till the light goes out to make sure they start out with a full charge.
.
Battery lasted till May of this Yr, 5yrs almost to the day. And I put her on the tender during the 5-6 months of winter storage, but not during the summer.
Our rides usually are 50 to 100 miles everyday that its nice out, so usually 4-6 days a week.
Installed a new Battery Plus battery,, their just across the street, so I didn't have to drive 90 miles to get a HD one.
On any new battery I buy I always put it on the 2 amp trickle charger till the light goes out to make sure they start out with a full charge.
.
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
OK... then why would you want their battery? All total BS sales crap. There is some reason your batterys only last two years...short trips, regulator over- charging etc...changing battery brands is not likely to change that. My last HD battery died while I was loading up to go out of town...so I ran down to my local Orileys auto parts store...their sealed battery was obviously made by the same manufacturer as my HD sealed battery at a cheaper price...where do you think I will buy my next one?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,613
Likes: 7,087
From: SoCal / AZ
I have Odyssey batteries in more than a couple vehicles (I have four in my boat). I have always used standard chargers that are compatable with AGM batteries, and have never had a problem. I have three on my boat that I will discharge and re-charge (using them to deep cycle and power onboard equipment) several times in a 3-4 day trip, and they charge fine.