Another Softail Battery Thread!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Dark Side of the Moon
I waited 10 days for my bike to be delivered from out of state by Haulbikes, all my jealous and otherwise nosey neighbors are all outside watching as my shiny new Fatboy rolls out of the eighteen wheeler, I jump on it ready to roll off in a blaze of glory...and click-click-click...the battery is dead.
The Haulbikes driver told me it had a full charge at the dealer, and his guess was the security system had drained the battery. 10 Days?
While I keep mine on a battery tender, I always wonder how many days I could go before not being able to start it. I'm not sure it would last 20 days to even go into "low power mode."
The Haulbikes driver told me it had a full charge at the dealer, and his guess was the security system had drained the battery. 10 Days?
While I keep mine on a battery tender, I always wonder how many days I could go before not being able to start it. I'm not sure it would last 20 days to even go into "low power mode."
Thanks for any info.........
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 491
Likes: 139
From: Bel Air, MD
Haulbikes gets an A+ from me. They gave a wide window at first of 2-3 weeks, then emailed me to narrow to 5-7 days. Then the driver called me and told me he had the opportunity to deliver sooner than that and I agreed. He called me on my cell the night before delivery, then again when he was an hour out, and then when he was 5 minutes out. What was originally 2-3 weeks took 6 days. Professional, fast, reasonably priced. I'd use them again.
From Cincinnati OH to Bel Air MD, $644. Haulbikes allowed me to get prices from all across the country for the bike I wanted...not what the local dealers had in stock. When my local dealer wouldn't work with me on the bike I wanted, I went out of state and saved 2K on a new 2012 end of year.
The rig.
My bike coming off the rig (and my labradoodle standing guard).
From Cincinnati OH to Bel Air MD, $644. Haulbikes allowed me to get prices from all across the country for the bike I wanted...not what the local dealers had in stock. When my local dealer wouldn't work with me on the bike I wanted, I went out of state and saved 2K on a new 2012 end of year.
The rig.
My bike coming off the rig (and my labradoodle standing guard).
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
From the manual on the system for my 04 Heritage...
"The LOW POWER mode prevents the security system from discharging the battery after a period of 20 days without any ignition switch activity.
The security system will enter the LOW POWER mode automatically after 20 days have passed whether the security system is armed or disarmed.
In this LOW POWER mode, when motion is detected or the ignition is turned on, the system issues a warning beep and re-enters the normal security mode.
When the LOW POWER mode is entered, the security lamp stops flashing to conserve power."
Boy is THAT helpful
"The LOW POWER mode prevents the security system from discharging the battery after a period of 20 days without any ignition switch activity.
The security system will enter the LOW POWER mode automatically after 20 days have passed whether the security system is armed or disarmed.
In this LOW POWER mode, when motion is detected or the ignition is turned on, the system issues a warning beep and re-enters the normal security mode.
When the LOW POWER mode is entered, the security lamp stops flashing to conserve power."
Boy is THAT helpful
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,633
Likes: 4,862
From: Missouri City,TX
FWIW, if the weather is bad and if it's cold I just use a Battery Tender Plus if I know the bike gonna sit for a week at a time. It keeps the battery charged and I don't have to worry about it...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,810
From: Centennial, CO
Same here.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 234
Likes: 2
From: Largo, Florida
I can't use a tender cause I live in a apt complex. I go out once a week & let it run for 10 min. I missed a few weeks once & my security system had drawn to much power to let it start. I'm assuming its a stock battery cause my bike was 100% stock when I bought it. But once a week start with a strong start.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,232
Likes: 6,296
From: Honah Lee
The security system draws a very small 3.0 milliamper (mA) in the armed mode. However when you first hook the negative wire to battery it draws 16-25 mA for 30 seconds and this is what makes the big spark. The ECM, voltage regulator, and speedometer draw 2.0 mA with the key off. None of this will affect a well charged battery over about a month. The biggest problem is consumer error. Leaving switch on when shutting off handlebar kill switch or short runs. Also loose wires on the battery. Especially if you put an aftermarket seat on. Most people do not realize that a Softail battery is held tight by the original seat. Without this the battery moves around and the heavy wire works loose. If you do not drive it a couple time a week for an hour you need to keep battery tender on it and be sure it is a quality maximum of 750mA one. Do not jump, push start or use a large amp charger on it except in an emergency. You will be better off and cheaper to pay for a flatbed.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 13, 2013 at 11:27 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 149
From: FL
My battery is over 5 yrs old now and still going strong. Don't ever worry about the security, I'm in the habit of plugging it into the tender every time I park it in the garage. Still thinking about a new battery though, I've never in my life had one give me any kind of warning before it went bad.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,232
Likes: 6,296
From: Honah Lee
My battery is over 5 yrs old now and still going strong. Don't ever worry about the security, I'm in the habit of plugging it into the tender every time I park it in the garage. Still thinking about a new battery though, I've never in my life had one give me any kind of warning before it went bad.
Same here and that is down side of the maintenance charger. More then likely it is going to get it's last start coming off the charger and about the only warning at the local watering hole is going to be uhh click click. Since I do not go far and retired with plenty of time, I just make sure it's charged good and twice now I have pulled it and carried it to my local Auto Zone. He sets his test machine on the CCA listed on my battery and if prints out all the data after machine loads and draws it down. You can be assured it's still OK if it passes. I have noticed my battery after setting about 2 months was down to about 12.5 volts or below 75% charged last March. I was out of the country and did not want to leave charger on it. However the next day after a day on the carger it was fine.
12.8 = full charged
12.6 = 75%
12.3 = 50%
12.0 =25%