OK, well I am back from overseas. The Crossbones has been sitting for almost a year. I rode it a little while I was home on leave in March. First thing is, the tender got unplugged and the wife forgot to plug it back in, so I have been trying to get the battery recharged. Well, today I picked up the black covers for the front axel nuts. I had a set for a standard front end on there for a while because I had them sitting around. I found the ones for the Crossbones in a dealer today and figured why not? Well when I went to swap out the left side (brake side) the bottom of the cap was wet. I looked at my hand and found a red greasy liquid. When I got the cap off, there was some inside the cap as well. My first though was brake fluid, but the caliper wasn't wet any where. Also, none of the painted surfaces are messed up, including the cap which had the fluid sitting on it for who knows how long. Would there be anything inside the axle that would leak out like that? Any ideas? I haven't ridden it yet, but the front brake seems to have pressure in the lever.

 

Can't think of anything in the axle that would give you the red greasy fluid ... when I took mine out the first time there was a little bit of anti seize on it ...
Maybe someone dropped that fluid on there.

I also fear that you will not be able to recharge that battery if it has been sitting like that for a whole year.

 

I think the battery was only left unplugged for a few months. I rode it in March, so it was 6 months tops. I had the same theory about the fluid being spilled, but don't know. I cleaned it up and will check it out in the morning

 

Give it up and get a new battery. I don't know what it is with motorcycle batteries, but once they go dead, they never want to take a charge again. I am getting home from Afghanistan in december and I know right off the bat both my bikes will need new batteries. ( have them in storage with no electricity)

 

Lead Sulfate.
http://www.boatelectric.com/sulfation.htm
When you know you're going to be gone for extended time. Remove the battery and store it on a trickle charger where you do have power.
You have to remove a dead battery to replace it with a new one anyway.
So it's not like it's an extra hassle.

 

Brett, I think you will be fine with recharging the battery. had it happen on mine the first winter I had it. 5 months and no power. The battery is original (2008). It recharged fone and is still going strong. Don't have any ideas on the mystery fluid....
Ride on Man and thanks for your service.....
Spoonie

 

Welcome home. I suspect that the fluid was dripped onto it.

As for the battery, if it charges up, good to go. If not....well, gotta get a new one. If you can, take it to a local auto supply place. They will put it onto their charger/tester. The machine will tell you if it is good or not. If it is, it will charge it too.

YMMV.

 

Welcome home!

 

It's been a pretty hot summer. Could it be the grease in the bearings started to separate and bled out from the heat? Might think about checking them. I know they're sealed, but something if nothing else is making sense.....IDK. Welcome back!

 

That is what I was going to say. My old Shovelhead would do that from the neck bearings if she had to sit up for a while in the hot garage.