Charging issue, battery drain, short?
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4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Lemoore, CA
Charging issue, battery drain, short?
My last couple rides have gone like this...
I charge my battery on the trickle charger till it's good and green. I go ride with the boys all over creation and stop and start the bike 8 to 10 times over the day. Eventually the bike gets to the point where, like the embarrassment of you seeing my fat girlfriend, I have to get a push start cuz there's not enough juice. Then after 10 miles or so going on down the road, I can't go over 60 because there's not enough voltage to make the spark hot enough to fire when I get on throttle. eventually the spark completely goes and the bike backfires to a stop. I'll get a jump start by jumper cable just enough to start the bike and it fires up and I drive it home 20 miles no problem, but no power for blinkers, speedo or brake lights, etc. But the headlight works. Weird. It'll take the trickle charger 2 days to charge the battery back to green and I repeat the process.
I changed the stator the first time this happened. No luck.
I changed the battery. no luck.
I have a new voltage regulator, not installed yet.
Anybody have an idea? What could be sucking the battery power?
I charge my battery on the trickle charger till it's good and green. I go ride with the boys all over creation and stop and start the bike 8 to 10 times over the day. Eventually the bike gets to the point where, like the embarrassment of you seeing my fat girlfriend, I have to get a push start cuz there's not enough juice. Then after 10 miles or so going on down the road, I can't go over 60 because there's not enough voltage to make the spark hot enough to fire when I get on throttle. eventually the spark completely goes and the bike backfires to a stop. I'll get a jump start by jumper cable just enough to start the bike and it fires up and I drive it home 20 miles no problem, but no power for blinkers, speedo or brake lights, etc. But the headlight works. Weird. It'll take the trickle charger 2 days to charge the battery back to green and I repeat the process.
I changed the stator the first time this happened. No luck.
I changed the battery. no luck.
I have a new voltage regulator, not installed yet.
Anybody have an idea? What could be sucking the battery power?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Do you have a meter? If you do, meter the battery before you start the bike. Then start the bike and meter it again while idling and again with giving it a little throttle. Post up some #'s and lets see what's happening.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Lula,GA
I literally just had a charging prob. Mine was the regulator. Since you have one and have already changed the batt and stator that's more than like the culprit. I'd throw it on. If that doesn't solve the prob you've more than likely got a loose connection somewhere which can also be a pain. But my guess would be regulator.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
I agree with Pitbull. 
You should also check you error codes. That might give you an indication of what's going on. Also, when you start your bike does the engine light stay on a little longer that usual? That's a sign of stator or regulator. It's obviously a charging problem and as you've found out on EFI bikes, no power no EFI and no go. I had my problem (same symptoms as yours) in the high plains of Colorado half way between hell and no where. 
Just one other note. I changed the stator and battery on my bike about a year ago. Recently it started chranking slow and I was wondering WTF.. Thing is it didn't do it consistenly, so when Harley had a look at it they said everything is fine. Well what it turned out to be was the battery terminals needed cleaning. To the eye they looked fine, but apparently there was just enough oxidation on them to create a problem. Cleaned them up and the bike cranks strong again.
You should also check you error codes. That might give you an indication of what's going on. Also, when you start your bike does the engine light stay on a little longer that usual? That's a sign of stator or regulator. It's obviously a charging problem and as you've found out on EFI bikes, no power no EFI and no go. I had my problem (same symptoms as yours) in the high plains of Colorado half way between hell and no where. Just one other note. I changed the stator and battery on my bike about a year ago. Recently it started chranking slow and I was wondering WTF.. Thing is it didn't do it consistenly, so when Harley had a look at it they said everything is fine. Well what it turned out to be was the battery terminals needed cleaning. To the eye they looked fine, but apparently there was just enough oxidation on them to create a problem. Cleaned them up and the bike cranks strong again.
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Nov 24, 2013 at 09:00 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 7
From: Western Pa
If you keep riding your bike before you fix this you will be replacing the battery again. The constant deep discharge of riding till its dead will ruin the battery. They are designed to be drawn down to start the engine and then be topped back off with the charging system and hang out for the ride till you have to start the engine again.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 18,776
Likes: 42
From: Walker WV by way of NEW YORK CITY
My last couple rides have gone like this...
I charge my battery on the trickle charger till it's good and green. I go ride with the boys all over creation and stop and start the bike 8 to 10 times over the day. Eventually the bike gets to the point where, like the embarrassment of you seeing my fat girlfriend, I have to get a push start cuz there's not enough juice. Then after 10 miles or so going on down the road, I can't go over 60 because there's not enough voltage to make the spark hot enough to fire when I get on throttle. eventually the spark completely goes and the bike backfires to a stop. I'll get a jump start by jumper cable just enough to start the bike and it fires up and I drive it home 20 miles no problem, but no power for blinkers, speedo or brake lights, etc. But the headlight works. Weird. It'll take the trickle charger 2 days to charge the battery back to green and I repeat the process.
I changed the stator the first time this happened. No luck.
I changed the battery. no luck.
I have a new voltage regulator, not installed yet.
Anybody have an idea? What could be sucking the battery power?
I charge my battery on the trickle charger till it's good and green. I go ride with the boys all over creation and stop and start the bike 8 to 10 times over the day. Eventually the bike gets to the point where, like the embarrassment of you seeing my fat girlfriend, I have to get a push start cuz there's not enough juice. Then after 10 miles or so going on down the road, I can't go over 60 because there's not enough voltage to make the spark hot enough to fire when I get on throttle. eventually the spark completely goes and the bike backfires to a stop. I'll get a jump start by jumper cable just enough to start the bike and it fires up and I drive it home 20 miles no problem, but no power for blinkers, speedo or brake lights, etc. But the headlight works. Weird. It'll take the trickle charger 2 days to charge the battery back to green and I repeat the process.
I changed the stator the first time this happened. No luck.
I changed the battery. no luck.
I have a new voltage regulator, not installed yet.
Anybody have an idea? What could be sucking the battery power?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,593
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Need to check your battery and the stator first. Regulator can be crudely checked then to see what voltage is across battery at apx. 2000 rpm (about 14.9 v dc). Then with all off and an ammeter in line with battery wire, check milliamp draw. (no more then 1.5 or with alarm 4.)