Battery Maintenance Information
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 19
From: Philippines
Battery Maintenance Information
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I’ve just replaced the Harley Davidson Brand battery in my Fatboy. I installed the battery 6.5 years ago and have religiously used a battery tender if the bike sat for more than a week without being ridden. The battery is still strong and holds a charge and I only replaced it because of its age. Don’t want to test fate and discover its true lifespan when away from home. Harley batteries are not top of the line products but this is proof that a battery will last many years if properly cared for. A battery tender is well worth the money and I highly recommend owning one and using it.
6.5 years of use out of a $120 dollar battery! R.I.P.
I’ve just replaced the Harley Davidson Brand battery in my Fatboy. I installed the battery 6.5 years ago and have religiously used a battery tender if the bike sat for more than a week without being ridden. The battery is still strong and holds a charge and I only replaced it because of its age. Don’t want to test fate and discover its true lifespan when away from home. Harley batteries are not top of the line products but this is proof that a battery will last many years if properly cared for. A battery tender is well worth the money and I highly recommend owning one and using it.
6.5 years of use out of a $120 dollar battery! R.I.P.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 6
From: Boston
My HD battery is POS. I hate it. Never lasts
I have a lot of custom wiring on my bike which I thought there was a constant draw of power but I installed a on/off switch to things that are directly connected to my battery such as my air ride to solve it. Still the battery is junk.
I have a lot of custom wiring on my bike which I thought there was a constant draw of power but I installed a on/off switch to things that are directly connected to my battery such as my air ride to solve it. Still the battery is junk.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 529
From: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
I second the value of a SMART battery charger, like the Battery tender models, and the smart charger available from HD which are even better because they are "water resistant".
If you have one of HD's "water resistant" mdoels, you can use one on a bike stored outdoors, provided you don't tempt fate by exposing it directly to rain. i.e. at least place it under, not beside, the crankcase, and make sure it is on a board so that it is elevated versus the surrounding ground, so that it doesn't get "flooded" in a heavy rain.
It's also important to:
- Check the tightness of the battery terminals periodically, since the vibration on a bike tends to loosen them. How tight? Basically, they need to be tightened via a wrench, not by a screwdriver
- Clean the terminals when they start to look corroded, and after tightening them,"seal them" with dielectric grease
Jim G
If you have one of HD's "water resistant" mdoels, you can use one on a bike stored outdoors, provided you don't tempt fate by exposing it directly to rain. i.e. at least place it under, not beside, the crankcase, and make sure it is on a board so that it is elevated versus the surrounding ground, so that it doesn't get "flooded" in a heavy rain.
It's also important to:
- Check the tightness of the battery terminals periodically, since the vibration on a bike tends to loosen them. How tight? Basically, they need to be tightened via a wrench, not by a screwdriver
- Clean the terminals when they start to look corroded, and after tightening them,"seal them" with dielectric grease
Jim G
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
I use my battery tender all the time. If I'm not going to ride for a few days it's on it. I got 6.5 years out of my first Harley battery (it finally started turning over really slow) and thought since I had such good luck with the first Harley battery I would buy another. I'm on year 5 with it and have yet to have any problems with it. I'll probably keep buying Harley battery's till I get one that is not worth a darn.
Trending Topics
I replaced my battery a little over 2 years ago with a battery i bought at wal mart. The first winter it was on a battery tender for a few months of not riding it. This last winter it went all season off the tender and not being ridden. I fired the bike right up without issues..
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