Battery issues..
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 245
Likes: 1
From: wenatchee
Battery issues..
Hello folks!!So I out and about last Saturday and when I was about to go home and hop on sporty to start it just went click,click,click!!1st time this happen to me,got the bike last march and dealer said it has "new" batteries..Was able to tow it home, put the battery on the charger, it charged bike run again but the next day it's back to clicking..So I'm thinking I'll just wait until April to buy a new battery but I really still want to ride as much as I can before the snow gets here..Any ideas??
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 238
Likes: 42
From: Montreal
Well, is it cold in wenatchee? Because me, in Canada, it's been between 40F-50F the last week and if the bike is not on the tender 100% of the time, it won't start the next day. I never put it on the tender this summer but now it's a different ball game.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 550
From: Springfield, IL
I changed to a 300 amp battery, the 200 amp stock battery does not always want to turn the bike over when it is below 50 degrees unless the battery is still warm from having been on the tender.
Also you can try putting the bike in gear and rolling it backwards to get the cylinder off of top compression and give starter a chance to have a running start at it.
Also you can try putting the bike in gear and rolling it backwards to get the cylinder off of top compression and give starter a chance to have a running start at it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
Stereo, if that 300 amp battery won't turn your Sporty you may need to clean all the terminals. Twice a year I take all the connectors/terminals off and clean them, then coat them with High Dialectric grease. It's a 310 cca V-2 brand and turns my 1200 over like summertime all the time.
Viks could benefit from the same. When I'm not riding my bike the Battery Tender+ is on it. I don't connect it until the day after a ride when battery has cooled off.
Sitting around partially charged will kill a battery quicker than any other thing.
Viks could benefit from the same. When I'm not riding my bike the Battery Tender+ is on it. I don't connect it until the day after a ride when battery has cooled off.
Sitting around partially charged will kill a battery quicker than any other thing.
Last edited by 1200Cdriver; Nov 5, 2014 at 06:36 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 550
From: Springfield, IL
Stereo, if that 300 amp battery won't turn your Sporty you may need to clean all the terminals. Twice a year I take all the connectors/terminals off and clean them, then coat them with High Dialectric grease. It's a 310 cca V-2 brand and turns my 1200 over like summertime all the time.
Viks could benefit from the same. When I'm not riding my bike the Battery Tender+ is on it. I don't connect it until the day after a ride when battery has cooled off.
Viks could benefit from the same. When I'm not riding my bike the Battery Tender+ is on it. I don't connect it until the day after a ride when battery has cooled off.
Never said it didn't turn it, it is what I went to when the 200 wouldn't turn it. Read again.
If you are trying to deoxidize (clean terminals, fuse contact points also, and contacts) use Deoxit, it is a very good contact cleaner that we use on stereo equipment, safe and a very effective cleaner. Never use WD-40 as a contact cleaner, it is terrible for that purpose.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
Sorry for the mis-read, WD 40 is no good for anything except starting fires. Actually the stuff I use is called No Ox supplied by Gould Battery Company.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 245
Likes: 1
From: wenatchee
Yah I might just have to store my sporty now..I already put stabil before it stopped running so hopefully. next year she will roar again back to life..but today was really a nice day and I saw a couple of nice sporty running around while I was on my 37 mile bicycle ride today..
Last edited by vikz250; Nov 5, 2014 at 09:00 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Our bikes vibrate a lot and it is surprising how often the connections on the battery become loose ... and corroded.
Another suggestion is lighter cold weather oil .... consult the manual.
As for the battery tender, I never heard of waiting to put it on.(?) I keep my bike on it all the time to keep the battery fully charged. The charger I use is designed for cycling off when the battery is full so there's no over charging.
Hope some of this saves you from dropping $$$ on another battery right away.
But you could have more serious issues with the stator and / or the voltage regulator. You can replace those with better products, I just put in Cycle Electric because they are designed to higher specs than OEM and they use newer technology.
Another suggestion is lighter cold weather oil .... consult the manual.
As for the battery tender, I never heard of waiting to put it on.(?) I keep my bike on it all the time to keep the battery fully charged. The charger I use is designed for cycling off when the battery is full so there's no over charging.
Hope some of this saves you from dropping $$$ on another battery right away.
But you could have more serious issues with the stator and / or the voltage regulator. You can replace those with better products, I just put in Cycle Electric because they are designed to higher specs than OEM and they use newer technology.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
You should be able to get your battery load tested at a local auto parts store, which will confirm if it is dead or healthy. If it's dead get a new one! And also buy a battery tender. If it is fine follow the advice above to ensure all major power connections are clean and tight.
It is also possible your charging system isn't working properly, so read the couple of Stickies in the Tech Electrical section for instructions on testing it.
It is also possible your charging system isn't working properly, so read the couple of Stickies in the Tech Electrical section for instructions on testing it.