Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

battery, charging, draw???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 03-24-2017, 02:11 PM
mrhammer2u's Avatar
mrhammer2u
mrhammer2u is offline
Elite HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,823
Received 1,352 Likes on 924 Posts
Default battery, charging, draw???

Hi guys. I have the manual and going to diagnose this weekend, but wanted to put this out here in case someone can save me some time.

Yesterday bike shut down while riding. Not an immediate shut down, just limped to side of the road. Then shut off completely. Hit the start button and nothing. Turned everything off and tried to start again. No fuel pump sound. The neutral and oil light do turn on. LED headlight won't turn on and LED tail light is a weak flicker. Tried to attached my FP3 to run a diagnostic but it's only getting intermittent power and won't connect.

Tried to bump start, sounded like it tried to fire but nothing. 2nd bump start,..nothing at all.

Today I tried to start and heard a weak fuel pump sound,..kinda like a clicking. Like it was trying to work. Would not start tho.

Typically when I hit the start button the bike lazily starts but starts every time. Doesn't jump to life like other bikes. Not sure this means the battery is on last leg? It's a lead acid,..probably the original from 2012. 10k miles on the clock.

If a battery dies,..would it die while riding? I figure the charging system would keep it on life support until you shut bike off....no?

Obviously I'll be checking the voltage, connections, fuses. Hoping it's a loose connections somewhere.

Thanks all!
 
  #2  
Old 03-24-2017, 02:17 PM
samhallnc's Avatar
samhallnc
samhallnc is offline
Road Master
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Elm City, NC
Posts: 934
Received 54 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Battery wouldn't die riding unless your charging system was failing; probably the stator. You'll be able to diagnose it easily enough though, there's a sticky on this board for that.
 
  #3  
Old 03-24-2017, 02:26 PM
hscic's Avatar
hscic
hscic is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,886
Received 544 Likes on 463 Posts
Default

If it were me, I would just change the battery which is typically the source of many issues and a good start in your process of elimination.
 
  #4  
Old 03-24-2017, 02:28 PM
mrhammer2u's Avatar
mrhammer2u
mrhammer2u is offline
Elite HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,823
Received 1,352 Likes on 924 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by hscic
If it were me, I would just change the battery which is typically the source of many issues and a good start in your process of elimination.
It's on the trickle now. Don't have time to work on it yet so we'll see what happens.
 
  #5  
Old 03-24-2017, 02:36 PM
hscic's Avatar
hscic
hscic is offline
Elite HDF Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 4,886
Received 544 Likes on 463 Posts
Default

I changed my battery from an acid to a lithium ion just because I did not like the way it hesitated on start so it may just be me....good luck.
 
  #6  
Old 03-25-2017, 02:10 PM
mrhammer2u's Avatar
mrhammer2u
mrhammer2u is offline
Elite HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,823
Received 1,352 Likes on 924 Posts
Default

Hi guys. Here's where I'm at...

Battery shows about 12.45 just sitting.
Drops to about 12.25 with key to ignition position.
Drops to 12.15 when I hit the run button to activate fuel pump.
(LED lighting all the way around)

All connections tight and corrosion free.

After leaving bike on the trickle all night, the fuel pump did come on. I did not start bike tho. Rolled to end of my driveway (so as not to wake the baby), tried to start but fuel pump would not come on. Meter saying battery still at 12.45 just sitting.....

Stator
I have continuity and resistance BUT only if leads are connected one way,..not both. I thought you were supposed to get a reading regardless of which position leads were?????

Can't check regulator cause bike won't start.

Before I go much further,.....I'm wondering if the battery is the culprit? If it was a fuel pump problem I assume it would not have come on today fresh off the trickle. If it was the fuel pump,...that would have nothing to do with my LED lights being real dim with ignition on.

Thoughts? Thanks!
 
The following users liked this post:
psljohnny (03-29-2017)
  #7  
Old 03-25-2017, 02:18 PM
mrhammer2u's Avatar
mrhammer2u
mrhammer2u is offline
Elite HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,823
Received 1,352 Likes on 924 Posts
Default

Bike just started. Ran well for about 5-10 seconds then shut down. Gauge was a bit finicky...not sure why. Connected my FP3 and it did not read any trouble codes....
 
  #8  
Old 03-25-2017, 02:19 PM
JohnTz's Avatar
JohnTz
JohnTz is offline
Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 197
Received 129 Likes on 44 Posts
Default

I had this before on another bike. It was a dead cell in the battery. Acted exactly the same way. Changed battery and all is well. Can't really check with a volt meter as it was showing readings like yours but when load tested it went to 9 volts. Your battery is old anyway. Would be money well spent to get a new one and it will most probably fix the problem.
 
  #9  
Old 03-25-2017, 06:17 PM
cHarley's Avatar
cHarley
cHarley is offline
Club Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Posts: 16,320
Received 299 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mrhammer2u
Bike just started. Ran well for about 5-10 seconds then shut down. Gauge was a bit finicky...not sure why. Connected my FP3 and it did not read any trouble codes....
Before you follow the Buy a Battery advice:

Charge your battery overnight and check the voltage.

Have your meter ready and start the bike if you can.
With the bike at a fast idle, measure your battery voltage.

If your charging system is working, you should measure 13.8 - 14.8 VDC.

You don't want to kill a new battery if the charging system isn't working.
 
  #10  
Old 03-25-2017, 06:32 PM
HKMark23's Avatar
HKMark23
HKMark23 is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Great State of Canada
Posts: 6,166
Received 1,934 Likes on 1,111 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mrhammer2u
Hi guys. Here's where I'm at...

Battery shows about 12.45 just sitting.,,,
Well thats certainly not good !

Name:  temp-comp-03.jpg
Views: 2209
Size:  127.9 KB
 

Last edited by HKMark23; 03-25-2017 at 06:39 PM.


Quick Reply: battery, charging, draw???



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:55 AM.