jump start, no battery access
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 349
Likes: 57
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
jump start, no battery access
Ok I tried using the battery tender hookup to help a guy with a dead battery. I knew it was a way too small wire for this but he was desperate and I thought maybe it would work for the few seconds it would take. WRONG!! Good deeds never go unpunished is the phrase I think. Smoke came out almost immediately so I disconnected but not before the hot wire was melted. So someone came along with one of those portable chargers and got him going. As nice as those are I don't really want to carry one for just in case. Question is how would you jumpstart a bike without taking off the seat and getting to the posts? Best I can think of is add a couple of beefy cables to the posts with ends I can cap off. Kind of a heavy duty battery tender hook up. Any other suggestions other than take off the seat?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 583
Likes: 382
From: Allegan, Mi
Remove the little rubber boot on the positive lug of the starter, there's a nut that holds the cable from the battery on it. Connect the positive clamp of the jumper cable there and the negative clamp to the frame, voila, no need to remove the seat!
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,620
Likes: 4,057
From: San Diego, CA
John
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 349
Likes: 57
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Excellent suggestion thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 349
From: The Biggest Little City, Reno, NV
Depends on how old the unit is. The early versions did not have the fuse unless you bought the new style extension.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,312
From: Virginia
Ok I tried using the battery tender hookup to help a guy with a dead battery. I knew it was a way too small wire for this but he was desperate and I thought maybe it would work for the few seconds it would take. WRONG!! Good deeds never go unpunished is the phrase I think. Smoke came out almost immediately so I disconnected but not before the hot wire was melted. So someone came along with one of those portable chargers and got him going. As nice as those are I don't really want to carry one for just in case. Question is how would you jumpstart a bike without taking off the seat and getting to the posts? Best I can think of is add a couple of beefy cables to the posts with ends I can cap off. Kind of a heavy duty battery tender hook up. Any other suggestions other than take off the seat?
I've never done it with a Harley, but I have used battery tender cables to jump start a Kawasaki Ninja. But I first reversed polarity on one bike, then connected the two together, and instead of trying immediately to jump start them I left the good bike running for about 15 minutes to charge the dead bikes battery a bit and then the dead bike started. It did blow the fuse in one of the bikes battery tender cable.
And I don't know why you don't want to remove the seat. It's one screw on a Sportster.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 592
From: Philly PA
I carry one of those jump start batteries you mentioned and installed a cable just for that purpose. With a supplied adapter it doubles as a cable for my batter tender. The batteries are small and you can either jump start yourself or someone else if needed, including a car or a truck. I also have a set of jumper cables for the bike. On my 2006 I can access the positive terminal of the battery with just opening the side cover.
I understand your not wanting to carry one, but they are handy. I charge mine maybe once or twice a year.
I agree, but I had to think about that for a moment. I guess the coffee it just starting to take effect 
I understand your not wanting to carry one, but they are handy. I charge mine maybe once or twice a year.
How did you connect them? If you just plugged 2 battery tender cables together you crossed the wires and put one bikes positive to the others negative.
I've never done it with a Harley, but I have used battery tender cables to jump start a Kawasaki Ninja. But I first reversed polarity on one bike, then connected the two together, and instead of trying immediately to jump start them I left the good bike running for about 15 minutes to charge the dead bikes battery a bit and then the dead bike started. It did blow the fuse in one of the bikes battery tender cable.
And I don't know why you don't want to remove the seat. It's one screw on a Sportster.
I've never done it with a Harley, but I have used battery tender cables to jump start a Kawasaki Ninja. But I first reversed polarity on one bike, then connected the two together, and instead of trying immediately to jump start them I left the good bike running for about 15 minutes to charge the dead bikes battery a bit and then the dead bike started. It did blow the fuse in one of the bikes battery tender cable.
And I don't know why you don't want to remove the seat. It's one screw on a Sportster.
Last edited by cacomly; Mar 25, 2019 at 08:45 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 349
Likes: 57
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
How did you connect them? If you just plugged 2 battery tender cables together you crossed the wires and put one bikes positive to the others negative.
I've never done it with a Harley, but I have used battery tender cables to jump start a Kawasaki Ninja. But I first reversed polarity on one bike, then connected the two together, and instead of trying immediately to jump start them I left the good bike running for 15 minutes to charge the dead bikes battery a bit and then the dead bike started. It did blow the fuse in one of the bikes battery tender cable.
And I don't know why you don't want to remove the seat. It's one screw on a Sportster.
I've never done it with a Harley, but I have used battery tender cables to jump start a Kawasaki Ninja. But I first reversed polarity on one bike, then connected the two together, and instead of trying immediately to jump start them I left the good bike running for 15 minutes to charge the dead bikes battery a bit and then the dead bike started. It did blow the fuse in one of the bikes battery tender cable.
And I don't know why you don't want to remove the seat. It's one screw on a Sportster.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PaGuy610
General Harley Davidson Chat
9
Mar 22, 2018 05:56 PM