So after last winter, I went to ride my stock 09 1200C and the battery was dead. No biggie, charged the battery, bike started fine. Though it had issues when shutting the bike off. Some times the kill switch would not actually kill the bike and would have to be toggled a few times. Sometimes I was able to take the key out completely and the bike would still run. This didn't happen everytime but was intermittent. Also, if I didn't start the bike everyday, the battery would be completely drained after about two to three days. The bike was still under warranty, so I took it to the dealer and they ended up swapping out the ignition.

Due to some issues I really haven't been able to ride much this summer. However, my battery still is getting completly drained just sitting in the bike. I can take the battery out and it will take a charge. I charged the battery and left it inside for a week off the charger to see if it would hold the charge, and it did. Something is draining that battery when the bike is off. If I ride everyday, it starts fine, so I assume the charging system is working. Any ideas? Guess I'm going to have to take it back to the dealer, but now my warranty is over, so I'll be out of pocket.

 

Probably a short somewhere.

Since it happened after winter storage you might want to take a look around the relays, moisture could have gotten in and caused some corrosion. A couple of people have reported similar issues.

Since the battery has been completely drained a couple of times now, it should also be replaced

 

Keep a trickle charger on it.

 

I would check the run stop switch after reading what you wrote. Maybe a pinched wire inside the switch housing.

Drew

 

I'd like to keep a trickle charger on it, but I live in an apartment and the can't.

I will be buying a new battery for it, the last time I went to ride it, I accidentally crossthreaded and snapped the bolt off in the negative terminal.

I will look into those relays and the run/stop switch housing which is a good suspect, as I don't think they changed that when they changed my ignition. Though electrical systems are not my strong suit, but I should be able to see if a wire is pinched or corroded in that housing.

 

It took me a month to get mine back to working order. Each battery lasted 6 days and I ride daily. I never found a chafed wire. I jsut moved where I had my speakers connected on teh ignition wire and recrimped the connector for my circuit breaker. I don't know which it was or if it was both but I was getting really sick of it.

Harley warranties their batteries for 6 months. Bring it back with the receipt to any dealer and they will give you a new one. Ask how I know.

Drew

 

You might want to think about putting an amp meter between the battery and the bike and pulling fuses or disconnecting things one at a time. You'll probably show a amperage draw when you start and when you disconnect or pull the fuse for the part that is causing the problem, you should go to zero amp draw.

At least this might help you narrow things down.

 

Bike Sits outside all winter,,Apartment,,,
Take the Battery Inside and get a tender..
New Battery could get killed In one three month sit,,or less

 

+1 - and that's a Battery Tender, NOT a trickle charger. A trickle charger will cook the battery.

 

correct. That's what I meant. Just wasn't in my vocabulary at the time, Senior moment.