Battery cover blues
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 788
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From:
Battery cover blues
Has anybody out there in Sportsterland had trouble with the clips that hold the battery cover on? I recently pulled the cover (being careful not to damage the plastic clips) and now they won't hold the cover on when I'm going down the road. What, are they only good for 1 use?[:@]
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
RE: Battery cover blues
Yes. As a matter of fact I have. I own a 06 Sportster 883. I am getting quite pissed off too. I have had the bike in twice for this only have 700 miles on it. Just dropped it in the parking lot at work today ... now its scratched up. Brand new bike and ***** already falling off of it.
To boot, I have the preferred customer warranty ... a waste of money ... the bike is supposed to be in in the am and out no later then pm the next day. That happened only upon the first service visit.
I have read the preferred customer stuff, It doesnt say anything about having to go to the dealer that sold the plan to me. This service department has definitely not given me the warm and fuzzy. Im asking myself, "Do I want these guys messing with the bike ?" If they cant get the battery cover working right, how are they going to handle maintenance that could possible effect my safety on the road ?
Ill call tomorrow and let you know how it works out. For now, Im going to use wire wraps.
Regards
Chris
Novice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
RE: Battery cover blues
Sorry . I guess I'm lucky. Mine has only come off once and I pulled it and slamed it on twice. It was in the dark, so I don't know what I did or didn't do to resolve my issue. My bottom part never came loose, it was like a hinge of sorts.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Battery cover blues
Guys those clips suck. Period. Harley was too lazy to look around the plant and find a screw or bolt to hold them on properly. Their fix is the updated, new and improved, gray clips. But don't worry, the new gray clips suck too.
I forked over the extra cheese to get the painted sidecovers. I've got it held on with a zip tie in the front. It's not coming off now. I keep an extra few zip ties inside the cover in case I need to access the battery while on the road. That's one solution. Another, is if you're patient, skilled, and precise - you can drill a small hole down the clip and slide a zip tie or nail, etc through there and that will act as a dead bolt to keep the cover on as well.
Good luck guys.
I forked over the extra cheese to get the painted sidecovers. I've got it held on with a zip tie in the front. It's not coming off now. I keep an extra few zip ties inside the cover in case I need to access the battery while on the road. That's one solution. Another, is if you're patient, skilled, and precise - you can drill a small hole down the clip and slide a zip tie or nail, etc through there and that will act as a dead bolt to keep the cover on as well.
Good luck guys.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
RE: Battery cover blues
Hmmm...Sportsters have a battery cover?
I didn't think mine(a 94) looked quite right with the bare nikkid battery sides sticking out.
Has a chrome top cover right on the battery...guess that was cool in 94
I didn't think mine(a 94) looked quite right with the bare nikkid battery sides sticking out.
Has a chrome top cover right on the battery...guess that was cool in 94
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Battery cover blues
Mine fell off also.The parts manager is a friend of mine and even he admits it has been a problem.My first set were warranted.I broke the bottom part trying to get the damn thing to stay on.Now it rattels,I wish they were still like the older ones were even though the battery cover on the old ones digs into my leg.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,438
Likes: 6
From: Gulf Coast of Mississippi
RE: Battery cover blues
Had the same problem.... I took a piece of electrical tape.... made a run around the bottom part of the clip (shimming it out) so the extrusion on the clip would fit the indent in the cover... Haven't had a problem since...
Charlie D.
Charlie D.