Battery problem?
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: MS
Battery problem?
I have a 2012 road king. I have done a few upgrades on it. Jackpot slipons, pvc5, decatted head pipe. It has always cranked kind of slow. Meaning it would turn over a few times before it would crank. The only other bike I have is an 87 evo that when u hit the starter it will whine if it is on compression and then bang it is running. I keep the rk on a trickle charger all the time when not riding. It was about 45 when I started it up this morning. It grunted pretty hard but fired up. Went to a buddies house and when I cranked her up it just about didn't wind over fast enough to fire up? Two year old battery, checked the connections, all good. I think it would have cranked right up after staying on a trickle charger? Any thing else I need to check besides the battery?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,163
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From: Doghouse... mostly
Yes, dump the trickle charger and purchase a battery tender. A battery that's continuously connected to a trickle charger will not last very long due to the constant state of continuous charging whereas a tender will run up to full charge then shut itself off and monitor the battery from there.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
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From: Western Washington
I have a 2012 road king. I have done a few upgrades on it. Jackpot slipons, pvc5, decatted head pipe. It has always cranked kind of slow. Meaning it would turn over a few times before it would crank. The only other bike I have is an 87 evo that when u hit the starter it will whine if it is on compression and then bang it is running. I keep the rk on a trickle charger all the time when not riding. It was about 45 when I started it up this morning. It grunted pretty hard but fired up. Went to a buddies house and when I cranked her up it just about didn't wind over fast enough to fire up? Two year old battery, checked the connections, all good. I think it would have cranked right up after staying on a trickle charger? Any thing else I need to check besides the battery?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,585
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From: Rolla
Have the battery load tested. That will tell you if the battery is any good or not.
Also, make sure all connections are good and tight.
A 2 year old battery should not have any problems turning the bike over.
If it doesn't want to "wind over" (your words) fast enough to fire, then something isn't right.
Also, make sure all connections are good and tight.
A 2 year old battery should not have any problems turning the bike over.
If it doesn't want to "wind over" (your words) fast enough to fire, then something isn't right.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the whining you hear is the windings on the starter motor burning up= bad.
flick the starter button...then press the starter button to crank and start.
on late models, they are programmed to spin a couple of times before they light up.
as above- load test your battery...charge it with a charger, then pull it and test at autozone.
while it is out check the other end of the cable connections for clean and secure
this would show immediately...each cell carries about 2.2 volts ( x6) so a dead cell in a 12 volt battery = a 10 volt battery- you'd see that on the meter right away.
mike
flick the starter button...then press the starter button to crank and start.
on late models, they are programmed to spin a couple of times before they light up.
as above- load test your battery...charge it with a charger, then pull it and test at autozone.
while it is out check the other end of the cable connections for clean and secure
this would show immediately...each cell carries about 2.2 volts ( x6) so a dead cell in a 12 volt battery = a 10 volt battery- you'd see that on the meter right away.
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 28, 2014 at 07:16 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: MS
If it doesn't want to "wind over" (your words) fast enough to fire, then something isn't right.[/QUOTE]
Is there a problem with my words? I have already checked the connections. Will get my multi meter out and check the voltage tomorrow. I called it a trickle charger but it is a battery tender. Bought from amazon after I got the new bike. My friend has a 2010 ultra and his battery is still going strong and he doesn't even keep it on a charger. I will do some checking tomorrow. Thanks.
Is there a problem with my words? I have already checked the connections. Will get my multi meter out and check the voltage tomorrow. I called it a trickle charger but it is a battery tender. Bought from amazon after I got the new bike. My friend has a 2010 ultra and his battery is still going strong and he doesn't even keep it on a charger. I will do some checking tomorrow. Thanks.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
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From: north of Daytona
"Meaning it would turn over a few times before it would crank."...Hmmmm...Ok. My bike (2013 FLT will turn over three-four times before it starts. Programmed that way I think. Yours turns over before it cranks. Normal I think.
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I have a 2012 road king. I have done a few upgrades on it. Jackpot slipons, pvc5, decatted head pipe. It has always cranked kind of slow. Meaning it would turn over a few times before it would crank. The only other bike I have is an 87 evo that when u hit the starter it will whine if it is on compression and then bang it is running. I keep the rk on a trickle charger all the time when not riding. It was about 45 when I started it up this morning. It grunted pretty hard but fired up. Went to a buddies house and when I cranked her up it just about didn't wind over fast enough to fire up? Two year old battery, checked the connections, all good. I think it would have cranked right up after staying on a trickle charger? Any thing else I need to check besides the battery?
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
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From: Oklahoma
You can do a "shade tree" capacity check yourself if that multi meter is digital (it can react quickly with no meter inertia). Hook it up to your fully charged installed battery and do a start while you watch the meter. If the voltage drops below 9.6 your battery is weak, well below 9.6 and just buy a new one. Once the engine is running, watch for the voltage while the battery is charging. Above 2000 rpm you should see voltage in the vicinity of 13.5 to the low 14s. It might not be the battery but low charging voltage. Have you (or someone) added a bunch of electrical stuff resulting in heavy drain to the electrical system?
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