09 Ultra Power Issues
09 Ultra Power Issues
So I have a weird issue. Replaced the battery in an 09 Ultra about 3 months ago. Went out to the garage this weekend to let it run for a bit and it wouldnt start. Popped the charge on for a few hours and got it up to par. Let her run for a bit and it did well.
Came back out and checked the battery the next morning, 88%. So somehow overnight it dropped 12% charge and nothing running.
Ignition was locked.
Only things that should even pull power were the radio (constant wire for memory), security, and lojack system.
Anyone have any ideas what could be causing a drain like this?
Thanks
Came back out and checked the battery the next morning, 88%. So somehow overnight it dropped 12% charge and nothing running.
Ignition was locked.
Only things that should even pull power were the radio (constant wire for memory), security, and lojack system.
Anyone have any ideas what could be causing a drain like this?
Thanks
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
it would take more than a few minutes idling to replace the power consumed by the starter to get the bike running.
and just "starting the bike" in the shed/garage/driveway is not a great idea long term- it has only potential downside for the machine...condensation forms inside the cases and exhaust and doesn;t evaporate.
it can corrupt your oil, rust bearings and steel motor internals and rot your exhaust from the inside out.
back to battery.
take it out ( when removing a battery, disconnect the neg cable first- when installing neg last. that way you get no sparks)
take it inside or a near room temp environment (like above 50şF) lots of ventilation and charge the battery- a 2 or 3 amp charge overnight would be good- lots of ventilation as a charging battery will release hydrogen gas...no smoke, no sparks.
( a battery charger...not a "tender")
after charging, take it to autozone and have it load tested.
a battery which is dirty can discharge in a damp environment- electrons will move through damp dirt between the terminals on the battery casing.
good idea to clean the battery every now and again.
a battery which has been allowed to discharge may not recover 100%...it may only come back to 60 or 80% depending.
A duff battery or cables can also destroy the charging system.
let's see what the battery does, and then we'll be able to tell if there is a further problem.
this can be done with an ammeter on each circuit at the fuse box to see if any circuit is drawing power when the bike is "off".
Mike
and just "starting the bike" in the shed/garage/driveway is not a great idea long term- it has only potential downside for the machine...condensation forms inside the cases and exhaust and doesn;t evaporate.
it can corrupt your oil, rust bearings and steel motor internals and rot your exhaust from the inside out.
back to battery.
take it out ( when removing a battery, disconnect the neg cable first- when installing neg last. that way you get no sparks)
take it inside or a near room temp environment (like above 50şF) lots of ventilation and charge the battery- a 2 or 3 amp charge overnight would be good- lots of ventilation as a charging battery will release hydrogen gas...no smoke, no sparks.
( a battery charger...not a "tender")
after charging, take it to autozone and have it load tested.
a battery which is dirty can discharge in a damp environment- electrons will move through damp dirt between the terminals on the battery casing.
good idea to clean the battery every now and again.
a battery which has been allowed to discharge may not recover 100%...it may only come back to 60 or 80% depending.
A duff battery or cables can also destroy the charging system.
let's see what the battery does, and then we'll be able to tell if there is a further problem.
this can be done with an ammeter on each circuit at the fuse box to see if any circuit is drawing power when the bike is "off".
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Feb 25, 2015 at 11:31 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Oxford, GA
I might get some chuckles for saying what I am about to say and would like to know if anyone else has heard of it. Someone told me that a battery will discharge quicker if the jiffy stand is allowed to rest directly on concrete. Their recommendation was for me to always use one of those plastic discs that the Harley dealers sell to rest the foot of my jiffy stand on if I'm not planning to ride for a few days.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 416
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From: Texas
I might get some chuckles for saying what I am about to say and would like to know if anyone else has heard of it. Someone told me that a battery will discharge quicker if the jiffy stand is allowed to rest directly on concrete. Their recommendation was for me to always use one of those plastic discs that the Harley dealers sell to rest the foot of my jiffy stand on if I'm not planning to ride for a few days.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Oxford, GA
I think they were just trying to sell me one of those plastic discs for $6. I confess I did buy one but only use it when I think my jiffy stand will sink into hot asphalt on some of our scortching summer days.
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I might get some chuckles for saying what I am about to say and would like to know if anyone else has heard of it. Someone told me that a battery will discharge quicker if the jiffy stand is allowed to rest directly on concrete. Their recommendation was for me to always use one of those plastic discs that the Harley dealers sell to rest the foot of my jiffy stand on if I'm not planning to ride for a few days.
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