Battry Life
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Battry Life
My battery died yesterday while stopped for a short time. Only 1 1/2 old and use a battery tender. Is this normal? I know battery life depends on alot of things. It seems to be charging ok, well according to the moco guage.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Battry Life
Double check the connections etc. for corrosion etc.
You could run a meter at the battery to make sure you are
getting 13.50 to 14 volts while running (idle)
Depending how the battery was stored and it sounds like you were
looking after it thats a good question.
Anything is possible a cell could have crapped out??
Clean the terminals etc...if you are getting the 13.5 to 14.5 volts at
idle then the battery is toast....
You could run a meter at the battery to make sure you are
getting 13.50 to 14 volts while running (idle)
Depending how the battery was stored and it sounds like you were
looking after it thats a good question.
Anything is possible a cell could have crapped out??
Clean the terminals etc...if you are getting the 13.5 to 14.5 volts at
idle then the battery is toast....
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 4
From: MONTGOMERY,AL.
RE: Battry Life
If you are running a heavy dose of lights it could shorten life if the bike constantly drops to around 12 under load at idle. I have a lot of light and use a tender religiously and I get only about 2 years but I know it is because of the lights.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Alabama
RE: Battry Life
ditto on checking your cable connections at the battery...sounds like a little corrosion has gotten under them. Same thing happened to a buddy this weekendafter a short stop in the middle of a ride. After taking his battery cover off of his Dyna, we found the cable connector (at the negative battery terminal) was loose and had a little corrision under it. A quick fix and we were back on the road in a few minutes.
Good Luck....
Good Luck....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,602
Likes: 5
From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area
RE: Battry Life
Nope... Had mine in the '01 RKC for over 5 years and only replaced it then as I was going on a 3 week bike vacation just to be on the safe side
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 513
Likes: 6
From: Reston, Virginia
RE: Battry Life
Just bought a new one for mine. The original in a 2000 Ultra. Bought it to be on the safe side before the ride to Myrtle Beach next month. The old one is still good. May use it in the lawn tractor.
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Battry Life
Well if bike is stock (no extra lights etc) and all things normal about 4 years
to a battery.
I would double check the charging system.
Also when doing the battry cable cleaning do BOTH ends of both cables.
to a battery.
I would double check the charging system.
Also when doing the battry cable cleaning do BOTH ends of both cables.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,603
Likes: 10
RE: Battry Life
replaced mine last week...one year and three months old...i run some LED's & passin lamps....reason why it died was i forgot to turn the ignition switch off for 2 or so hours...trickle charge over nite only made it clackclackclack....big charger wouldnt give anymore than 13.1 and a clackclackclack....new battery...no more probs....HD stands for hunerd dolla's eh 
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Battry Life
Did you have a sealed battery? If you use the kind that you can put water in, then you got the wrong kind. They can't take the vibaration. You have to spend the extra bucks and get the Genuine HD.
But yeah, check to make sure the contacts are clean and tight.
But yeah, check to make sure the contacts are clean and tight.