Battery Time?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 226
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
Battery Time?
2012 Road King, about 2 weeks ago I noticed it cranked a little slow after sitting for a week. I'm bad I don't normally put it on the tender except during long term storage. So I started putting it on the tender when I get home from work. It was on the tender Saturday night, I took it off and rolled it outside Sunday for a bath. The tender showed charged, so I didn't hook it back up when I put it back in the garage. Got ready to head to work this morning, It barley turned over, so it's on the tender, and I'll check all the connections when I get home. I guess i'm just glad riding season is about over here in Indiana, and I'll wait until spring before putting in a new battery. Is there any need to keep the tender on during the winter since the battery is done for?
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,681
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From: Utah
If there is a chance it could freeze and crack open, (not even sure a gel battery would), I'd at least take it out and keep it in the house on the off chance a nice day comes along and I'd want to go for a ride.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 226
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
It lives in a heated garage, so I'm not worried about it freezing, I was wondering about the electronics, but then I realized there would be no difference between no battery and a completely dead one. It doesn't have security so that is not a issue either.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Sounds like it's time to say a tearful 'thanks for the memories' and replace it! I assume it is the original battery and 4 years is a bit soon, but not unexpectedly so. You could check your charging system, to make sure everything else is up to scratch.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
2012 Road King, about 2 weeks ago I noticed it cranked a little slow after sitting for a week. I'm bad I don't normally put it on the tender except during long term storage. So I started putting it on the tender when I get home from work. It was on the tender Saturday night, I took it off and rolled it outside Sunday for a bath. The tender showed charged, so I didn't hook it back up when I put it back in the garage. Got ready to head to work this morning, It barley turned over, so it's on the tender, and I'll check all the connections when I get home. I guess i'm just glad riding season is about over here in Indiana, and I'll wait until spring before putting in a new battery. Is there any need to keep the tender on during the winter since the battery is done for?
If possible pull the battery from bike so it doesnt go dead & freeze ,crack and then leak some acid on bike as it warms up,wires,etc.
Also,when its time to get a battery heres a couple great buys on long lasting powerfull agm's for your touring HD.
* DEKA ETX30L/400CCA'S FOR $98 TO YOUR DOOR FROM " HIGH-TECH BATTERY " ONLINE.
* YUASA GYZ32HL/500CCA'S FOR $132 TO YOUR DOOR FROM " PHATPERF " ONLINE.
BTW,if your Roadking uses the smaller ETX20L series type battery they are also avail @ great prices from the same 2 sources.
Scott
Last edited by wscott; Oct 31, 2016 at 07:27 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
Just like final drive belts, batteries last forever - until they don't.
The LIon batteries are great, IME.
The LIon batteries are great, IME.
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If and when you decide to replace it, I'd go with the YUASA GYZ32HL. The difference I experienced between the Deka and Yuasa batteries was eye opening to say the least. I will only use Yuasa batteries in my bikes from now on. Got mine in 2 days from the Yuasa store on Amazon with prime.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
So would it be safe to say the original maint free HD AGM battery in your 2013 hd lasted approx 3.5 yrs so using a tender/float charger very often?
If thats the case it's ok but not great either considering more then a few guys get 5-5.5yrs (even 6yrs) out of stock HD and or aftermarket (Deka or Yuasa) AGM batterie in their HD without using a maint/float charger other then once in a while in off season storage to top off the battery charge.
It make me thing maybe float charger was holding battery at a bit higher voltage then it should reducing it's srv'c life a bit.
Try this on your new battery to see if it will extend the life of your new battery.
When ever you decide to hook up the maint/float charger in season or in off season storage (if applicable) is to remove the maint/float charger ASAP (max of 24hrs) after the battery has reached full charge & gone to float mode.
Reason i suggest that is flaot charger i tested help my bikes agm battery at 13.1-13.2 volts for days after it reached full charge and went to float mode which short term day ot maybe 2 would kill it.
But i feel the float mode keeping the battery at 13.1-13.2v's day after day 24/7 wk after wk can in some cases over charge & or overheat the battery leading to premature failure.
I have seen that happen 1st hand more then just a couple times over the yr's when people were using maint/float chargers on their batteries 24/7 or often.
I have always done that type battery maint on my motorcycles & classic car & gotten considerably longer then avg srv'c life out of the batteries in those vehicles using that type battery charge/maint strategy.
Happy Motoring!
Scott
