Confused, battery acting up
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
28,500 miles. Just had her out last week. Doesn't sit for more than a week or 2 at a time. Had been getting the occasional 'clunk' when restarting hot. Then I was advised to hold starter button longer & that seemed to help. Think I'll start with cleaning the connections really well & go from there...but I know with all of my Japanese bikes a fresh battery was normally all that was needed.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,210
From: AZ
Update: well found a bunch of wires attached to battery posts & they're marked 'heated clothing '. Removed all of them so only main cables & tender cables are attached now. Cleaned everything, topped off w tender read 13.55, disconnected tender read 12.5, on startup battery dropped to about 10. Revving up after start read about 14.03. Test ride tomorrow. Thanks for all the help/ suggestions!!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
I ride an '07 Ultra and have had issues with keeping batteries alive for more than 2 -2 1/2 years. I also was experiencing hard starts on occasion and more often when heat soaked (after a fuel fill or other short stop, etc.). After going through a few different areas of troubleshooting, including new All ***** starter clutch I still couldn't get the battery to last.
Finally decided it was related to the crank position and depending on the stroke cycle the entire starting process was putting too much stress on the start-up from starter to battery. So since I was considering a cam upgrade anyway, I went with the S&S Easy Starts and I've not had a hard start since. My battery is cranking fine and I haven't had a single hard start since. Over 2 years now. And the improved performance was a bonus. Or the other way around but it was a great upgrade with multiple benefits.
Finally decided it was related to the crank position and depending on the stroke cycle the entire starting process was putting too much stress on the start-up from starter to battery. So since I was considering a cam upgrade anyway, I went with the S&S Easy Starts and I've not had a hard start since. My battery is cranking fine and I haven't had a single hard start since. Over 2 years now. And the improved performance was a bonus. Or the other way around but it was a great upgrade with multiple benefits.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Update: well found a bunch of wires attached to battery posts & they're marked 'heated clothing '. Removed all of them so only main cables & tender cables are attached now. Cleaned everything, topped off w tender read 13.55, disconnected tender read 12.5, on startup battery dropped to about 10. Revving up after start read about 14.03. Test ride tomorrow. Thanks for all the help/ suggestions!!
For the 12.5v to be accurate, you need to disconnect any charging source, disconnect the battery from the bike (so there's no parasitic draw), and then let the battery rest for at least 30 minutes before testing the voltage.
The 14.03 volts you measured is charging voltage of the running bike..
The best way to know if your battery is good/bad for sure, is to remove (or disconnect) the battery from the bike and use a battery load tester on it.... If you don't have one, most good parts stores have one and they'll test your battery if you bring it to them.
I got 7 years on 2003 OEM battery.... All battery makers must not be using as pure lead in the plates as the old days, I haven't got close to that since.... Here in SoCal, three years for me has been a good battery....
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 495
Likes: 69
From: naples fl.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,210
From: AZ
Guess I should mention here thst it's my 17th wedding anniversary today & took today off to have a nice ride with my wife. Have no problem buying a new battery but all that's available locally is batteries plus w 400 cca's. Already decided on a Mega Crank but that doesn't do me any good today. If my current battery gets me thru this weekend I'm satisfied.
Congrats on your 17 yr anny. If you are having that much of a problem with the battery I would be very careful of traveling far. That would suck if you and the wifey stop for lunch and a couple pops and decide to head back and your bike won't start. Just saying, sometimes it's better to be safe then sorry.
Ride safe!
BTW, I run Mega Cranks in my bikes, love them. Batterymart.com is where I get them, great prices and free shipping.
Ride safe!
BTW, I run Mega Cranks in my bikes, love them. Batterymart.com is where I get them, great prices and free shipping.