Bad Battery Tender?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 177
Likes: 32
From: Beaufort SC
Bad Battery Tender?
Default I have asked and received many great responses here but I continue to have electric problems on my 2011 FLHTC. Ive gone through 3 batteries in about 2 yrs. All grounds are cleaned, greased (dialectic) and secure. No parasitic loss. Followed charging system sticky and stator was shorted to ground. I now have cycle electric stator and VR. Thought I had the problem licked. Left bike on 25 December to go on trip. Left bike plugged to battery tender as I always do. Got home last night and tried to start it today. All I have is click,click, click. Battery shows 13.8 volts. On a whim I checked my battery tender (about 9 yrs old). Plugged in shows 21.7 volts output. Any thoughts?
Default Bad Battery TenderIve posted this also in the dedicated electrical section but no responses,
I have asked and received many great responses here but I continue to have electric problems on my 2011 FLHTC. Ive gone through 3 batteries in about 2 yrs. All grounds are cleaned, greased (dialectic) and secure. No parasitic loss. Followed charging system sticky and stator was shorted to ground. I now have cycle electric stator and VR.
Thought I had the problem licked. Left bike on 25 December to go on trip. Left bike plugged to battery tender as I always do. Got home last night and tried to start it today. All I have is click,click, click. Battery shows 13.8 volts. On. A whim I check my battery tender (about 9 yrs old). Plugged in shows 21.7 volts output. Any thoughts?
TIA
Default Bad Battery TenderIve posted this also in the dedicated electrical section but no responses,
I have asked and received many great responses here but I continue to have electric problems on my 2011 FLHTC. Ive gone through 3 batteries in about 2 yrs. All grounds are cleaned, greased (dialectic) and secure. No parasitic loss. Followed charging system sticky and stator was shorted to ground. I now have cycle electric stator and VR.
Thought I had the problem licked. Left bike on 25 December to go on trip. Left bike plugged to battery tender as I always do. Got home last night and tried to start it today. All I have is click,click, click. Battery shows 13.8 volts. On. A whim I check my battery tender (about 9 yrs old). Plugged in shows 21.7 volts output. Any thoughts?
TIA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,233
Likes: 4,943
From: England
Plugged in shows 21.7 volts output.
For a battery to be at 13.8 volts I would say that is hot off a charger. After a few minutes of not being connected it ought to fall back to around 12.8 volts when fully charged.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 77
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From: Canada
Can you tell how much acid is left in your battery? Is it dry from overcharging? Any overcharging acidic rotten potato smell, when plugged in to the tender? Tenders do go bad, and will overcharge your battery to the point of boiling off all the acid.
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From: Long Island, New York
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,233
Likes: 4,943
From: England
There is an inline fuse for the tender lead attached to your motorcycle, give it a look.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Jan 3, 2020 at 09:00 AM.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 22
From: Canada
What is the reading of the battery when you are trying to start the bike? 13.1V shouldn't result in a click. My guess is your battery is cooked, and as soon as you try to start the bike, it will read as dead. Voltmeters are good, but without a load test it really doesn't tell you much about the true state/health of the battery.
This is a true buddy story. My buddy last year installed a brand new battery. One month later the bike let him down away from home. The battery was bone dry. Traced the problem back to his battery tender. Bike's charging system was normal.
This is a true buddy story. My buddy last year installed a brand new battery. One month later the bike let him down away from home. The battery was bone dry. Traced the problem back to his battery tender. Bike's charging system was normal.
Last edited by exsporty; Jan 3, 2020 at 09:01 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 177
Likes: 32
From: Beaufort SC
Wow! Thanks for the quick responses. Voltage at the starter stud matches battery. Checked fuse when I was going through the charging system (fuse on bike pigtail)
Really think the tender is frying my batteries and I wasn’t quick enough to pick up on it. All the replacement batteries are AGM.
I'm so frustrated i can’t ride.... need to figure it out today since it’s my primary mode of transportation and I go back to work tomm morning at 0400...
thanks!
Really think the tender is frying my batteries and I wasn’t quick enough to pick up on it. All the replacement batteries are AGM.
I'm so frustrated i can’t ride.... need to figure it out today since it’s my primary mode of transportation and I go back to work tomm morning at 0400...
thanks!