Well this old dog learned something new tonight. Thanks from me as well.

 

Replaced many batterys and never removed the fuse, Never even heard of this procedure !

 

Turn ignition switch on
Remove main fuse
Turn ignition switch off (don`t leave it turned on)

Disconnect negative cable
Disconnect positive cable

To install:
Connect positive cable
Connect negative cable
Install fuse

 

As many have stated, the pulling of the main fuse is so that the alarm siren (which has its own battery) won't go off when you disconnect power....

If you didn't/don't have an alarm or have an alarm without the optional siren, like on older bikes, there is no need to pull the main fuse...

IMHO....with the close quarters around the battery terminals and the frame on most Harley models, disconnecting the negative cable first, and then reconnecting it last is very important...

 

yep.. me too.... never pulled main fuse for anything really... we tend to overthink the simplest of things... just put new pads on front brakes couple months back and someone on here has said i should pull main fuse first....ha .. oh well.. whatever your comfortable with i reckon

 

Lol, now thats a good one. I get it for the siren and maybe arc'ing but for brake pads??? Thats a first.

 

What you are actually doing by turning on the ignition is to deactivate the security device.

 

If you have a security system with a siren, the fuse must be pulled after the ignition switch is turned on, simple as that.

 

Quite a mixed bag of answers. I guess just change the battery??

 

Pull the fuse is obviously real hard! Always disconnect the neg terminal, this is hard. As for the brake pads well i believe my calipers which have ABS the cable maybe has some electric involvement? Every thing i have read says to be careful with this cable. Disconnecting electrics is just common sense!