Left ignition switch on
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Left ignition switch on : UPDATE.....bike is running again !
Came home from work yesterday morning and left my switch on overnight. This morning battery was dead as a doornail, i jumped it off from a extra battery and it started right up, but as soon as you remove the jumper cables it died. I than removed the battery and put the extra battery in, it has been sitting a few months but it did start the bike although it turned over slowly. The bike ran fine about 15min. and then it died and now this battery will not start the bike. the lights are also dim. Could leaving the ing. switch on overnight have damaged the stator, or voltage regulator ? any ideas are appreciated. Thanks ps: The bike is an 2003 Road King with 22,000 mi.
I charged the battery for 24 hrs as most of you suggested and it worked ....many thanks for all the great advice.
I charged the battery for 24 hrs as most of you suggested and it worked ....many thanks for all the great advice.
Last edited by 03king; May 6, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Reason: update
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
No chance of damage to stator or regulator - of that I am as certain as can be, but...I can't understand why the bike should cut out once it has started, especially in the second case.
I would give the original battery a healthy slow recharge and see if the bike sorts itself out
I would give the original battery a healthy slow recharge and see if the bike sorts itself out
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
No way you damaged the Stator or Rectifier/Regulator. Good advise above. Battery just needs a good, long, slow, and I repeat SLOW charge. Once done, you'll be fine. Oh, and get yourself a battery tender, hard wire the pig tails into your battery so you can just plug it in and out very easily. Your battery will go 3-5 years at least. I've gotten as much as 6 years out of mine with religious use of the Battery Tender.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 1
From: Sunland, CA
I have no luck charging batteries that have been run down to 0 tried trickle charge
but it still would not hold a charge per my meter on my large charger so i bought
a new one and solved the problem good luck-ride safe
but it still would not hold a charge per my meter on my large charger so i bought
a new one and solved the problem good luck-ride safe
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 4
From: Here
Yep, be patient and don't even think about hitting that starter button until it has charged at the minimum 24 hrs or more. My neighbor did the same thing and I think it took a good day and a half to get it charged up. Been running good on the same batt for over a year now.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 2
From: Monroe, Louisiana
Left mine on overnight a while back too. Same thing dead as a doornail. Charged overnight and all is good. Been using a tender ever since.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 7
From: guntersville, al
http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/assets/base/0139.pdf great info here. charging instructions begin on page 11