Battery won't charge

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Mar 9, 2012 | 09:56 PM

#11

Tinman265

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 959

Likes: 5

From: Oswego, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakerfritz

Thats right...don't know why...maybe the smart charger tag the battery as shorted.

Thats exactly it.... The AGM batteries have such a low internal resistance that the chargers think it's shorted. It's a charger safety thing.....

Mar 10, 2012 | 04:43 AM

#12

king1065

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 44

Likes: 0

From: MA

I had a dead battery on my 2011 FLHTK. It had been on the battery tender all winter. Brought the battery back to the dealer and got a new one under warranty. Took a ride to the dealer that weekend just to check the charging system. Good to go.

Mar 10, 2012 | 07:45 AM

#13

lionsm13

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 56,052

Likes: 88,756

From: Western South Dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinman265

Here is a link to the Optima battey site explaining the problem and how to go about charging a deeply discharged AGM Battery.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...agmbattery.php

Interesting, learned something new today.

How does a battery discharge.

Do new/never used batteries discharge and when does this begin to start to take place?

Mar 10, 2012 | 09:26 AM

#14

Lowcountry Joe

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 69

From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC

That's a good piece of info from Optima. I have an Optima battery (not for the motorcycle) and it seems to be one of the best I have ever owned in terms of holding a charge, charging, and reliability.

Mar 10, 2012 | 10:06 AM

#15

Tinman265

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 959

Likes: 5

From: Oswego, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionsm13

Interesting, learned something new today.

How does a battery discharge.

Do new/never used batteries discharge and when does this begin to start to take place?

Every battery has a "self discharge rate". The better the battery materials the lower the discharge rate.

Another thing is AGM battery has a lower full charge voltage, usually under 13 volts. Where "wet" batteries are usually in the mid 13 volt range.
There are more tech tips here:

http://www.optimabatteries.com/produ...t/techtips.php

Mar 10, 2012 | 10:33 AM

#16

bradsULtd

HDF Community Team

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 1,893

Likes: 552

From: NH

You need a new battery...if left in a discharged state for 3 weeks, the plates are sulfated and the battery is toast...

Mar 10, 2012 | 11:10 AM

#17

Bobby9621

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 309

Likes: 0

From: St Joe MO

Read this post, it may help

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...read-this.html

Mar 15, 2012 | 08:23 PM

#18

Sandy Mike

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 186

Likes: 7

From: Beamsville Ont

Thanks all for your feedback. Learned a lot about batteries through this post, so I guess there was a bright side to the problem.

Problem is fixed, exactly as described - battery was absolutely flat, below the minimum that would allow the charger to recognize it. Dealership took it in, ran some diagnostics, put it on the machine to get it to take a charge, cycled it for me, and it is working fine now. Back in the bike, bike runs, no problems noted.

Dealer (Deeley's) didn't charge anything for the testing or charging so I am pretty happy with the outcome.

Thanks again for the quick help, nice to know there are so many knowledgable folks out there ready to help.