tender killed batterys?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,217
Likes: 53
From: Gladys, VA
Thats what I do. Has worked for me.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Plantation, FL
I have a 08 ultra that I bought new I have used a harley tender on at all times and it has went through a battery every 9 to 12 months, the dealer always installed new battery and checked out charging system, so I just thought that was how long they last, but then I hooked up that tender to my dirt bike and in a short time that battery went out. So now I am wondering if that tender may have caused those other batteries it go out. Is there any way to check out a tender to see if it is working ok?
http://batterytender.com/includes/la..._BT_Junior.pdf
After A ride of any length above 1/2 hour or so, the red light should turn to green within a few minutes on a fresh battery. If it takes a long time on a good battery after a ride or if the red light never goes out, your tender is probably bad.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
What is the proper procedure and it't source? My tender's instruction doesn't specify. I've just always hooked up the bike first, then plugged the tender into the wall. And reversed the sequence when disconnecting.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
I have never had a tender on my ride, had one on a trolling motor battery in a boat and had same issues, seemed the tender cooked the battery if used too often. I am going on the third season on this battery, I just ride it once in awhile during the cold months and cycle the charging system, no problems to date(knock on my wooden head for saying this) but always a chance to lose a battery at any time near to three or four years.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
In the past 10 years I have had 14 to 15 sport cars, motorcycles, trucks and other batteries for equipment on tenders. All have double to tripled the expected life of the batteries. When I sold my 02 VTX1800 the stock battery was going on eight years. My 07 FXSTC Early 06 build has the original battery as all the others do.
My 10 Superglide battery swelled and died at 18 months. HD replaced under warranty. I believe that was the last of the two year warranty as they are now one year and and 6 months on a replacement battery.
A battery tender can not ruin a battery.
I do use them the way the maker recommends. Unplug when leaving the garage hook back up when returning. It only takes a couple of seconds.
If one pays for a tender then use it like it should to prolong the life of the battery not just when it is in storage.
Even though the battery will start the bike after several days, it has discharged some and that is the eventual death of the battery as there is a finite charge discharge capacity in them. On a tender 24/7 they are at full charge and also helps the stator as is reduces the load on it.
There is a micro processor in them that knows even if the battery is sulfated and will go into a mode to dissolve it. The tender will float when the battery reaches the designed voltage level.
If some are frying their batteries I do not believe that they have tenders but have trickle chargers that never shut off.
My 10 Superglide battery swelled and died at 18 months. HD replaced under warranty. I believe that was the last of the two year warranty as they are now one year and and 6 months on a replacement battery.
A battery tender can not ruin a battery.
I do use them the way the maker recommends. Unplug when leaving the garage hook back up when returning. It only takes a couple of seconds.
If one pays for a tender then use it like it should to prolong the life of the battery not just when it is in storage.
Even though the battery will start the bike after several days, it has discharged some and that is the eventual death of the battery as there is a finite charge discharge capacity in them. On a tender 24/7 they are at full charge and also helps the stator as is reduces the load on it.
There is a micro processor in them that knows even if the battery is sulfated and will go into a mode to dissolve it. The tender will float when the battery reaches the designed voltage level.
If some are frying their batteries I do not believe that they have tenders but have trickle chargers that never shut off.
Last edited by lh4x4; Apr 13, 2012 at 03:33 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I've never used a tender ... ever.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
I have a little Yuasa and 2 real Deltran Battery Tenders (one is 20+ years old). They get moved around between the tractor, truck, mower, jeep, jumper battery and bikes. I had to put a battery in the 10 year old mower right before it blew up and the rigid I bought had a bad battery from the get go. Other than that no battery trouble? My '02 zx9r still had the original battery when I sold it last year?
Last edited by 0ldhippie; Apr 13, 2012 at 04:53 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
Turn8a is correct. There are warnings on my tender Jr that says damage to battery and or tender may occur if it is hooked up or disconnected improperly.
When hooking it up always hook up the pigtail first then plug it into the wall. When disconnecting first unplug from the wall then unplug the pigtail.
'08 FLHT on original battery and been on tender (when not being ridden for more than 48 hours) for the past two years...no problems to date!
When hooking it up always hook up the pigtail first then plug it into the wall. When disconnecting first unplug from the wall then unplug the pigtail.
'08 FLHT on original battery and been on tender (when not being ridden for more than 48 hours) for the past two years...no problems to date!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
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From: Mass
2. you say the battery needs frequent cleaning. Really?..I have NEVER cleaned my battery...it sit's under the seat, and doesn't get dirty...I glance at it once in a while when swapping seats, but it looks like it did 7 years ago....no dirt on it, no corrosion..no nothing...
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: yarmouth,ns.,canada
a few yrs back, i fried a battery on a snowmobile using a battery tender. the thing must have gone defective and stayed on all summer. since then i still use a battery tender, but, i plug it in to a timer so that it only comes on i hr a day. i make sure that the battery is fully charged when i put it away. haven't had a problem since.