They use those trickle chargers to keep the batteries topped up, not to charge dead batteries. It would take days to charge a completely dead battery at a 1.5 amp rate and several hours to recharge the battery after starting the engine. A standard automatic car battery charger will not damage a motorcycle battery when used correctly.

 

I don't really care what you use, I'm stating what the HD dealers use and what is good for a MC battery.Try taking a battery back under warranty, they will tell you to leave it overnight before they will replace it and they don't use car chargers to bring it back to full charge. You can argue with them if you think you know best, again I really don't care what you use, get it.

http://batterytender.com/resources/f...sked-questions

 

I never thought that you cared what I used in the first place. Just stating the facts.

Have a good one.

 

Battery!!!

 

Yeah I've heard tell of people jumping a bike with a running car and frying regulators and even stators, better safe then sorry, My charger has a car (higher amperage) and Bike (Lower amperage) and a jump start setting, I only use the low amperage setting. If you just bought the bike, and the battery was represented as new, take it back and get another one, or have the dealer figure out what's wrong with it on his dime.

 

Gmc I was using a car battery charger. There is no fear of damaging the MC battery due too the fact that HD's alternators put out 30+ amps from the factory. The 1.5 amp chargers that you are talking are only meant too be used too keep the battery from going dead during storage. I only had asked the ?s because I was unsure, I have totally rebuilt 2 older harleys and wasnt sure of the newer systems.
I would like too say thank you too every one for the info I did clean all of the terminals ground and alike and after reinstalling the battery at 1500 rpm I was showing 13.68 vdc steady. I am going too take it too the dealer hopefully sometime this weekend and have them check the battery out. I did do a load test on the battery with my load tester and it tested okay, however I have in the past had batteries test okay that had a bad cell. TY vtwinbob that info helps alot as well as the info I got from everyone else. As soon as I figure out how too get my photo on here I will.

Chris

 

Absolutely spot on.

 

Thank you all once again, remember too enjoy this memorial weekend. Ride safe keep the rubber side down.


Also I want too thank all of the Veterans that are serving and have served for their service. With out you we would not be able too have the freedoms that we have.

Chris

 

A battery at rest (bike off) should measure about 12.9 volts. That is fully charged! A measurement of 12.7 volts is a 25% discharged battery. When starting the bike (similar to load test) the voltage should not drop below 12 volts. If it does, the battery is weak! AT HIGH IDLE the battery should measure approx. 14.5 volts. This is your bikes (regulators) charging rate. Even at low idle (where the bike is using more electricity than it is producing) you still need to be measuring almost 12.9 volts, OR THE BATTERY IS WEAK OR DISCHARGED!

The dead give away that you need to be looking toward the battery was your 11 volt measurement. YOU MUST CONFIRM THAT ALL CABLE CONNECTIONS, BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, ARE CLEAN AND TIGHT BEFORE YOU START TROUBLE SHOOTING! Always look for the obvious before you start claiming that this or that is broken!

I hope this helps. Have a good weekend also!

 

An update for all, I took the bike too Meredith harley yesterday. Spoke with the Service folks and the said they would check it for me. I went too move it into the service line and the battery was dead. This is after running the bike for over 60 miles. Needless too say they battery had a bad cell and they replaced it for no charge. I asked them if this was a common problem this year and the service manager said yes they have had a bunch of batteries that were new go bad in a very short time. So thank you all. Might be worth passing on too all of our buddies that have HD's if they start having the same problem.


Chris
Today is for rememberance to all those that gave for our freedom, past , present and future. If you see a Soldier thank them.