Dead Battery
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 11
From: El Paso, Texas
The OE Battery in My 08UC took a crap one month shy of 5yrs. I replaced it with a HD Battery. HD batteries have served Me well since the 60's, will not use anything but HD batteries. You get what You pay for!
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 551
Likes: 17
From: japan
Battery in my 07 Ultra is 5+ years old. Do use a tender when not riding sometimes. The life of a battery is in the charging system. Maintaining that system is key. My 03 F150 crew (bought new 9+ years ago) still running the original battery.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,325
From: Western South Dakota
I got the Big Crank http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cra...-fl-flh-1570cc too, and if you sign up with them, you can get another 10% off, and you will get your battery pretty fast too, in a couple days. Get a tender while you're at it.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 95
From: lancaster, pa
+1 on the big crank, original still good was replaced this spring,6 years seemed reseanable time to replace,no tender,ride all yr.
90 on, ive gone almost eleven yrs on a battery, and every 6 months back in the 70-80's lol
90 on, ive gone almost eleven yrs on a battery, and every 6 months back in the 70-80's lol
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
I have been running an Odyssey battery. I was at my Indy shop the other day, kind of a local hangout, and we got on the subject of batteries. I pointed out that I have been hearing more and more people saying their batteries are only lasting 4-5 years. I gotta be honest, for the last 30 years I can't honestly remember how many years they last for. I didn't really start keeping good records on things like that till about 10 years ago.
All that being said, my Odyssey is 7 years 6 months old and still going strong. My Indy shop owner brought up the fact that in 2010 I switched to an Ultima engine and a 32 amp charging system. According to him, the stock charging systems in HD's are the culprit, not the batteries in most cases. The bikes charging system can just barely maintain a charge unless your making regular long runs...which, since I am retired I'm usually riding between 75 and 100 plus a day...nuttin better to do!
Anyway...food for thought.
All that being said, my Odyssey is 7 years 6 months old and still going strong. My Indy shop owner brought up the fact that in 2010 I switched to an Ultima engine and a 32 amp charging system. According to him, the stock charging systems in HD's are the culprit, not the batteries in most cases. The bikes charging system can just barely maintain a charge unless your making regular long runs...which, since I am retired I'm usually riding between 75 and 100 plus a day...nuttin better to do!
Anyway...food for thought.
Last edited by Mark_H; Oct 12, 2012 at 11:23 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 127
I think its only a couple of years old, and my other question is if riding almost daily, would the tender be much help. And if a tender does help, and I leave in the morning, I would guess the battery should stay up for the day. So what actually takes batteries to the graveyard, does the lead stop producing?
Put the battery on a charger and charge if fully. Then take if off the charger and test it 24 hours later (unconnected to the bike). If it shows 12.7 volts or less it won't hold a charge and needs to be replaced. 12.7 volts is about a 75% charge.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 563
Likes: 3
Deka makes all H-D Batteries. I called Deka a couple years ago to find out about them. My H-D dealer wanted $179 for a Battery. The Deka guy told me that it was the EXACT same battery. He said they come off the line and some get a H-D label and others get Deka labels. He gave me a list of local dealers to me. I had a local place order it. Took like two days. It was $79.95 well worth the couple days wait!!!!!!!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Bronx
07 Ultra still have original battery and it has been on a tender from day one I have a interstate jell battery in my wide glide for ten years but that doesn't get much use
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: LAS VEGAS NEVADA
The battery in my 07 Ultra lasted 6 years being on a tender and I finally just replaced it. After I put in the new battery I figured that the new battery was good and would hold a charge for a month without being on the tender anymore so I didn't plug her in. Went out after 4 days and the battery was dead as a door nail.
Don't know what caused that. Bike is at the dealer now trying to figure out if the battery was bad, or what. I have the security system with the siren and pager and have read posts that causes the battery to go down, but I dont think it would be that fast. Could be wrong. Will see what the dealer has to say. One thing I know, whatever caused this, it isnt gonna be cheap.
Don't know what caused that. Bike is at the dealer now trying to figure out if the battery was bad, or what. I have the security system with the siren and pager and have read posts that causes the battery to go down, but I dont think it would be that fast. Could be wrong. Will see what the dealer has to say. One thing I know, whatever caused this, it isnt gonna be cheap.
