Battery Question
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
Battery Question
2010 Limited, ran like a champ 2 weeks ago, go to fire it up on Saturday 1 half crank then nothing.
5 hours on the tender green light fires right up..
Sunday ride with buddy's after church lunch and 210 miles all fine.
Question is, amp meter is running at 14 to 15 volts, and also noticed it drops to 12 during idle, and rises up and down with throttle.
I seem to remember in the past it would always hang at about 14 when running and never varies as mush as its doing now.
Is the battery about to fart dust?
5 hours on the tender green light fires right up..
Sunday ride with buddy's after church lunch and 210 miles all fine.
Question is, amp meter is running at 14 to 15 volts, and also noticed it drops to 12 during idle, and rises up and down with throttle.
I seem to remember in the past it would always hang at about 14 when running and never varies as mush as its doing now.
Is the battery about to fart dust?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 274
From: Milton, Delaware
It doesn't seem like a battery from 2010 should be farting dust yet. Have you checked your battery connections? I recently pulled in to a gas station at the end of an all day ride. When I went to start it, just click...then nothing. Pulled the seat and found the positive cable on the battery was a bit loose. Tightened it up and all is good again.
You could pull the battery and take it to Auto Zone or similar and have them do a load test on it. Most places will do it cheaply, if not for free. That would confirm the condition of the battery. If it tests good, then a charging test is in order.
You could pull the battery and take it to Auto Zone or similar and have them do a load test on it. Most places will do it cheaply, if not for free. That would confirm the condition of the battery. If it tests good, then a charging test is in order.
Last edited by Deucedog; Oct 8, 2012 at 08:08 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: maple valley WA
They start charging at about 1500 rpm so at idle there not putting much of anything to the battery. I would check to see if your connections at the battery are loose or even the ground end is loose. Battery might be ok but if all the connections are good I would change it out. Not starting when you push the button sux!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 13
From: 501
Try putting an ohm meter to the posts and then turn it on. See if it drops below 12 volts. If it doesn't, see how far below it goes when you hit the starter. If it drops below 10V i bet it's a goner. But as mentioned, check the batteries connections.
I was parked outside Sears recently, and in somewhat of a hurry when my scoot failed to start. After cycling the ignition a couple of times, I went for the battery. I found both terminals loose, but not very much so. It was obviously enough to keep it from starting. I snugged up the connections and have been cruising flawlessly since.
Good luck with yours. keep us posted.
aka Bob
I was parked outside Sears recently, and in somewhat of a hurry when my scoot failed to start. After cycling the ignition a couple of times, I went for the battery. I found both terminals loose, but not very much so. It was obviously enough to keep it from starting. I snugged up the connections and have been cruising flawlessly since.
Good luck with yours. keep us posted.
aka Bob
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 274
From: Milton, Delaware
Turbo Turtle: I know what you mean, but I just want elaborate so that OP gets the correct info.
If he's going to check for voltage, he wants a volt meter not the ohm meter portion. I'm sure that's what you meant, just making sure.
If he's going to check for voltage, he wants a volt meter not the ohm meter portion. I'm sure that's what you meant, just making sure.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
I guess ill pull it apart tomorrow night and take a look, try the volt meter check.
I just cant see a battery going before 3 years, but ya never know...
Thanks for the tips.... will keep digging..
I just cant see a battery going before 3 years, but ya never know...
Thanks for the tips.... will keep digging..
If the voltage is fluctuating while riding it's not the battery that is the issue it's the stator. The stator should be putting out constant voltage while riding.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 862
Likes: 3
From: Henderson, Nevada
I had a replacement factory AGM battery strand me in the desert after six months. These batteries can fail at any time, without warning. And my bikes are always on battery tenders.
Last edited by Harleyboyddk; Oct 8, 2012 at 10:20 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,324
From: Western South Dakota
Your battery is probably 3 years old. If your bike is a 2010, there's a good chance that it was built in 2009, and if that be the case it is probably a 3 year old battery.
+1, could still be a bad battery. Definitely easy to have somewhere test it for you. Good luck!
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