Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Question?? Battery.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 16, 2013 | 07:59 AM
  #1  
SG108's Avatar
SG108
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default Question?? Battery.

Have a 2011 SG, washed it Saturday with hose. Started fine afterwards. Went to watch game at the local water hole. Went to leave Battery dead, will not even turn over more than a few seconds. Jumped it, went to next watering hole. Fired up fine. Took it out yesterday and had it load tested, said it was good. Question is: Any chance something got wet when I washed it to cause something to ground or pull on the battery? Going to replace just to be safe. Bike ran well yesterday. Thanks in Andvance
 
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2013 | 09:43 AM
  #2  
2AMGuy's Avatar
2AMGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Influencer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
Default

I think you need a new battery.
The same thing happened this past spring to a friend who has a 2010 Ultra.
Once a battery seems discharged for no apparent reason, chances are it's going bad and if not replaced may end up stranding you at the worst possible time and location.
Folks laugh when I tell them that I replace the batteries in our "road bikes" every third season, even though I rotate the older batteries to the bikes that we rarely ride.
Bike batteries, as a rule don't last as long as car/truck batteries and hotter climates are also very tough on battery life.

Check out www.batterymart for a new battery delivered to your front door.
 
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2013 | 11:22 AM
  #3  
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Default

don't jump a duff battery and ride the bike unless stranded.

a duff battery can overload the charging system and damage it.

a $100 problem becomes a $500 problem


I too, just put in a deka big crank- $99 at amazon



but it really does sound like you had another type of problem.

bucket, soap, sponge- no pressure wash.

Mike
 

Last edited by mkguitar; Sep 16, 2013 at 11:28 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2013 | 11:44 AM
  #4  
jeffreydsilver's Avatar
jeffreydsilver
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
Default

I'd check both battery cable connections at both ends, remove, clean then reassemble. Common problem, common cure.
 
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2013 | 12:59 PM
  #5  
CurtisO's Avatar
CurtisO
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Pearl River, LA
Default

I just replaced a 3year old battery that load tested good at my house on my charger. Also load tested good at Autozone. But I could tell it was a little weak on the first crank of the morning and was definitely weak after bike was warm. I could tell the voltmeter reading was low when I turned on the key. New battery and all is good. Starts well and voltmeter is back where it usually is. Changing your battery is good insurance.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2013 | 06:24 AM
  #6  
SG108's Avatar
SG108
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

Thanks Guys, just going to replace.
 
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2013 | 07:08 AM
  #7  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default

If it has run fine since you suffered the starting problem, simply do the basics and check for clean dry firm contacts on the main starter cables. If one of them is loose and had water in it but is now dry you could be trouble-free until it gets wet again! Don't replace things until you have identified the actual problem.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sliver1
Sportster Models
12
Jun 29, 2020 06:34 PM
jjkrueg
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
3
Sep 19, 2017 05:53 AM
Jean-Philippe Taschereau
General Topics/Tech Tips
2
Nov 7, 2016 05:56 AM
tx-skydiver
Touring Models
15
Dec 12, 2011 06:38 PM
PHA-Q
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
3
Oct 18, 2011 07:53 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:10 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE