I have come to realize that its best to change out my Harley battery every 3rd season to stop from damaging my starter, past experience was the starting was labored for nearly a year and finally the clutch in the starter failed on a long road trip which left me begging a dealer to remove a new starter from a showroom bike so I could continue my trip. Asheville HD you ROCK !!
I remember that! Yeah, it's definitely a great idea to replace the battery at the first sign of trouble, instead of waiting. While I had a few harder-than-normal starts, with a bit of roughness, over the last few months... this was the first time it didn't actually fire. Glad to know I'm ahead of the game instead of pushing it :D
If it wasn't for TH-cam, I wouldn't be able to install or repair anything... I wouldn't have a clue about how to use all the gizmos in my tool box, to get at those thing-a-ma-bobs that are holding all the what-cha-ma-call-its and those pesky hooga-ma-jigs, and then putting all the doo-flingees back together hoping there aren't any parts leftover when you're done 😳🤔🤣 You made this battery replacement look easy, John 😁👍👍
LOL, me too - except for this one. I was so mad that not only did I forget to film the disassembly, but I didn't even THINK to hit up TH-cam for a how-to. Now, to figure out where the whiz-bangs go in the toolbox, so I can find 'em next time! :D
Truthfully, it's not terrible. I've dealt with way worse [ever do the ship-in-a-bottle battery on a Sportster?] I like that - and may steal it - a jerk of all trades :D I'm usually the one screwing something up, causing a 1/2-hour install to take 3 days!
@RoadReality well if you're bored look up changing the battery on a street 500 I think the Harley one from doc Harley has the video that I watched to learn how to do it it's crazy
@@ridingonruby3287 That's nuts! No thank you, I'll stick with easy to replace, LOL. Batteries are like cabin air filters in cars - sometimes you wonder if the engineers designed everything around that ONE PART! My wife's Escape for instance: Step 1 of the cabin air filter installation instructions: remove the ECM. Uh, no thanks.
@@RoadReality i was a bit thrown, i bought it at Advance Auto, I needed one now, lol. It started my bike after adding acid too, but still needed a full charge, I keep mine on tender every day, well I alternate now with two bikes.. close enough,, lol
@@MotoBaumVirginia Dang. To be honest, I didn't even check - literally what you saw in the video is all I did. The tender is a great idea - Harley even says in the owner's manual for my Street Glide [and probably other bikes] that when not ridden, the bike should be plugged into a tender. I don't ride every day, so yeah, mine is on the tender. I've set it up as simply as I can.
Yeah, sucks when space and cost become that big a factor, eh? The Harley battery could have another 100 or so CCA - it won't start the bike when it's cold and you have regular oil in it [I run synthetic, it has no issues now]
"Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)" is a measurement that indicates a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures, specifically how many amps it can deliver for 30 seconds at 0°F while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts; essentially, a higher CCA rating means a battery is better suited for cold climates where starting an engine is more difficult due to thicker engine oil.
Yeah, it definitely IS a test! There was a strap of some sort next to my battery, so I saved that - I'm not sure what it's for. It might be long enough to wrap around the battery at the next replacement... if not, I might add a long Velcro strap as a handle.
The voltage drops, when you crank the engine. With a battery, with proper capacity, it won't drop too much. In areas where there is actual winter, (I think your area qualifies too), the way most people kill their car batteries, is with short few minute rides.
Yep - you're 100% right on both accounts - we get "real" winter from time to time, and short trips don't allow a vehicle's charging system to fill the battery after using energy to start the engine. Usually, a half hour or more is needed.
So. Voltage is the potential, or the difference between the + and the - , but you need a completed circuit for current to flow, which is the amperage. If you have a dead cell in a batter, you still have the voltage (potential), because the remaining cells have a charge, but you don't have a complete circuit to allow that to flow, so you lack the amperage.
Thanks! So you think I had a bad cell? I wouldn't doubt it - that battery had been deep drained a few times earlier in its life, and I know that's hard on a battery.
Thanks - and to answer your question: I've seen enough problems with Harleys and Lithium Ion batteries, AND none of my chargers/tenders are set up for that battery chemistry. So it wasn't worth it to me.
Tis the season. You're battery had a better run that mine did. Man that guy was really wedged in there. Don't mind my Pan Americas battery location anymore. Where did you get that battery?
Yeah, this was a tight fit! Almost as bad as my wife's Sportster 1200 Custom... that thing is REALLY wedged in there. I got the battery at Batteries Plus :D Thanks for watching!
LOL, I never take the seat off... I mean, I had dirt on my hands & face - totally NOT a professional TH-camr moment :D So did you get a new Lithium-compatible charger for your new battery? Last time I checked, nobody made a solar panel that would safely charge/tend lithium vehicle batteries.
I know, I know - but if you're gonna use a part for multiple bikes, why not put TOURING on it instead of an actual model name? I thought it was funny :D
I have come to realize that its best to change out my Harley battery every 3rd season to stop from damaging my starter, past experience was the starting was labored for nearly a year and finally the clutch in the starter failed on a long road trip which left me begging a dealer to remove a new starter from a showroom bike so I could continue my trip. Asheville HD you ROCK !!
I remember that! Yeah, it's definitely a great idea to replace the battery at the first sign of trouble, instead of waiting. While I had a few harder-than-normal starts, with a bit of roughness, over the last few months... this was the first time it didn't actually fire. Glad to know I'm ahead of the game instead of pushing it :D
If it wasn't for TH-cam, I wouldn't be able to install or repair anything... I wouldn't have a clue about how to use all the gizmos in my tool box, to get at those thing-a-ma-bobs that are holding all the what-cha-ma-call-its and those pesky hooga-ma-jigs, and then putting all the doo-flingees back together hoping there aren't any parts leftover when you're done 😳🤔🤣 You made this battery replacement look easy, John 😁👍👍
LOL, me too - except for this one. I was so mad that not only did I forget to film the disassembly, but I didn't even THINK to hit up TH-cam for a how-to. Now, to figure out where the whiz-bangs go in the toolbox, so I can find 'em next time! :D
@RoadReality 🤣🤣👍
John is wrenching 👍👍
I know, right? Gotta get THAT on film - it's rarer than hen's teeth!
Look at you, wrenching on your bike.. AWESOME
LOL, I figured you'd like this :D
That was a lot easier than the battery in my bike. I consider myself a jerk of all trades, I can do anything wrong. Happy Thanksgiving
Truthfully, it's not terrible. I've dealt with way worse [ever do the ship-in-a-bottle battery on a Sportster?]
I like that - and may steal it - a jerk of all trades :D I'm usually the one screwing something up, causing a 1/2-hour install to take 3 days!
@RoadReality well if you're bored look up changing the battery on a street 500 I think the Harley one from doc Harley has the video that I watched to learn how to do it it's crazy
@@ridingonruby3287 That's nuts! No thank you, I'll stick with easy to replace, LOL. Batteries are like cabin air filters in cars - sometimes you wonder if the engineers designed everything around that ONE PART!
My wife's Escape for instance: Step 1 of the cabin air filter installation instructions: remove the ECM. Uh, no thanks.
Good job my friend. 😎👍👍
Thank you 👍I didn't even have to go to TH-cam University first :D
Great to be able to do your own maintenance. cheers
Thanks 👍 Some of the very basics, I can do :D
I think I bought a Dura cell for my last battery choice as well. The one I put in my Yamaha R1.
Nice - how's it holding up?
@ fantastic. I put it in after them and I think mine was the one you had to put your own battery acid in.
@@MotoBaumVirginia Oh heck, I'm glad I didn't have to add acid myself... that would get dangerous quick!
@@RoadReality i was a bit thrown, i bought it at Advance Auto, I needed one now, lol. It started my bike after adding acid too, but still needed a full charge, I keep mine on tender every day, well I alternate now with two bikes.. close enough,, lol
@@MotoBaumVirginia Dang. To be honest, I didn't even check - literally what you saw in the video is all I did.
The tender is a great idea - Harley even says in the owner's manual for my Street Glide [and probably other bikes] that when not ridden, the bike should be plugged into a tender. I don't ride every day, so yeah, mine is on the tender. I've set it up as simply as I can.
Great job easy peasy
Thanks 👍
cool stuff, gotta have a good battery. The rykers come with really weak batteries from the factory, i swapped that out right away.
Yeah, sucks when space and cost become that big a factor, eh? The Harley battery could have another 100 or so CCA - it won't start the bike when it's cold and you have regular oil in it [I run synthetic, it has no issues now]
"Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)" is a measurement that indicates a battery's ability to start an engine in cold temperatures, specifically how many amps it can deliver for 30 seconds at 0°F while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts; essentially, a higher CCA rating means a battery is better suited for cold climates where starting an engine is more difficult due to thicker engine oil.
Oh, gotcha - thanks! Hopefully this one will be OK - the OEM battery is rated at 395CCA, from what I could dig up on it.
I have had to do that getting the Battery out was a test of wills LOL I posted a video about this a while back. Easy they say HA I say not so much.
Yeah, it definitely IS a test! There was a strap of some sort next to my battery, so I saved that - I'm not sure what it's for. It might be long enough to wrap around the battery at the next replacement... if not, I might add a long Velcro strap as a handle.
@@RoadReality I ended up using zip ties to lift the battery out after I lost all the skin on my knuckles
@@Supermankev2001 Good call!
The voltage drops, when you crank the engine. With a battery, with proper capacity, it won't drop too much. In areas where there is actual winter, (I think your area qualifies too), the way most people kill their car batteries, is with short few minute rides.
Yep - you're 100% right on both accounts - we get "real" winter from time to time, and short trips don't allow a vehicle's charging system to fill the battery after using energy to start the engine. Usually, a half hour or more is needed.
Should pull your main fuse first to be on the safe side
Good point! I totally forgot about that. I think it's under a side cover - which one?
So. Voltage is the potential, or the difference between the + and the - , but you need a completed circuit for current to flow, which is the amperage. If you have a dead cell in a batter, you still have the voltage (potential), because the remaining cells have a charge, but you don't have a complete circuit to allow that to flow, so you lack the amperage.
Thanks! So you think I had a bad cell? I wouldn't doubt it - that battery had been deep drained a few times earlier in its life, and I know that's hard on a battery.
Good job, I have to ask why not lithium? 😊
Thanks - and to answer your question: I've seen enough problems with Harleys and Lithium Ion batteries, AND none of my chargers/tenders are set up for that battery chemistry. So it wasn't worth it to me.
Go to the parts store and get a battery load tester
Good idea! My multimeter has a "load test" section on the dial... but it just read 12v, so I don't think it's the same thing.
Tis the season. You're battery had a better run that mine did. Man that guy was really wedged in there. Don't mind my Pan Americas battery location anymore. Where did you get that battery?
Yeah, this was a tight fit! Almost as bad as my wife's Sportster 1200 Custom... that thing is REALLY wedged in there.
I got the battery at Batteries Plus :D
Thanks for watching!
Gee John take you seat off and clean it .I went to Lithia battery oh it starts so much better.
LOL, I never take the seat off... I mean, I had dirt on my hands & face - totally NOT a professional TH-camr moment :D
So did you get a new Lithium-compatible charger for your new battery? Last time I checked, nobody made a solar panel that would safely charge/tend lithium vehicle batteries.
@RoadReality yes I got new tender it just plug in regular house 110.
@@TheBlueBikeDoyle Awesome! Maybe when Deltran comes out with a lithium solar tender, I'll switch over. I don't have electricity out at the trailer.
Hopefully, you got about five years out of that battery😊
Yeah, that'd be nice - I got 6 out of the factory one.
Multiple parts fits multiple bikes 😂😂
I know, I know - but if you're gonna use a part for multiple bikes, why not put TOURING on it instead of an actual model name? I thought it was funny :D
@RoadReality It is funny 😂😂