Harley sportster electrical problems?
ok I have new battery in my bike, connections look good, fuses are good turn key on and my bike acts like the battery is dead? the running lights come come on really dim. I couldn't find any shorts bust for the heck of it I touched my volt meter to the side of the ignition switch and to a ground and get about 5 volt reading, is that normal? any ideas what could be happening?
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Verified answer
"new" battery.....what type, what brand?
Did you buy a VENTED aftermarket battery where you had to fill it with acid?....Did you fill it, let it sit for 60minutes, then charge for 12hours at 2 amps????....if not, that is your problem.
Prefilled,..."pre-charged"...battery.....did you physically chaecke the battery voltage before installing? Was is 12.5 - 13.5 volts?...if not, it has sat TOOOO LONG, and needs charging.
Did you buy FACTORY HD battery...the BEST!!!!.....check date code...letter &number code....
A13 = Jan 2013, H12 = Aug 12, etc......could be old battery
HD Batteries are manufactured by East Penn Mfg, exact same battery as DEKA, same mfg, the absolute most heavy duty, ongest lasting battery on the market....BEWARE!!!!!....you CAN NOT charge thes AGM - STYLE 100% SEALED batteries with old fashioned trickle chargers...they MUST be charged with "smart" type chargers like a Battery Tender....charging on old style trickle chargers WILL overheat the battery, causing the internal vent to release the internal gasses which MUST remain internal, venting theses gasses will DESTROY the battery....this also goes for "fill it yourself AGM batteries"........once filled and the top strip seal is installed....you MUST use a SAMRT charger, or the gasses vent and your new battry is toasted!!!!
electric powered issues are a *****, as I properly be attentive to. it seems the pc chip, has a worry code. you may get a provider handbook, it fairly is going to inform you the thank you to study the codes. removing the battery, resets the chip and it possibly having a difficulty. on the grounds which you haven't any longer stated something, approximately the different issues. it must be basically the speedometer going undesirable. Does it blink on and stale at a gentle fee, all the time or in uncomplicated terms for a short while? Does it do it, with the motor working or no longer? a short in a twine is fairly erratic, does it blink unevenly? a short basically does not ensue, on the grounds which you adjust your battery. Bart S. your finished of it. i'm no longer even particular you experience in any respect.
Yes, like the others say, you can't just plop it into the bike, it might have been sitting for a year or two. Gotta charge them up first. And make sure there's some acid in it. (Don't just water it, the first fill has to be battery acid.)
As Elaine D says, when you buy a new battery, you have no idea how long it has been sitting on the shelf, losing voltage.
This is one reason to fully charge a new battery before use.