| Author | Message | ||
     70_west |
I was forced to let my 2008 Uly sit for about 2 1/2 months this Winter, and it killed my battery. I checked voltage on it before charging and it was 5 1/2 volts, way beyond dead. Charged the battery back to 12.9 and it fired the bike up. It ran fine for a couple minutes, so I went outside to gather a load of firewood. When I got back to it, 5 minutes at most, the Engine Light was on... I shut her down, checked battery voltage at 11.3 vdc. So I am in the market for a new AGM Battery. Any recommendations on the best place/brand to pick up? I'm concerned that the engine light came on, would it respond at an idle to the low voltage if the charging circuit was functioning okay? Can I start the bike and disconnect the battery while it's running to check it? Engine ran great and fired right up, but it sucked the life right out of the old battery in probably less than 8 minutes total. I doubt this is a serious problem but want to err on the side of caution and not do anything that could hurt the bike. Thanks Guys for any answers... Jack | ||
| Xbimmer |
East Penn/Deka, sold under different names by different distributors. $75 at Star Auto here in San Bernardino:  Has worked flawlessly for me, and I keep tabs on it with a Kuryakyn battery meter:  http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=10 | ||
| 70_west |
Thanks XBimmer, I just re-charged the battery, and she fired back up. This time I kept it at a high idle of near 2k, and the engine light stayed off. So I think the indicator was just for the battery. It's toast, and I'd figured on replacing it this Spring anyway... Thanks, Jack | ||
| Swampy |
The original battery shouldn't go bad this soon. Just run a trickle charge on it and try it later. If you are not going to run your bike for a good long while during the winter, don't start it. I have had the stock battery in a Blast since 2001, and Oddesy AGM in the Sporty for 4 years, and when I got the Ulysses the battery was run down, but none of them have let me down. All I have ever done was to give them a trickle charge every once and a while during the winter and let them go. AGM batterys are supposed to have a service life of 6-8 years. | ||
| Froggy |
My 03 Buell is still on the original battery. My 06 is running an aftermarket battery, but only because I had the $400 to kill. | ||
| Ratbuell |
06 Uly, original battery. 98 S1W, HD battery installed in 06, still fires first time. 95 S2, also an '06 HD battery, fires first time. Battery tenders, unheated garage, if I start 'em I ride 'em for at least 30 minutes (except on the way TO work, when it's usually only 20 or so - but I make up for it taking the long way home). If you want to check your charging circuit (which doesn't really charge under 2200 rpm IIRC), plug something into one of your power outlets. If it works, the light is something else. If the outlet is dead, the ECM has turned it off to shunt power to vital systems (ignition, lighting). Oh - I also have the Kuryakyn voltmeters on the S2 and the Uly. HIGHLY recommended, either that or the Fatty (fatbstd) system). Gauges are cheap enough, keep an eye on things. | ||
| 70_west |
Thanks Rat... Under 2200 makes sense and is a relief, as I was only getting a reading of about 12.3-12.5 while at 2k. The warning light is out now, and has stayed out, but the battery will not hold a charge. I may cycle it a few times and float charge it, but right now it's on life support. On my solar system, I never allow my deep cycle batteries to even a level of 12.4, much less to 5.5... But I honestly don't know how that relates to starting batteries. I'll give it a go, and see if it will come back, but if it was in my array, I'd pull it and replace. Thanks for all the great advice. | ||
| Xbimmer |
My 10/05 Uly's battery failed after 3+ years and 50K miles, and a VR/Stator/77-connector meltdown didn't help on the way there. Even after a lengthy charge it wouldn't hold it. Batteries do fail early sometimes and sometimes without warning. In the old days I could kick start the bike to life and disconnect the headlight to get home. Now with all the electronic/electrical demands it's not worth it to me to stretch it out. Pushing a bike for even two miles is worth $75 IMHO. 70_west, be sure of two things. Make sure your charging system is up to spec. And get a freshly built quality AGM replacement battery if you decide to go that route. Don't waste your time and $$ on fill-it-yourself cheapos. |
