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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 01:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hey guys.

Is it pretty normal to have the battery warning light on at idle? (while stopped at lights with 0 throttle)

It's definitely RPM related because it goes away almost instantly when I start moving again.

I don't remember this happening last year, but I did switch to the EBR ECM over the winter, so 50rpm less or so at idle might be making the difference...

Does this sound about right, or might I have a new stator in my future?

(Message edited by jimustanguitar on March 31, 2014)
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Sinnister
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 01:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A new stator is in your future. Should test, I bet one phase has gone out already.
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Froggy
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 01:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There are two likely issues - First is that your battery is failing (if it is original then it is at least 5 years old and due anyway). Second is that your stator could be failing, I would begin diagnostics on that (follow the directions in the electrical manual).

Also, what year bike?
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Nikoff90
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 02:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Load test your battery it can be done with any multimeter with min/max setting.

Start with full charge of at least 12.4 DC volts 75% charge.

Hook up multimeter with alligator clips to battery terminals set meter on DC min/

Turn on bike ignition set switch to on and start bike.

Read DC min/ setting. -- if good battery will remain above 9.6 volts.

While running now you can switch off min/max and you should be getting a reading around 14.4 DC volts.
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Oldog
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 03:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

the batt light comes on at 11.9 volts on my bike, off at 12, the tests and comments above are vallid, Mine just did that 3 months ago and I had to replace the battery.
( 08 R )

stator Ohms and volts out not to bad to test
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Captjoe
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 03:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you have the HD harness, check it for corrosion. Mine was corroded and dropping phases because of it.
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Terrys1980
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 06:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Without all the troubleshooting, if the battery resting voltage is below 12.2 it needs to be replaced.
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Brumbear
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2014 - 07:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you had the FIX put in, change the $10 relay as well they go bad.
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Mcelhaney14
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2014 - 02:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

First off, what year is the bike? I had the same thing happen on my 08 and it turned out to be the regulator. The wires on the regulator that went to the stator were getting very stiff and discolored. If it's an 09 or 10 listen to what everyone else has already said.
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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2014 - 08:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine is an '08.

I haven't performed any troubleshooting yet. Testing the battery sounds like step #1 because I do believe that it's original.
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Pmjolly
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2014 - 01:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Happens when the battery is bad. Mine is '08 and did the same. Replaced battery, and all has been well for a couple of years now.
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Brumbear
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2014 - 07:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

oops it's an 08 glad somebody was on the ball there sorry I thought 09 shoulda checked your prof.
I'd say batt.
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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Is the general consensus that the AGM battery from Drag Specialties that American Sportbike sells is the "go-to" replacement?

http://americansportbike.com/newdir/Item/16251

(Message edited by jimustanguitar on April 02, 2014)
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Froggy
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 01:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Personally I recommend getting another Harley battery, they work pretty good, last a long time, aren't stupidly overpriced, and are easy to obtain. Also some aftermarket batteries are a slightly different size, which can make installation even more difficult or impossible.
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No_rice
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 06:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

one thing i will say, harley has good batteries.

i deal with them daily, and usually they are atleast 5 years old when they start getting weak. it is not uncommon for me to see 10 year old batteries still doing their job, and ive even had 12 yr ol ones replaced "just for piece of mind"

that being said, i also have plenty of people that complain about the price, go get an interstate or something then come back in 6 months to a year to buy the harley one anyway....

put a hd one in it. its worth the few bucks.
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Beefsupreme
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - 09:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine has similar characteristics. It drops to 11.6 when idling for minutes at a time with high speed fans. Riding it only gets up to 14.2. When I turn it on after sitting overnight it's almost always down to like 12.0.

The battery is 3+ years old, so I'm almost positive it's that even though mine's an '09.

I've ordered one and if you're interested I can confirm that in this thread that it's the problem; I'm 90% sure it is, and only 10% uncertain because of the stigma of a 2009 buell with any charging issue.
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Oldog
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2014 - 08:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Without all the troubleshooting, if the battery resting voltage is below 12.2 it needs to be replaced.

That covers it well.}
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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2014 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have had a series of harley branded batteries. Most were very good, fairly priced, and very durable.

The last one I bought was absolute crap, and within a year performed worse than the battery I replaced (which I put back in and have been running with since).

FWIW.
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1313
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2014 - 12:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'll admit that H-D batteries have proven themselves with me. As much as I hate to recommend throwing dinero their way.

The only issue I ever had was with one of the first AGM batteries in my S2. The early ones were known to be 'bad', so when I contacted the dealer I bought it from when it started acting up (literally in months) they swapped it out for a new and improved one which lasted at least 8 years - partly due to the battery tender.

FWIW X 2,
1313
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Beefsupreme
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2014 - 06:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Turns out it's not the battery in my case.
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Pwillikers
Posted on Friday, April 04, 2014 - 09:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I bought a Scorpion battery. It's advertised to be 260CCA which is more than any other I could find. It spins it up nicely. I'm happy.
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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Monday, April 07, 2014 - 11:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm going to give MotoBatt a try.
http://www.motobattbatteries.com/about

2 year warranty and free shipping. Also Amazon Prime eligible, if you do that.
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Nvbuell
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2014 - 11:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I bought this battery at BatteryMart and it works great. Fits in the stock location perfectly without issues and its American Made. Also is shipped free. http://www.batterymart.com/p-big-crank-etx14l-batt ery.html?Category_Code=buell-1125r-1125cc-battery
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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2014 - 02:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I got the MotoBatt in the mail today. It came fully charged and started the bike right away.

The battery itself is actually about 1cm shorter than the original, but it came with a snap on spacer to make it the right height.

Not a perfect fit, it took a little doing. The red positive terminal guard has an edge that fits into a recess in the original battery that doesn't exist on the top of the new battery.

Although MotoBatt has a mailing address in Florida, the battery is made in China.

My other gripe is that the terminals aren't flush with the front edge of the battery case, so the positive terminal doesn't screw down flat like the original.

I'll keep it because I already did the work to make it fit and terminate properly, but while I like the battery and feel that it's good quality (and 2 year warranty), it's not an exact fit replacement in a tight battery compartment like the 1125 has.
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