| Author | Message | ||
     Orangeulius |
A few weeks ago I posted about my ongoing electrical problems, (battery discharges, bike dies while riding, guages don't work). After multiple service visits and finally getting the dealer to install a new Bank Angle Sensor 2 weeks ago, here's the latest. The bike wouldn't start again today. It started 2 days ago, albeit barely and had been on the trickle charger everyday. I called the dealer and said "Don't you think it's time for this battery to be replaced under warranty?" Their response "Well Harley won't replace it if your battery doesn't fall in a certain range when put on the tester. Your battery isn't in that range." Me, "OK I'll just buy a battery, could you at least give me a discount?" Dealer "I'll see what we can do." I pick up my battery, get a 10% discount (that everyone in the store was also getting)and walk out. hmmmm. I'm impressed. It starts so strong now. We'll see if this new battery discharges early too but if it doesn't, wouldn't it have been easier for them to have replaced the battery months ago? Next update when something momentus happens. Oh and BTW, according to them Buell claims to not see this as a widespread problem. | ||
| Roc |
If they tested your battery and it was within spec then the new battery is just a bandaid and your problems are not over. Ask that the problem be fixed under warranty. Work with them as well as you can and if they are no help then contact Buell. | ||
| Teeps |
I got pretty much the same shuck & jive when the battery took a crap in my Ulysses last summer. Cost me $47 for a new one. I haven't had a starting problem since. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ask them if they will replace their battery tester under warranty.  | ||
| Nutsosane |
If you are having charging/battery issues I strongly suggest carrying a set of jumper wires if at all possible. My Father made a set out of 8 gauge wire and alligator clips after my Lightning had these issues. Peace of mind my friends is invaluable; especially when you're on the side of the road cursing your Buell. NUTS | ||
| Windrider |
Get a battery tender harness and install it. Carry a DVM with you and measure your battery voltage via the tender harness every time you stop the bike. If you see the voltage going down you know the problem is still happening and you can do something about it before you are stranded again. It should not be that difficult to tell if the charging system is working. | ||
| Etennuly |
My Uly has shown signs of a weak battery for a few months, in that it will start the bike but just barely the first time of the day. It starts fine when warmed up. I haven't had to jump it yet, but it has been close. I use the same dealer as Orange. I charged and tested my battery exactly according to the Buell Service Manual. The required minimum voltage is 12.8. By my meter it read 12.3. The bike was in for another issue at the time so I asked them to check it. They told me their read out was 12.7 after charging. I pointed out that the SM requires 12.8 BEFORE any other testing is done. It was in for a wiring issue that seems to have been fixed. My question is why won't they follow the recommended Buell guidelines for this battery issue and just replace it? There is no question in my mind that the battery in Orangeulius' bike should have been exchanged under warranty a long time ago. It is sad and stupid that he has had to keep it on a charger all of the time that he has owned that bike. Then the fix is for him to go buy a battery himself, install it, and wallah! it frikken works! If mine should ever fail to start leaving me stranded, another black eye will bestow the Buell service department because they know that my battery voltage is on the low side of Buells minimum voltage. Maybe their voltage tester needs calibrating or replaced. Some things they do well......some they really don't get. It seems to me that about one half of the problems that have surfaced on Orange's Uly may have been initiated from low voltage to begin with. Kind of like building a house on a cracked foundation. Know wadd'a mean???........Vern | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I have never had mine on a battery tender. I have never had it not start. When it's working, the battery has plenty of juice. I will be interested to see if the new battery will do the trick. Batteries in automotive and motorcycle use don't seem to hold up well when you completely deplete them. I wonder if all the issues conspired to kill the battery, or if the battery was the problem all along. Good luck Orange. We are all pulling for this to be over and you to have several miles of no problem. Have you been out again? Did it stall again? BAS haters want to know!!!!! | ||
| Chadhargis |
I keep my bike on a Tender at all times when it's in the garage. In my entire riding career, I've never replaced a battery. Ever. I took my bike out for a short ride today. It hadn't been started since the day after Thanksgiving. We've had some unusually cold weather here lately which has kept me off the bike. The Uly started on the first try as usual. Battery Tenders work! | ||
| Bmwdavid |
When I picked up my new Uly last May '06 the dealer had just put in a new battery. They said the battery in the bike did not check out well during PDI. I thought, well this is very good that the dealer had done the PDI so well. Bike has always been a strong starter. Even if I let it sit for 3-4 weeks it pops right over. I do have a Battery Tender pig tail on it but just about every time I do plug the bike into the Battery Tender the full charge light comes on in like 2-3 mins. So now I just charge battery once every 6 weeks or so during winter and even then it goes to full charge in about 5-10 mins. David | ||
| Stevenknapp |
In my entire riding career, I've never replaced a battery. Ever. Nah, you just replace bikes! :-D Not that I can talk... I do the same. I tend to replace batteries every few years as cheap insurance anyways, esp in the days before sealed/MF batteries. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I just ride my bike all the time, so it never needs battery tending. It cranks just fine every time; even in temps as low as 5 degrees. I did suffer a pin fit issue on the VR connector that depleted it once. No problems since I fixed that. | ||
| Red_chili |
You should change the post title from "I hate my Uly" to "I hate my dealer". | ||
| Lowflyer |
..or "I hate my battery"  | ||
| Etennuly |
...OR..."I hate my battery and the F#$%&^% service department that wouldn't replace it under warranty like they should have!!!"  | ||
| Orangeulius |
Great comic relief guys. Your right too. The thread title should be changed. WindRider had a good idea but what the heck is a battery tender harness? | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
a battery tender is a "intellegent"battery charger that will not overcharge your battery, the harness is just a simple connection point.i don"t use mine unless the bike sits for a while (my other bikes use them more because i LOVE my uly)The first weekend i have my uly i did have a problem w/the stator to regulator connection from a missformed termanal.found it roadside and have been trouble free since.Bob | ||
| Lowflyer |
A Battery Tender harness is one each red and black leads 8-10" long with an SAE connector on the end. It gets attached to the battery posts. If you buy a trickle charger, one comes in the package. Battery Tender is a brand of trickle charger. I use a trickle charger on my boat batteries. The one I bought cost about $18 at WM instead of $40 for a Battery Tender. I've had the same batteries in the boat for 6 years. Trickle charger is definitely worth it's weight in the precious substance of your choosing. (Message edited by lowflyer on December 11, 2006) |
