The Harley Davidson Battery Tender instructions are guidelines that Harley Davidson recommends for how to charge their Harley-Davidson battery. They recommend charging the Harley-Davidson battery every 3 months with a Harley Davidson Battery Tender if it is not used or once per month if the bike is ridden or stored in low temperatures. These instructions are important because they can help you ensure your Harley-Davidson motorcycle starts reliably when you ride it.
Harley Davidson told you how to keep your motorcycle battery working well. One of the best ways is to use a good charger like Harley Davidson’s Battery Tender. It is different from regular chargers because it has a circuit that ensures the battery is not overcharged and automatically changes modes to protect the battery.
That is important because overcharging your battery can shorten its life.
They also say that if you are not going to ride the motorcycle for a while, charge it once per month with the Harley Davidson Battery Tender instead of leaving it in storage mode too long. That will help prevent sulfation which means minerals build up on parts inside your battery and do not charge.
That is the way to make sure you always have a good Harley-Davidson motorcycle battery, and it starts when you need it.
But when you want to charge your battery with a regular battery charger, make sure it has an automatic shutoff like the Harley Davidson Battery Tender. You can do this by turning off your motorcycle and taking out the key after connecting all leads to the battery terminals.
That way, if any sparks fly when you are connecting wires, they will not damage anything in or around your battery.
Don’t worry; I will give you step by step charging procedure with all the details.
Let’s dig into the procedure to charge your Harley Davidson motorcycle battery.
How to charge the Harley-Davidson battery?
Harley Davidson Motorcycle batteries are better charged when you use a motorcycle battery tender. You can leave it plugged in, and it will charge the battery a lot faster. It has a three-way charging system that makes sure the battery will get completely charged.
It switches to float mode automatically to take care of the battery. One important thing when you charge any battery is to be careful every time you do it.
It’s always a good idea to stay on top of your bike battery. To do this, we use this Harley Davidson battery tender that checks the voltage and stops it from getting too high.
Tools You Need:
- Battery Charger
- Cables and Wires
- Clamps and Clips
- Digital Multimeter
- Gloves and Goggles
Step 1
To remove the seat from your bike, turn it off and level. Unscrew the bolt that holds it to the fender. Then take two bolts with a wrench and pull up on the seat so you can take it off.
Step 2
It is important to disconnect the negative (-) terminal’s Phillips screw to charge a motorcycle battery. This wire will be put aside with the lead. Next, you need to disconnect the positive (+) terminal’s Phillips screw. You’ll also want to make sure that it does not contact any metal parts or the frame of your motorcycle.
Step 3
Remove the rubber strap that holds your battery in place. Then, lift the battery to take it out of the frame.
Step 4
Connect the battery to the charger. Start by attaching the positive wire lead, then the negative wire lead. You might need to charge it for a long time before it is full.
Step 5
It would be best if you disconnected the charger from your motorcycle. First, take off the negative lead, then take out the battery and put it in your bike’s battery tray. Put on the positive wire first and then put on the negative wire. Make sure you put back on any straps so that nothing falls out of place.
Finally, it would be best if you put the seat back on. It would help if you slid the metal tang on the front of the seat into the slot at the back of it. Then, you need to push down and secure it with a bolt in each hole. Once you do that, use two more bolts to attach them under your seat’s leather flaps.
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Can I charge my motorcycle battery without disconnecting it?
You can charge the battery without removing any of the terminals. But this method is not recommended.
The safest way to charge your battery is by removing the negative terminal, then connecting a voltmeter between the positive and ground. Then you can safely connect the charger.
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Ways to Charge without Disconnecting the Battery
There are several ways of charging a motorcycle battery without disconnecting it.
You could leave the bike plugged into a wall socket through the winter so that it’s always at full capacity.
Moreover, you could also charge your bike with jumper cables or use a solar charger.
Another way of charging your battery without removing any terminals is by using an automatic smart charger to detect when the battery is fully charged and disconnect itself.
Regardless of which method you choose, it’s important to keep your battery topped up. This boosts its lifespan and ensures that your bike is ready to go when you need it most.
Some motorcycles have a small trickle charger that recharges the battery while in storage, but this may not be suitable for all batteries, so always check with a dealer before using a trickle charger.
How long does it take to charge a dead Harley battery?
The Harley motorcycle battery is the longest part on the bike to charge, and it takes between 4 and 24 hours, so check back periodically during that time to see if it’s been recharged.
However, these batteries are not particularly weak but do require a good deal of time to charge. How long it takes depends on how low your battery is and what level of charge you want to recharge it to.
If the bike has been sitting for some time, the battery will be completely drained. A full charge takes around 14-16 hours.
The number of amps you put into your battery will determine how long it takes to recharge.
At 1-2 amps, the charge time should be about 10 hours. At 3-4 amps, it’ll take about 6 hours. And at 5 or more amps, a full charge should take just under 4 hours.
Recharging a Harley battery depends on the battery model, the number you have, and how much charge is left in them.
A 9-amp hour will take about 4 hours to recharge to 90 per cent capacity. A 12-amp hour takes about 5 hours to reach that same level of charge. And a 24-amp hour takes between 12 and 24 hours; it takes longer because it contains more amp hours.
In all cases, you’ll need a 10 to 12-volt charger with the appropriate amperage rating.
The Harley-Davidson factory manual recommends a 1 or 2 amp charge rate, but 5 amps are acceptable as well, although it will take a bit less time to charge at a lower rate.
At higher amperage, the voltage will drop as the battery charges, which could affect ignition performance. A fully discharged battery should charge at 2-5 amps; between 50 and 80 per cent charged should charge at 1-2 amps, and 30 to 50 percent charged can be safely charged at 3 or 4 amps.
Do not use a higher amperage than the battery recommends, and do not use a lower amperage. Also, charge at room temperature, between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it’s too cold or too hot outside to get your bike in the garage or close to an outlet, you can leave it running while charging. Just keep it from going too fast because that generates excess heat.
Service Tips for Motorcycle Battery Safety
Motorcycles batteries are smaller and more powerful than car batteries. Car batteries won’t work in a motorcycle. Here are some things to keep in mind as you maintain your motorcycle battery:
- Make sure the battery is secure with the cables connected properly.
- Do not use any device with high voltage, such as a tester.
These devices could damage the battery and cause an explosion.
- Do not smoke or allow open flames near the motorcycle when charging the battery.
- If you notice any corrosion on the terminals, use a wire brush to clean them off.
- Always use distilled water to fill the battery and never overfill it.
- If the motorcycle is stored for a long time, charge the battery once a month. This can be done with a trickle charger or by taking out the battery and connecting it to an electrical outlet with leads attached.
- Keep electrolyte levels up to the bottom of the filler neck. Use only distilled water and don’t overfill.
- Keep all flames away from the battery and never smoke near it because batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas as they charge.
- Do not short, jump, or carry a motorcycle battery with tools such as screwdrivers because this can cause sparks.
- If the battery is frozen, do not attempt to charge it or jump-start it with another motorcycle or car.
- Do not use carbonated drinks on the battery because they have harmful acids that can damage it.
- Never take apart a sealed battery.
- Store the battery in a cool, dry place with low humidity. For example, never store it in an unheated enclosed space like a garage or shed during the winter months.
- Keep the top of the battery clean and dry whenever you’re working on it because spilt acid can damage painted surfaces instantly.
- Never touch your eyes, mouth, or open wounds after working on a battery because spilt acid can cause serious injuries.
- Wear protective clothing and glasses when you’re near a motorcycle battery because acids from the battery could splash into your eyes or onto your skin.
- If the electrolyte (fluid) level is low, carefully remove the cell caps and pour enough distilled water to cover the plates.
- Replace any separator that has been damaged or has grooves because this could lead to a short circuit.
- Never charge a frozen battery because it may explode from an internal build-up of pressure.
- Do not use leaded gasoline to top off the battery because this can damage it and cause corrosion.
- Be careful when you check a sealed battery with a hydrometer because the electrolyte level could overflow if it is overfilled.
Conclusion
The Harley Davidson battery tender instructions are a great way to ensure your bike is always ready for the road. You can find detailed information about using this product by reading our blog posts, or you could reach out and ask us any questions that come up. We’re happy to help!