| Maintain your Battery and check your charging | | | | a little. The system voltage should rise with engine |
| system!9 times out of 10 the reason why your bike | | | | RPM. A voltage of around 13.5 to about 14.5 should |
| won't start is usually because of the battery | | | | be displayed. If the voltage stays constant and/or is |
| condition or loose connections. A charging system | | | | slowly decreasing, or if the voltage rises above 14.7 |
| failure is less likely but is still possible.I will talk about | | | | volts the charging system is not functioning.What do |
| both of them here.First look at your battery | | | | you do now? You have to check two things. The |
| connections. Check for obvious and easiest to fix | | | | Stator and the Regulator. The stator creates an AC |
| problems first. A loose connection, poor ground etc. | | | | voltage. The regulator changes the AC to DC voltage |
| will likely cause intermittent operation of the starting | | | | and also maintains that voltage at the proper |
| and charging systems. If you find a loose connection | | | | level.The Stator can be checked with the Ohms |
| and/or corrosion, clean the connections with a wire | | | | function on your meter. Locate and remove the plug |
| brush.Before re-attaching apply a little grease to the | | | | for the stator on the front of the engine block. You |
| contact points. The grease helps to prevent any of | | | | will see two or three pins inside.Set the meter for |
| the white corrosion residues building up around the | | | | low Ohms, and measure the continuity between |
| battery terminals.Try and start her up now. You still | | | | these pins. 5 Ohms or less is what you are looking |
| have a problem? Go down to the mall and buy | | | | for here. Set the meter to the highest setting. With 1 |
| yourself a small electronic multimeter. (Make sure it | | | | lead attached to a metal part of bike check for |
| has both AC and DC volt functions, as well as a | | | | continuity to each pin. You meter should read infinite, |
| continuity (or OHMS)function. Pull out the battery and | | | | or no continuity. If these tests check out then your |
| set it on a counter. Set your multimeter to DC volts. | | | | stator is fine. If there is a fault in any of these tests, |
| Measure the Battery voltage by placing the red lead | | | | then see your dealerThe regulator is the easiest of all |
| on the positive and the Black on the negative.The | | | | to check. The regulator is made of solid state |
| voltage read should be around 12.5 volts (higher is | | | | electronics and can't be opened. Replace the |
| OK) If the voltage is less than this it may indicate a | | | | regulator if everything else on the charging system |
| poor battery. Notice I say, "may" here because the | | | | checks out or if there is an overcharging situation.On |
| bike's charging system might be at fault. In this case | | | | most Harley's you will not know if the charging |
| the battery will most likely be OK.Confirm that the | | | | system is beginning to fail. The evidence shows up |
| electrolyte level in each cell of the battery is good. | | | | when you have dim lights or she just won't start. |
| Add distilled water only to cell's with a low level. | | | | There are aftermarket accessories that you can |
| (Obviously you cannot add water to a maintenance | | | | install on your bike that will tell you the current state |
| free battery) Charge the battery overnight with a | | | | of the charging system.Save yourself some bucks |
| slow charger only. Motorcycle batteries cannot handle | | | | here!! With a simple multimeter available from any |
| a fast charge. Make sure the charger only charges at | | | | Electronics parts store you can troubleshoot your |
| a rate of 2 amps or less.Install the battery and try | | | | charging system and check your battery and most |
| and start her again. If she still won't go buy a new | | | | likely repair any problems yourself.Keith Nivon is an |
| battery and your problem will likely be fixed. If she | | | | avid Harley Davidson Motorcycle Enthusiast! His |
| starts and runs like a charm, then you have to find | | | | website contains information on all things Harley |
| out why the battery went dead. You need to check | | | | Davidson. is a great resource for anyone who shares |
| the charging system.With the engine running, place | | | | a passion for Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Have a |
| the multimeter leads on the battery. Rev the engine | | | | look at for more information. |