Make the bad luck stop!

[flhrci]

Labor Day Weekend Saturday, pickup truck blows a brake line 2 miles from home at end of 120 mile trip. Got lucky there. $300 to fix.

Got sick the following Tuesday night and lost 2 days work.

This past Monday night I took my '14 Glide to work. Trying to leave at near midnight and it took three tries to get the bike started. I could tell the battery was weak as all the lights would go out and the turnover was slow to start. The following morning was no turn over at all and just clicking. Picked up a battery for $154 out the door plus $5 core charge at batteries Plus and installed it Wednesday morning. Fine on way to work and back home.

Thursday on the way to work the shift pedals began slipping. I did not mess with it at work at all and thought about how to get home all night. When I left I was able to get one down shift into 1st and that seemed to finish off the shifter shaft as the levers would go up and down freely. I got her into 2nd and 3rd using my shoe heel and went 35mph in a 45 and 55mph zone taking twice as long to get home. In my apartment's parking lot I was able to use mostly momentum to get parked and was able to use the shifter to get back into neutral. Got the parts and installed them yesterday. Bike back up again. The shifter shaft was stripped on the motor side. Decided to replace the shaft as well as the connecting piece to the linkage to be safe.

I changed the rear brake pads today cause of lots of noise. They had 19269 miles on them but still had some material left. They are quiet now.

Bad times for me, my truck and the Glide.

I hope to have some peace for awhile.

Also, recommend when you have the seat and covers off to clean the areas under neath. I found brake dust everywhere as I have not had covers or seat off in 2.5 years or so.

David

 

[TomA]

Tomorrow's a new day think positive it will get better.

 

[MisterB]

I'm guessing you don't use a battery tender over the winter, since you live in an apartment? Wonder if you can remove the battery and bring it in the house for the winter and plug it in to a tender?

 

[flhrci]

I'm guessing you don't use a battery tender over the winter, since you live in an apartment? Wonder if you can remove the battery and bring it in the house for the winter and plug it in to a tender?

Had the bike at my Mom's house and used the tender the first winter I had the bike. Last winter was so warm I stored it here at my apartment in the powerless garage and did not use the tender as I was able to ride it fairly often. This winter looks harsh and no riding so I will bring the new battery in an put it on the tender. The bike's "birthday" was Feb 9th of 2015 and I did not buy her till August of 2015 so I think that sitting did not help the battery any either.

Also, I am wondering if 10 minutes of 50mph and 55mph riding each way to work helps or hurts any.

David

 

[slingshot383]

It take 20 minutes of good riding to bring the battery back from the starting drain, you are riding a zero sum game. A battery tender would be a good idea for almost daily use. Or find a longer way to and from work!

 

[maxx442]

A lead acid battery in good condition will self recover as long as it isn't drained below 75% of charge. You don't need to ride "X" miles or minutes.



If the charge level was low to begin with either the battery is nearing the end of its lifecycle or you have a current drain somewhere.

 

[Dylanthecat]

Please explain how a battery can self-recover. Ya got a perpetual motion machine you want to sell?

 

[maxx442]

Please explain how a battery can self-recover. Ya got a perpetual motion machine you want to sell?

Research is your friend. I have neither the time, nor the inclination, to explain it to you. Suffice it to say it might have something to do with a chemical reaction between two different items. We are speaking of lead acid batteries here, not your typical AA or D cell.

 

[Dylanthecat]

Sorry, what you are implying is a self sustaining energy source. Don't think battery manufacturers would be happy to find that out. I interpret your statement as saying I can run my battery down to 75 % , wait some point of time, and keep doing that indefinitely. I am sorry you don't have time to refute that.

 

[maxx442]

I never said it would do it indefinitely, you did. As with everything else, over time it will lose that ability. I stated that a battery in good condition had this ability. We all know that automotive batteries eventually lose the ability to accept and hold a charge.

 

[Dylanthecat]

A fully charged unused battery will lose maybe 40% of it energy per year. So if I use it, this won't happen? Please give me something to back this up. I looked for a bit and could not find anything. So instead of connecting my bike to a battery tender, it would be less expensive to regularly plug a cable in to the tender port with a resistor and run the battery to a 75% charge level? I don't need to buy a tender or pay the electric bill.