Deep fried battery......

[JDouce83]

hey guys, already did a search but there's a million threads and they're all over the place. So here it goes...

I changed my oil a little while ago and a few days later had the bike out for about 140 mile ride. I kept smelling what I though that was oil. I figured I just missed some cleaning up after the oil change. We went to leave our final stop to head home and the bike wouldn't start. I found it weird because the battery is only a year old, fired right up when I left the house, and has been on a trickle charged the whole time. Either way, we push started the bike and was on our way. Got home hooked it back up to the charger and grabbed a beer. A few days later I went out to check it, and the bike still wouldn't start. So I grabbed my meter and checked voltage. I had around 13 but when I tried to start it, it would drop well below 6v. So fast forward, I got a new battery and installed it. It fired right up. Checked the voltage while warming it up with the choke on and it was up to 17 and climbing. Took the choke off and let it idle and went back to around 14. I don't know much about motorcycle charging systems, but I knew it was charging so I figured I was good. Went on a little road trip to Laconia for motorcycle week about 150 miles round trip, weird smell still there at stops. About 5 exits from home, noticed my highbeam light was on on my speedo but my highbeam wasn't actually on. About 3 seconds later, the bike shut off. Some pulled off the highway and pulled the seat off. The battery was smoking and extremely hot to the touch. So now it's time for questions...


First, I recently put a new led headlight bulb in. Besides an oil change, that's the only thing that has been changed this new season. Would this bulb have any effect on my charging system???

Second, is there a way to check my VR? I'm guessing because it was allowing my battery to charge at 17v it is the likely culprit, but I don't want to spend money I don't have to.


Third, do you think my electrical system was damaged by what happened, or I just fried the battery and need a new one to get her running again? I know on some of the VR threads, people mentioned something about a circuit breaker or fuse which I couldn't find, but I also don't know if it's applicable to my 03 chopper.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Yep, your VR has gone bad. You can get one from a Harley shop. Take the old one and they will match it up. As for the battery, I would say there is a 68.2% it's toast, but I have seen them survive before. Also, while your in there, replace the circuit breaker, next to your battery with a 40 amp fuse.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Well sir if all you got is a fried battery you are lucky 17v wayyyy to many. You need a new Voltage Regulator, no way around it. You'll also need a new battery luckily for you might be able to get this one covered under warranty. You'll be lucky if thats all you had to replace. I had a VR go and lost the battery, LED headlight, Tach, Speed Sensor and the PDM that wasn't cool.

Also, Do yourself a favor and just check the LED. Pull the bucket apart and turn the key on switch it from high to low and make sure it doesn't smell like it was burning. I've seen one smoking before.

32 AMP VR is the one you need. Any Harley Style will work, but it will come with a dedicated ground that you will want to route back to your battery. I actually don't like how the stock BDM is grounded through the Frame. I just picked up a CompuFire from Curtis part number is 55120. He is not shipping until July so if you want to pick one up quick Amazon price is pretty good.

Interesting to note that these new VR's only charge at about 13.2-13.4v. Not the 14.4 we are used to seeing. I thought it wasn't working right until I read the instructions and they state that it should only be .5-1.0V higher when running. Was interesting to read because a few days before I was speaking with a rep at Braille, he claimed that AGM batteries only need 13.4v and over 14 is cooking them and I thought he was full of shit, maybe not..

Black - https://www.amazon.com/Compu-Fire-3...1&keywords=compufire+Harley+Voltage+Regulator

Chrome -
https://www.amazon.com/Compu-Fire-3...2&keywords=compufire+Harley+Voltage+Regulator

 

[JDouce83]

Well sir if all you got is a fried battery you are lucky 17v wayyyy to many. You need a new Voltage Regulator, no way around it. You'll also need a new battery luckily for you might be able to get this one covered under warranty. You'll be lucky if thats all you had to replace. I had a VR go and lost the battery, LED headlight, Tach, Speed Sensor and the PDM that wasn't cool.

Also, Do yourself a favor and just check the LED. Pull the bucket apart and turn the key on switch it from high to low and make sure it doesn't smell like it was burning. I've seen one smoking before.

32 AMP VR is the one you need. Any Harley Style will work, but it will come with a dedicated ground that you will want to route back to your battery. I actually don't like how the stock BDM is grounded through the Frame. I just picked up a CompuFire from Curtis part number is 55120. He is not shipping until July so if you want to pick one up quick Amazon price is pretty good.

Interesting to note that these new VR's only charge at about 13.2-13.4v. Not the 14.4 we are used to seeing. I thought it wasn't working right until I read the instructions and they state that it should only be .5-1.0V higher when running. Was interesting to read because a few days before I was speaking with a rep at Braille, he claimed that AGM batteries only need 13.4v and over 14 is cooking them and I thought he was full of shit, maybe not..

Black - https://www.amazon.com/Compu-Fire-3...1&keywords=compufire+Harley+Voltage+Regulator

Chrome -
https://www.amazon.com/Compu-Fire-3...2&keywords=compufire+Harley+Voltage+Regulator

Would those regulators be plug and play for the most part?

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Would those regulators be plug and play for the most part?

Yep! They just have a dedicated ground wire. I'd recommend putting on a new 12 gauge wire and running it back to the battery negative post your gonna have to run the positive wire back anyways . The kit only comes with about 3 ft ground wire.

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

 

[liferider]

be sure to use crimp on shrink tubes as connectors

 

[Unsprung]

Very lucky if it's only the VR. When my VR went out it took all ignition components with it,(ignition module, cam sensor, coil, battery and speed sensor). Do yourself a favor and get a charging system monitor from Curtis at WSW or Amazon. Like Th3Infamous one, I went with the Compufire VR and it works great. Good luck and I hope it was only the VR.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Very lucky if it's only the VR. When my VR went out it took all ignition components with it,(ignition module, cam sensor, coil, battery and speed sensor). Do yourself a favor and get a charging system monitor from Curtis at WSW or Amazon. Like Th3Infamous one, I went with the Compufire VR and it works great. Good luck and I hope it was only the VR.

ditto I'd be surprised if nothing else went. I lost almost everything electrical except for the ignition module for some reason. Thankfully it was the new programmable one.

 

[JDouce83]

Awesome.... Well I just pulled out the VR now. There's an obnoxious amount of zip ties. I'm going to order a new VR now from Amazon. How will I know if it burnt up other stuff? Just slap it all back together and try to fire it up and see what works? My speedo is turning on when I turn the key as are all the gauge lights. I pulled the headlight out and it looks like I'm only getting a few volts to the connector (6v on high beam and 4.5v on the low side).

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Awesome.... Well I just pulled out the VR now. There's an obnoxious amount of zip ties. I'm going to order a new VR now from Amazon. How will I know if it burnt up other stuff? Just slap it all back together and try to fire it up and see what works? My speedo is turning on when I turn the key as are all the gauge lights. I pulled the headlight out and it looks like I'm only getting a few volts to the connector (6v on high beam and 4.5v on the low side).

Yea it's going to be trial and error once you get the VR hooked up. I didn't realize my tach was toasted till the bike was running again and once it was running I didn't realize the speedometer wasn't working until I rolled it down the road. haha.

Like i said thankfully I didn't fry my Ignition module...it's possible your not as lucky. You could try and start the bike without the VR hooked up to see if it works. Just won't charge the battery, if I were you I'd just take the old one back and see if you can get it replaced under warranty. What is the voltage on the battery now? When mine fried it registered 12.5v but i tried to start it and would go to 6 then only go back to 10v was no longer holding a charge.

 

[JDouce83]

Yea it's going to be trial and error once you get the VR hooked up. I didn't realize my tach was toasted till the bike was running again and once it was running I didn't realize the speedometer wasn't working until I rolled it down the road. haha.

Like i said thankfully I didn't fry my Ignition module...

Ugh. Can't wait. This should be fun. So I was just about to pull the trigger on that VR you sent me through Amazon. I clicked the "does this fit my vehicle" link and added my bike. It says it doesn't fit. I have an 03 chopper with the RT frame. Is that just Amazon being Amazon or do they make different ones for mine??

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Oh and I just realized you are in Methuen. I grew up in MA out in the Western part of the state off Route 2, then lived in Quincy up until about 8 years ago. Still have lots of friends up there mostly around Weymouth

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Ugh. Can't wait. This should be fun. So I was just about to pull the trigger on that VR you sent me through Amazon. I clicked the "does this fit my vehicle" link and added my bike. It says it doesn't fit. I have an 03 chopper with the RT frame. Is that just Amazon being Amazon or do they make different ones for mine??

It's the right one.....

Also don't forget to look for the circuit breaker and just go ahead and replace that with a 40AMP fuse from the VR to the Battery like Shannon mentioned earlier.

 

[JDouce83]

Oh and I just realized you are in Methuen. I grew up in MA out in the Western part of the state off Route 2, then lived in Quincy up until about 8 years ago. Still have lots of friends up there mostly around Weymouth

That's awesome. I have a few friends in the Weymouth area too. I used to hang out around the south shore in my early 20's. Small world.

I'll take your word for it on the regulator and order it up. Thanks!!

 

[Th3InfamousI]

That's awesome. I have a few friends in the Weymouth area too. I used to hang out around the south shore in my early 20's. Small world.

I'll take your word for it on the regulator and order it up. Thanks!!

We are about the same age actually so may have crossed paths back then. I used to live off Quarry Street in Quincy up until 2008. I just was at a friends Wedding last Oct in Plymouth and the bride and groom were from Weymouth originally, they are townies so I'm sure they know them. Small World.

I do miss riding down to Nataskat Beach and drinking at the Red Parrot and watching the girls in Bikini's.....which you could only do a few months out of the year before it was too cold.

 

[BadDawg Bill]

It's the right one.....

Also don't forget to look for the circuit breaker and just go ahead and replace that with a 40AMP fuse from the VR to the Battery like Shannon mentioned earlier.

A 40 amp circuit breaker would be better. Won't leave ya stranded.....

 

[Marky-Marc]

Yep, your VR has gone bad. You can get one from a Harley shop. Take the old one and they will match it up. As for the battery, I would say there is a 68.2% it's toast, but I have seen them survive before. Also, while your in there, replace the circuit breaker, next to your battery with a 40 amp fuse.

Shannon, 68.2%?????...now that's accuracy......lol

 

[Th3InfamousI]

A 40 amp circuit breaker would be better. Won't leave ya stranded.....

The problem with a circuit breaker is they only provide one way protection and most have them hooked up backwards also the load needed to trip a 40 amp is significant and they are slow to trip. I think even axle said the breakers were to slow to protect electronics. Carrying a spare 40 amp fuse in your tool bag should be fine also every town with a parts store or Walmart you got spares. Can't say the same for a breaker

If you have a 40 amp fuse and it blows you know you have a charging problem. I would rather know I have a problem then keep riding and cook all the electronics on the bike. My faulty VR cost me about $1200 which could have been avoided with a fuse.

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

 

[BWG56]

The problem with a circuit breaker is they only provide one way protection and most have them hooked up backwards also the load needed to trip a 40 amp is significant and they are slow to trip. I think even axle said the breakers were to slow to protect electronics. Carrying a spare 40 amp fuse in your tool bag should be fine also every town with a parts store or Walmart you got spares. Can't say the same for a breaker

If you have a 40 amp fuse and it blows you know you have a charging problem. I would rather know I have a problem then keep riding and cook all the electronics on the bike. My faulty VR cost me about $1200 which could have been avoided with a fuse.

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

Pep-Boys is where I got mine

 

[JDouce83]

Yep! They just have a dedicated ground wire. I'd recommend putting on a new 12 gauge wire and running it back to the battery negative post your gonna have to run the positive wire back anyways . The kit only comes with about 3 ft ground wire.

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

In the process of installing the new regulator now, so you're saying add some length to the given ground cable and go all the way back to the battery??

Also I know you guys were saying to wire in a 40amp fuse and take out the breaker, but I can't seem to find the breaker. Anyone have a picture for reference??