Braille Melt Down !

Energy One

dnespolo

Active Member
I can't believe some of you change battery so often. I hope keeping it in a tender charger will help the battery last longer. My is already bad I had the bike since october but olso the scoot is an 09 so I wonder.....
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
There are times when you get what you pay for, and for the most part, this is one of them. Don't get a Drag Specialties Battery! Went through 2 in 4 months. Then I went to an Interstate. It never died on me but after a couple of months, it was having a hard time turning the motor over. But I have heard guys on here with good luck on the Interstate. The last battery I got was the Braille. Only had it about 3 months, but so far, so good. The wife has a HD battery and never had an issue in the 2 years she's had it.
 

Tom Chop

Active Member
Battery Life

I bought my K9 on 6/26/2006 and I am just now in need of a replacement battery. If I was to leave my K9 off charge for a while there isn`t enough juice to start bike if it`s cold. Throught the life of this battery whenever I stopped for an extended period of time, like over night, the Battery Tender Junior has been hooked-up. By my estimation that`s almost 5 years, less three months, on the OEM battery. I don`t feel too badly about having to replace the battery now after some have stated only two or less years service; and some poor guys only after two months! I can only hope to be blessed with similar long life and performance from my new battery as I had from the original (one). I think that I`ll be trying a Braille on this go-around. The feedback from site members has pretty well sold me on it. I am attracted by the features and weight savings but not so much the price. Oh well; You get what you pay for and you have to pay to play. Ride On!

Tom Chop :choppersmiley:
 

heems

Member
I am on my original battery too - over 2 years since i got the bike, and i am sure close to 3 since the bike was manufactured. Have it on tender every night. I can tell sometimes it hesitates to start, but I attribute that to the compression release stroke. So far knock on wood no issues. I am convinced the tender is key. After all it's been through 2 100+ Texas summers and isn't heat the #1 killer of batteries?

Ps: i think i posted on this some time ago but the 2009+ BD models have stronger batteries (310 CCA?) from the factory. Mine being 08 is the weaker one.

PPs: i have had the click-click happen once when i was trying to start the bike in cold weather (less than 50). I wrote that off to a tolerance issue. I think in cold weather the distance between some starter/electric contacts increase and caused that. I have stuck to starting the engine above 55 degrees and this issue has not resurfaced since.
 

goofy

Active Member
I'm still on the original battery. I use a tender whenever it's in the garage, but during our trips it has to rough it. The Scorpio arms itself if it takes too long to start, maybe due to low voltage, but it has been doing that for a couple of years.
 

linx

Active Member
My Braille B2015 was cheaper through the group buy and is over 1000 pulse crankin amps and 725 cold crankin amps...as tested by Braille.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/group-buys/22079-braille-battery-group-buy.html

Nice battery ya got though. I was debating a Deka before the Braille, but I'm happy.

My bike is kind of funny starting too. Sometimes I'll hit the start and nothing. Wait a minute and it'll start right up. I'm not worried about it, I know it's not the starter or battery.
 

CurtK

Active Member
Battery meltdown

I need to jump onto this thread. Was going for a ride yesterday with NukeRanger when we noticed I had the same thing. Positive side of 2.5 month old Braille was melted.

I shot an email and pictures to AutoAnything this morning where I purchased to see what they will do about it. I did do the online warranty registration with Braille.

Can anyone explain what may have caused this?

Curt
 

oldmutt

Active Member
Last year I ran with a harley AGM battery and every time I checked the cable bolts they were tight. This year I have the Braille and when I check the bolts they always need a little tweak. My guess is the threads must be pulling in the lead.
 
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CurtK

Active Member
Yep

I concur with you Old Mutt. I broke down on side the road recently only to find that both bolts had worked themselves loose.

So I re-tighten and went on my merry way. Low and behold yesterday on a pre-ride check they were loose again. I had hardly any riding time since the last time I tightened them.

So you guys think a little blue loctite on the bolt would resolve this issue?

Curt

Theory#1; It seems that the new Braille battery is a little taller/sitting highter in the batt box than the original battery installed. Possibly having my 225# ass in the saddle may have caused the seat pan to touch the top of the positive terminal causing a temporary short. I already recycled the old battery so I cannot measure if there was any difference in height. I may have to install a piece of neoprene/rubber on top of the battery to avoid any possible contact with the seat pan. Could be the reason I have a red (+) mark on one butt-cheek.
 
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STROKER

MEMBER
i'm in the habit now, that after every 3rd or 4th ride,to check the cables for tightness. seems they can be tightened a little every time. :eek::eek:
 

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
Curt,

I just measured my old BD Battery which is now hooked up to my Generator and it is 6 inches from the bottom to the top of the battery post (This does not include multiple lugs and screw which adds height).

Huw
 

CurtK

Active Member
Braille Battery

Thanks for the info Huw. I measured the Braille and it is 6" also. I was told to forward my dilema to the warranty dept at Braille. So now I am waiting to here from them. Hopefully I will have new batt. in the mail ASAP. Just don't know what it will cost me.

Curt
 

T.Byrd

Well-Known Member
I've had my Braille Battery on my 05 Chopper sence Feb.18th. of this year and it went south on me this week end. I thought it was my starter and did the clean up on my solenoid and would still not start. Took my HD Battery that was over a year old off the shelf where it has been ever sence I put on the Brailli on. It started my bike right up and has ever sence this week end. I do have to say that they are sending me a new one with me being out the shipping both ways. About 25 bucks.
 

Chopper Dave

SIICK!!!
I've had my Braille Battery on my 05 Chopper sence Feb.18th. of this year and it went south on me this week end. I thought it was my starter and did the clean up on my solenoid and would still not start. Took my HD Battery that was over a year old off the shelf where it has been ever sence I put on the Brailli on. It started my bike right up and has ever sence this week end. I do have to say that they are sending me a new one with me being out the shipping both ways. About 25 bucks.
glad they are taking care of ya Tom :cheers:

I have had my Braille since the last week of March of 09 and have not had any problems with it:2thumbs:
last fall I went for a couple rides when it was 28-34 degrees out and the Braille turned my motor over like it always has. next March will be 3 years that I had my battery...kinda curious to see how many years I can get out of it
 

PROFLYER

SWOLE
I'm on my original too, stamped may 2006. Tender all the time, since new. I just had it checked at the harley shop last week since I rode there to get new lens covers and it still showed 390cca. They couldn't believe it. I will get a harley battery when this one dies. The warranty is honored at any harley shop, direct swap if yours dies too soon. I think he said it was $118 with tax.
 

CurtK

Active Member
Braille response

Well, after talking to reps with Braille they claim that because I did not use the brass spacers the wires were actually touching the plastic case of the battery which resulted in the lead melting.:bang:

I did notice a little wear on the insulation on those wires but did not think much of it. I did not use the spacers because the bolt was short and I wanted to get enough thread into the terminal.

Tech guy could not answer why the bolts back out so easily. :rant:

So they are offering a replacement battery at half price, $84 plus shipping.

Curt

p.s. Make sure you Braille owners use the brass spacers.:loony:
 
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