Thought We Needed Yet Another Battery Issue Thread

[zona5101]

First off, I'd like to thank everybody who contributes to these forums. I have gleaned a lot of good info going through these posts.
I have an 04 BD Chopper. It has a problem starting. 9 times of of 10 it would go "click" instead of "varoom" - enough times that I would leave it in the garage instead of ride it. Stranded some place asking for someone to give your sweet wicked bike a jump blows. But every time I did put cables on it, it would start up like the bad ass ride I know it can be. I get a battery tender but no improvement. I replaced my 2 year old battery with a new one this week. I think I got it licked then today at lunch "click"...

data:
time battery status voltage result
day1 8a new out of box 12.6 *
day1 noon 4 hrs on charger 13.06 *
day2 8a 24 hrs on charger 13.15 *
day2 noon 28 hrs on charger 13.11 start
day2 12:15p 0 12.85 start
day2 12:16p 0 12.85 start
day3 8a 16 hrs on charger 13.14 start
day3 noon not on charger 13.09 start
day3 12:30p not on charger 12.85 click
* not installed on bike yet, charger only

Day 2 started at noon and took a measurement of 12.65v @ idle
Gave it a slight bit of throttle to get it to 2k rpm and it was 14.1 v (that's good)
After I got back from a short 15 min ride I checked the voltage at idle and it was 13.05v

I am not sure why the bike is being stubborn at 12.85v. When the ignition is on (headlights et al) the voltage drops to 12.60v.

The new battery is a Yuasa YTX20HL 310 CCA BS.
The old battery a Decka gel 270 cca had about the same threshold... at 12.67v it would click. At 12.85 v it would crank...but crak kinda of weakly. The new battery when it cranks insread of clicks starts like right now.

Any thoughts or ideas would be apprciated.

 

[chaingunner]

Been there! Here you go, the fix! Just got mine and so far no probs. not even a hint.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/ignition-electronics-batteries/6683-braille-425cca-battery.html

The Braille 425 cca. Worth every penny. I still keep er on the tender!

 

[Eric]

what does the braile 425cca cost? who sells them?

 

[Pops]

what does the braile 425cca cost? who sells them?

Buy direct from Braille $159.99

 

[Chopper Dave]

Been there! Here you go, the fix! Just got mine and so far no probs. not even a hint.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/ignition-electronics-batteries/6683-braille-425cca-battery.html

The Braille 425 cca. Worth every penny. I still keep er on the tender!

same here Chain! I have had mine for a couple of months now:2thumbs:
here is were I bought mine from....came to $162 shipped to my door...this place only charges $10.25 for shipping...other places were like $20 some dollars..
Braille B2015 Carbon Fiber / Non-Carbon Fiber All Season Battery

 

[mobsta]

hd battery

harley softtail battery 462cca and a manual starter button just in case.no more problem

 

[bdmridgeback]

That Yuasa battery actually is way over rated and really has less CCA than the Deka battery does. I have owned both, dealer even says so. Go get a Big Boar 310 CCA and that will crank that B*itch over like a rocket.

Of course I took out my EHC, but my bike sat this month for 4 weeks without being started and WITHOUT a tender on it, and the first time I cranked it over it cranked like the day I put that Big Boar in the bike...

BEST DAMN BATTERY I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!

 

[zona5101]

Thanks - I will try a bigger battery. I was thankful to find this one locally (and pretty inexpensive) but droppin a couple hundred to make it not give me fits is worth every penny. Both the BigBoar and the Braille were on my short list too.(!) From the comments it sounds like a toss up between the two. I'm sure it will be a week or so but I'll post the results.

 

[alhall88]

Since I've had both, I like the braille better. I had no problems at all with the big boar but the terminals were all cracked from vibration after 2-1/2 years. Not a big deal but I replaced the battery anyway after that time. Time will tell on the braille but the terminals are much more solid.

 

[Mickeetwo]

I bought a Interstate battery last month. Works good so far. $90.00 plus tax. 310cc CY TX20HL-BS.....thought I would throw it out there for you as another other option.

 

[stlmikie]

Hey Jake. Do you sell those BIG BOAR batteries?

 

[zona5101]

A follow up question/confirmation... At 12.85v or so it seems that the issue is amperage right? Battery doesn't have enough kahunas to turn it over and get a click to be a start. Jumping from another battery gets me more amps, not more volts... that seems right.
So were the 2004 Big Dog Choppers known to be crank amp monsters?

 

[zona5101]

I bought the Braille. No problems. Smoking battery. Luckily, my dealer will exchange the Yuasa YTX20HL for one that will fit my Vstar.

 

[Jameson]

Guys...for my Pitbull, some really great service here (battery-wise): Battery Tex - Your Source for Batteries

They have a great selection of big dog motorcycle batteries. Good shipping, etc.

-J

 

[zona5101]

Guys...for my Pitbull, some really great service here (battery-wise): Battery Tex - Your Source for Batteries

They have a great selection of big dog motorcycle batteries. Good shipping, etc.

-J

Thanks for the info and link...they list Yuasa's for Big Dogs...and Yuasa's blow - so do you have a battery brand to recommend or just plugging a website?