Battery Tender Quick Connect...

[SchneidyP]

So I went to start the ride today and, click click click. Battery was around 11.5-11.7V. Bought a Battery Tender hoping I can charge it up and keep it charged for the winter. Do the 2009 Irons have a quick connect for the Tender? I'm pretty sure mine has one but didn't want to plug it in and fry the computer! Also... How in the hell do I re-connect the negative terminal of the battery, they could have made the cable a bit longer! It wouldn't be as bad if you could connect the negative before the positive. :smoke

[khaskins]

No bikes come from the factory with the quick connect. That said, alot of dealers install them on bikes so they can charge the batteries on the bikes in the show room.

Disconnect the other end of the negative cable where it attaches to the motor just below the battery and next to the starter. Follow the cable away from the battery and you'll find the connection. Make sure that they are all tight or there will be trouble.

[Lenster]

So I went to start the ride today and, click click click. Battery was around 11.5-11.7V. Bought a Battery Tender hoping I can charge it up and keep it charged for the winter. Do the 2009 Irons have a quick connect for the Tender? I'm pretty sure mine has one but didn't want to plug it in and fry the computer! Also... How in the hell do I re-connect the negative terminal of the battery, they could have made the cable a bit longer! It wouldn't be as bad if you could connect the negative before the positive. :smoke

Unless it was included from the stealer (like mine was) you need to buy a pigtail.

I'm not sure how the FI bikes are configured, but on my '06, I can connect the negative before the positive. Or do you mean connecting the wire TO the battery?

[sportsterpaul]

My '06 R came from the factory with the pigtail already installed.

[khaskins]

My '06 R came from the factory with the pigtail already installed.

They most likely installed it at the dealer. My buddy works as a tech at Laidlaw HD in Baldwin Park. He said that Battery Tender supplies the pigtails to the dealers for free.

[Likemlouder]

some dealers give a battery tender with the bike (it's figured in to the cost of the bike )

[merc]

my battery tender came with the quick connector to attach to the battery that can plug in and unplug the tender in 2 seconds.

[debster]

Mine, too -- my battery tender came with both a pigtail and spring clamps. It was a piece of cake to attach the pigtail.

[sportsterpaul]

As my '06 came with the pigtail, I installed the battery tender pigtail on the '00 C. Both are all set now.

[vlmuke]

most battery tenders do come with the plug to make connecting it easier also alot of stealers have them for around 3-7 bucks usually sitting in tubs on the parts counter
as far a damaging the 'puter they shouldn't as they only usually charge at 1-2 amps

[Bob F]

How in the hell do I re-connect the negative terminal of the battery

Read this thread: http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1290208

Here's my setup for my battery tenders:

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/Battery_tender.jpg

[merc]

I have to lay the tender on my saddle bags so I will see it. If it is on the side I don't always see the wire hanging and have drove off with the damn thing still attached. It disconnects at the pigtail, but one time it disconnected from the electrical outlet and I dragged it about 2 miles before someone told me. There it was just trailing behind. Scratched the heck out of it but it still works. Another stupid lesson learned.
:dammit:headbang:doh

[St_Anger]

Went shopping for a battery tender today. The dealer had a 750ma tender but I found a 200ma tender in the local hardware store for less than half the price of the HD.

Would 200ma be enough to keep the battery alive?

[Bob F]

Would 200ma be enough to keep the battery alive?

Yes.

[CanuckSporty]

My tender came with 3 connectors: One to go directly to the battery terminals, the clamps, and a cigarette lighter type.

I attached the one that goes directly to that battery. I didn't need to remove the negative cable...I just took off the bracket and slid the battery out far enough to get to the negative terminal and connected the lead.

[SchneidyP]

My motorbike came with the quick connect from the dealer! Took the battery out so I could get it tested, charged with clamps for 1 day and it started right up. Putting the battery back in was not as difficult as it originally seemed. Thanks for the tips.:banadanc

[ntgxlf]

Went shopping for a battery tender today. The dealer had a 750ma tender but I found a 200ma tender in the local hardware store for less than half the price of the HD.

Would 200ma be enough to keep the battery alive?

Be careful! Some of the smaller ones cannot be used on AGM type Harley batteries. I ended up getting mine at the dealer. The $5 ones at Harbor Freight say not to be used on the AGM type Harley batteries. :)

[lostNdallas]

Funny this comes up now.

Up until a few weeks ago, I never needed a tender for my bike since I rode it thurs - sun and minimum mileage for each trip was 25 miles on the freeway. Now I have my bike in my own garage and most trips are 4 miles.

The last few days, it's been hard to start and last night I actually had to do a rolling start with a clutch pop to get it to turn over. I figure the bike isn't running long enough to recharge the battery fully and the overall charge level has been slowing dropping.

Got a 1.5 amp tender this morn and hooked it up at work and let it sit all day and this afternoon the bike fired right up with no hesitation at all.

To keep this on topic, I'll say that the negative cable seems like it could use one more inch of length and still not be in the way with the battery installed. But I persevered and was able to attach the pigtail without much adieu.

[dashadow]

Funny this comes up now.

Up until a few weeks ago, I never needed a tender for my bike since I rode it thurs - sun and minimum mileage for each trip was 25 miles on the freeway. Now I have my bike in my own garage and most trips are 4 miles.

The last few days, it's been hard to start and last night I actually had to do a rolling start with a clutch pop to get it to turn over. I figure the bike isn't running long enough to recharge the battery fully and the overall charge level has been slowing dropping.

Got a 1.5 amp tender this morn and hooked it up at work and let it sit all day and this afternoon the bike fired right up with no hesitation at all.

To keep this on topic, I'll say that the negative cable seems like it could use one more inch of length and still not be in the way with the battery installed. But I persevered and was able to attach the pigtail without much adieu.
I also ride mine anywhere from 3-5 times per week, year round, so I never bothered with a battery tender. About 2 years ago the battery was beginning to get weak so I hooked one up (I already had a good one). The indicators on the tender said the battery was "sulfated" whatever the H that means. But after a day on the tender the battery was good as new. It's now two years later and about once a month I hook the tender up for a day. Still running with the same battery and it's as strong as new. I'm a believer, even when bikes are regularly ridden.

[Tater]

I used a china-mart boat type cigarette lighter plug... I have the rear signal light re-locator & laid back solid license plate bracket on mine and mounted the cigarette lighter plug on an angle behind the plate... I can also plug in my cell phone, GPS, or netbook or whatever to charge them there... Seems to work ok for my purposes...
Have a good one...Tater...

[vt883]

The Harley Battery Tender Jr. is made by Deltran and sells for 39.99. Deltran also sells the same thing under their own name. Only difference is the label on the top. K-mart has the Detran one in their sell paper for 29.99. I found the Deltran one on Ebay for 24.99 factory sealed. Works great!

[andyb]

:chop
there is also another brand of battery charger / maintainer that has been is the business A LOT longer than Deltran - battery tender.
Schumacher battery chargers out of chicago. they have chargers that also have built in micro processsors just like battery tender for less $$$.
batterychargers.com

[Old Goat Ninja]

Old thread, I know, but I figured better than starting a new one on basically same topic.

This pigtail that dealers install, can someone post a picture of one? I have somthing on mine but I don't know if it is the Battery Tender pigtail or not. It's kind of hard to follow where it goes. I usually don't need a Tender, but for the first time ever, my bike sat for a couple months. I was able to charge battery and ride bike no problem, but it made me realize I should just invest in a Tender anyways so I don't ever have to worry about it again. I'd like to know what I am searching for before I go buy one.

Thanks in advance.

[CanuckSporty]

Old thread, I know, but I figured better than starting a new one on basically same topic.

This pigtail that dealers install, can someone post a picture of one? I have somthing on mine but I don't know if it is the Battery Tender pigtail or not. It's kind of hard to follow where it goes. I usually don't need a Tender, but for the first time ever, my bike sat for a couple months. I was able to charge battery and ride bike no problem, but it made me realize I should just invest in a Tender anyways so I don't ever have to worry about it again. I'd like to know what I am searching for before I go buy one.

Thanks in advance.

This is a Y adapter, but the end will look like these:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m275/pdubois64/Harley/PAC-023_p_42_webl.jpg

[Old Goat Ninja]

OK, thanks. That's not what I have on mine. No biggie, just means I'll want to buy one so I can install one.

[CaptEvo]

This is the attachment point on the pigtail on mine (web pic, not mine)...the other ends connect to the battery terminal. The battery tender itself has the exact female/male connector on it.




http://www.hdforums.com/forum/attachments/electrical-ignition-tuner-ecm-fuel-injection/205714d1315243874-battery-tender-pigtail-2011-09-05-13.22.16.jpg

[Folkie]

In the UK we get these:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31D5wLo3jFL._SS400_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zzdu4bb6L._SS400_.jpg

I thought they'd be the same everywhere, but apparently not.