Gel Battery
 

Hi ya'll ;
Have a 2000 FLHTCUI I bought new 16 months ago and bike has only 17,000 miles on it and it is in the shop . While on a run last Saturday with 59 other scoots , voltage dropped and maintaining 12 volts . Did'nt go for that so friend and I turned around about 1/2 way of run heading to the Harley shop . By the time we got there the volts was down to 10 on volt meter . They are now checking the charging system . They tell me I should replace the battery cause life of battery is only good for 18 t0 20 months . Is it the Gel part that don't last or what ? In my old Shovels I got maybe two years out of a battery but I just checked it up to vibration . The " Ultra " only vibrates at idle , so is that all I can expect out of the new Gel type batterys ??? Raymond

I thing the gel batteries do tend to run down quicker. Mine just conked out at 21 months, which isn't bad, but that's a lot less than my previous battery (28 months). What can ya do though, other than keeping the drip on it when you're not running it?

Raymond, I have just started having cranking trouble and the dealer suggested replacing battery before I burn up the starter. I guess I better get on it. Sorry to hear you had to quit the run. sounds like it was a good thing you did.

RapidoRaptor

The current technology irt Gel Cell's is amazing. The frequency (Vibration) that these things can take is fantastic. Batteries discharge out because of only one reason, A CLOSED CIRCUIT! Believe it or not, air is a conductor as well, especially HUMID air. Mongo brings up the best sugg. though.... Keep it on a Tender, no matter what kind of battery you are using.

BTW, I have a 2k FLHTCI delivered in Dec '99, only has 25k on the clock and still running the factory issued battery.

Hey Jarhead ;
Mean that in a nice way <G> . I was a kiddie crusier in the Navy and spent 3 years 4 months 10 days 10 hours and 45 minutes in service to our country . My son is on his 14th year in the Navy and is in Spain on shore duty for now .
Thanks for your reply and the tender idea is ok but I use scoot almost every day year round . My "ULTRA" has added lights galore for safety at night ( all this on a black bike , go figure <G> ) could be working my charging system to the max . I idle at 950 rpm and volts might drop to 13.5 but thats at a light or what ever . I like the Gel for no sweat of acid on scoot but kinda thinking of going back to the water type . Will try a new Gel one more time after they check into my charging system and maybe it wasn't the Gel Battery longivity fault after all ...Raymond

TC88exShov (Raymond), Are you still retaining the factory installed Rotor / Stator? If so, the problem lies in the ability of the Doo-Dad's and Gee-Gaw's that all of us Touring bike riders Love. Lights, especially the incandescent type literally suck the life out of a battery, and place undue strain on the charging system.

Just my $.01 worth, my other penny is under the desk somewhere.......

They put an updated high output Stator and rotor kit in it . I kept the old battery and charging it now to give to a friend of mine . This bike was bought through the military by my son who is in Spain for below MSRP and they make you buy extended $50 deduct warrenty so for $50 I got a $588 job done . Warrenty was $699 so it done paid for itself . Getting it at below MSRP I put $1800 plus $500 labor parts on the bike before I picked it up . Stuff like oil cooler , and gobs of lights . If a SOB runs into me he better not use the excuse " I didn't see him " !
You need to get under that desk and find that penny cause you'll need it next time you go to the Hundred Dollar shop <G>...Raymond

Good post, guys.
I have a 2000 flhrtci (RK, Fueli). I took delivery in March of 2000. Most of my first No experience with Harley, but havee always had good luck with car batteries.year riding was at very slow speeds. I keep the bike in an unheated garage. No tender, but keep saying I will get one. Bike rarely sits for more than a month without being ridin. Only have 10k on it. My battery seems as strong as ever. Cranks and starts like a champ, so far. That is 24 months on the factory batt.
BTW, not a Devil Gog but ride a lot with the group on Long Island...great bunch!
George