Please beaware

[Roger]

When i purchased my bike i installed battery pigtails to make it easier to attach a maintainer well during my last fuel up i did not pay attention and crushed it in between the seat and frame this in turn wore a hole in the pigtail on the positive lead and drained or shorted out the battery. Now i probably could change out the pigtail and recharge the battery but i'am having the dealer pick the bike up and do this just in case their might be something else wrong with electrical system or the computer or if the buds needs to take a look. just being cautious. If anybody else is doing this mod make sure you attach the pigtail directly to the battery not the jumper bolts under the seat. Yes i had mine attached to the battery but i guess i should have fasten it down with a zip tie. I will try to post a picture very soon.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ouch! :shocked: I'm hoping that all you got out of this is a dead battery and some hurt feelings. Good luck at the delaers! :thumbup: Now I'm even happier that the RTs have that accessory plug in the trunk that's always hot... I'm plugging into that once hibernation is forced upon the Spyder...

 

[clueless]

good to know thanks for sharing...

 

[pjp623]

Sorry to hear about your latest battery woes, but thanks for letting us know so that others don't end up with the same problem.
Drop an update after you visit the dealer. Good luck.

 

[Gordy]

did you not use a fuse coming off battery

 

[NancysToy]

did you not use a fuse coming off battery

:agree: All pigtails should be properly fused. A bad short would have taken out the fuse and saved the battery, but a tiny short could just run the battery down.

 

[retread]

I discovered some industial strength Velcro in the sewing section at Wallyworld, don;t know why it was there, but it's weatherproof, and about 6 times stronger than regular. Used a piece of it to hold my BT jr's pigtail in place, works good.

john

 

[Oldmanzues]

:agree: All pigtails should be properly fused. A bad short would have taken out the fuse and saved the battery, but a tiny short could just run the battery down.

I never thought about this. Where you put a fuse ? Would it be just the battery pm the positive side ?

I have very luck on this one.
OldManzues

 

[Gordy]

right off the battery on positive post

 

[MarkLawson]

I have wired Gerbing heated clothing pigtails directly to the battery posts on all three of my bikes. On both Spyders, I have about 18" of lead that, when not in use, is stuffed down the square hole the passenger seat sensor wire comes out. I also zip-tie that pigtail to the passenger seat sensor wire so I can easily grab it to pull it out and hang it out under the edge of the saddle when needed to warm me up on those cold rides.

I have also built Gerbing connectors that will work with my battery tenders, so they do double duty. :thumbup:

And.... since they have an in-line 15A fuse, I can also plug my Slime Power Sport Tire Inflater in that same pigtail. That air compressor draws far too many amps to run through the power outlet in the rear trunk. TRIPLE DUTY! :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

I never thought about this. Where you put a fuse ? Would it be just the battery pm the positive side ?

I have very luck on this one.
OldManzues

Commercial pigtails are fused, near the battery on the positive wire. If you rigged up your own, you should add a fuse.

 

[Roger]

did you not use a fuse coming off battery

no I have never seen this before but makes sence.

I discovered some industial strength Velcro in the sewing section at Wallyworld, don;t know why it was there, but it's weatherproof, and about 6 times stronger than regular. Used a piece of it to hold my BT jr's pigtail in place, works good.



john

this sounds like a good idea! :2thumbs:

:agree: All pigtails should be properly fused. A bad short would have taken out the fuse and saved the battery, but a tiny short could just run the battery down.

I think this is one of those variables that the manufacture did not consider when they designed it. Is this a good idea to add a fuse? yes but i'am wondering why they are not doing it at the factory? sure it may cost more but people will still buy it. I will not add it yet because their must be a reason that it does not come with a fuse in it. if i had run the wire like i should have it probably would not have happened in the first place. I have read a couple of good ideas and will be using one of them for now until i look at this thoroughly.

 

[NancysToy]

I think this is one of those variables that the manufacture did not consider when they designed it. Is this a good idea to add a fuse? yes but i'am wondering why they are not doing it at the factory? sure it may cost more but people will still buy it. I will not add it yet because their must be a reason that it does not come with a fuse in it. if i had run the wire like i should have it probably would not have happened in the first place. I have read a couple of good ideas and will be using one of them for now until i look at this thoroughly.

I'm not sure what charger and pigtail you have, but all mine are fused. I am surprised that yours is not. If you merely replace it, just make sure it is tied town so the free end cannot get between the seat and the frame. Also, make sure you do not use an unfused charging pigtail for another use, such as running heated gear or a compressor. Glad you suffered no fire, and hope you had no permanent damage. Close call!

 

[wyliec]

I'm not sure what charger and pigtail you have, but all mine are fused. I am surprised that yours is not. If you merely replace it, just make sure it is tied town so the free end cannot get between the seat and the frame. Also, make sure you do not use an unfused charging pigtail for another use, such as running heated gear or a compressor. Glad you suffered no fire, and hope you had no permanent damage. Close call!

I'm wondering if the pigtail installed came with the battery maintainer. It's hard to believe a manufacturer of a battery maintainer wouldn't have it fused. I think I'd stay away from that company.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

I'm wondering if the pigtail installed came with the battery maintainer. It's hard to believe a manufacturer of a battery maintainer wouldn't have it fused. I think I'd stay away from that company.

I just checked my new Diehard battery maintainer. Three ways to connect to the battery, no fuses even with the permenent connection :dontknow:. I guess I will have to make a trip to Autozone.

 

[NancysToy]

I just checked my new Diehard battery maintainer. Three ways to connect to the battery, no fuses even with the permenent connection :dontknow:. I guess I will have to make a trip to Autozone.

Connecting to the battery (or jumper) terminals with alligator clips is OK. So is plugging in to the cigarette (or Powerlet) socket, which is separately fused. A permanently installed pigtail should be protected, though. Roger's recent experience illustrates why!

 

[millers1]

I have also built Gerbing connectors that will work with my battery tenders, so they do double duty. :thumbup:

Gerbings makes an adapter (available from your local Harley dealer as well).
http://www.harley-davidson.com/mcm/...4307790291&bmUID=1290290968597&bmLocale=en_US

On our bikes, we've always run the Gerbings (fused) harness, and just plug in the adapter when using the BatteryMinder.

 

[Roger]

I'm not sure what charger and pigtail you have, but all mine are fused. I am surprised that yours is not. If you merely replace it, just make sure it is tied town so the free end cannot get between the seat and the frame. Also, make sure you do not use an unfused charging pigtail for another use, such as running heated gear or a compressor. Glad you suffered no fire, and hope you had no permanent damage. Close call!

I have a Schumacker speed/charge 1.5A maintainer. I do not own heated gear go figure i live in the northeast. Yes i like the velcro idea this way i can stash the wire so it will not shift around

I'm wondering if the pigtail installed came with the battery maintainer. It's hard to believe a manufacturer of a battery maintainer wouldn't have it fused. I think I'd stay away from that company.

Yes it did. i don't think you have to go buy another charger i'am sure you could attach an in-line fuse but check with scotty?

I just checked my new Diehard battery maintainer. Three ways to connect to the battery, no fuses even with the permenent connection :dontknow:. I guess I will have to make a trip to Autozone.

This is where i bought mine from and it does exactly what it is suppose to do like scotty said i just need to fasten it out of the way and it will be fine.

 

[NancysToy]

I primarily use the Battery Tender Jr., Accumate, and Optimate chargers. All come with fused pigtails. If your pigtail is not fused, you can purchase a fused holder at the auto parts store, and cut it into the positive wire. If you have a fused heated gear pigtail, already, you can buy an adapter from Powerlet Products to attach to the SAE connector on your charger.

 

[FLSpyder]

Jumper Bolts Under the Seat

Could you please post a picture pointing out the "Jumper Bolts under the seat" The 2010 Roadster RT does not mention anything about jumper bolts. Using jumper bolts sounds a heck of a lot ez'ier than pulling all the panels off the left side just to get to the battery terminals to charge the battery.

I was listening to the bike radio while working in the yard and wore down the battery :dontknow:

Thank You,

Patrick
aka: FLSpyder