Is my battery bad? Some weird symptoms. . .

[newyorkien]

So I just recently got my firebolt and have been loving the bike. Im trying to figure out if this symptom is from a bad battery. Today I went to go start it up and the engine would turn over but wouldnt start. After about the 3rd try the starter started to make a clicking noise indicating the battery didnt have enough juice. I took the battery off and trickle charged for about an hour or so and through it back in and it started up IMMEDIATELY. I know the battery is a little over 4 years old and thats about the mark for replacement, but could a bad battery allow the bike to crank but not start up? Maybe taking off the battery reset something and the problem could lie deeper? Any info would be great. As of now I have gone ahead and ordered a new Deka. Found one for $70 on the interwebs.

Thanks, Matt

 

[buellbradski]

Well you could charge it over night then take a reading with a ohms meter then test it again in a few days to see if it holds the charge. But if you already ordered a batt then your prolly not to worried about that. I would just check the voltage off then when running to assure the bike is charging properly.
A low batt could cause your bike not to turn over fast enuff to start. These vtwins take a lot of grunt to turn over.
Where in new york are you from matt? Im from amsterdam ny

 

[newyorkien]

Thanks for your input! Im actually from Long Island New York but live in Florida now. .Looking for any riders in the area to no avail

 

[user_deleted]

matt: that's a bit pricey for a mail-order battery. take a look at the BS brand offered by performance tire in PA. a great battery for the price. what bradski said on CCA power. these motors need alot of CCA's to spin them over. what you've described sure sounds like a battery at the end of its' life. another clue will be constant clock reset on your dash display.

 

[newyorkien]

Hey Lunatic, I looked up that model of battery but found it to be only around $10 cheaper but I was able to get free shipping which kind of makes up for it. Ive never heard of BS battery but I know Deka is a very good battery and I believe they actually manufacture the Harley batteries from what ive heard. + Made in USA. Thanks for your input and ill let you know how it goes!

 

[user_deleted]

but I know Deka is a very good battery

yes newyorkien, Deka is a hell of a great battery that never achieved the sales and notoriety of...say....Yuasa for example. lots of CCA's and longevity has always been Deka's claim to fame. i owned a 93 Dodge Cummins turbo truck that was last model with single battery in it. installed a Deka in early 95 to replace the oem battery and got almost 9 years out of it. incredible!

 

[Gloomshadow]

hey newyork, where you at? Im right outside Orlando in Sanford.

 

[newyorkien]

Im in Brevard County. .around 1.5-2hrs from you probably!

 

[Gloomshadow]

yeah thats far.. they got about 3 other Buells around my area. an white XB9R, black and wine XB12R and a white and black 1125.... Im on a black and amber XB12R

 

[FlaXB9R]

Gloom your still around and in Sanford now?

 

[Gloomshadow]

Yeah up on Markum road.. you guys still around?

 

[FlaXB9R]

Yeah I'm still around. Tom moved back to St Louis after finishing school also sold his buell for a duc. Check in on the Orlando thread once and awhile. There's a couple of us that meet up and ride still.

 

[Gloomshadow]

ok will do. What Duck did he buy?

 

[FlaXB9R]

Diavel