Weird battery situation - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

Deputy · 07-30-2009, 06:40 PM

I have a 1997 Softail Springer FXSTS. The battery conked out on it. The Harley battery part number ON THE BATTERY is 65991-82B. When the battery is out of the bike and sitting on a table with the terminals facing towards me, the positive terminal is on the LEFT. But the service manual lists the correct battery as number 65989-97, which has the positive terminal on the RIGHT. No way I can stretch the positive battery cable to fit, and yes, it appears to be the original cable. Plus the replacement batteries that match the service manual part number are much WEAKER than the battery that came in the bike (250 CCA vs 300 CCA). So I am wondering if there was some kind of changeover in 1997 from one battery to another? I thought maybe someone might have swapped out for a stronger battery, but if they did, then the positive cable would have been the correct length to fit the positive terminal.

Dep

**Dave63** · 07-30-2009, 07:05 PM

If I were you, I'd just get the same part number battery again. It fits and you know it works. The service manual may have been superceeded 2-3 times since it was printed. Without working at an HD dealer, you'll never see the new addendums.

Deputy · 07-30-2009, 07:57 PM

Dave: Yep....it's either replace it with the same one, or replace the battery cable, which is a royal PITA. From what I've been able to figure out, the battery I have came from an older model softail. I guess the previous owner of my bike (I bought it used) wanted something with more juice. Evdently the older battery interchanges with the new one as far as fit. Just uses different positive cables.

Badassbrutus · 07-30-2009, 08:03 PM

buy a oddesy battery and be done.way better than a HD battery and its a dry cell.

XDixiecratX · 07-30-2009, 08:46 PM

You aint puttin it in backwards are you ? just sayin.

Deputy · 07-31-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDixiecratX

You aint puttin it in backwards are you ? just sayin.

Well I did try it upside down, but that didn't work either.

No...not backwards.

**Dave63** · 07-31-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deputy

Well I did try it upside down, but that didn't work either.

You can't put it in backwards. The electricity runs back up to the top and th terminals are now on the bottom. It'll never work.....

XDixiecratX · 07-31-2009, 08:12 PM

What I meant was if you turn the battery 90 degrees the positive terminal goes from the left side to the right. lol I put a new battery in my wide glide when I bought it and it worked for 3 days then it wouldn t turn the engine, so I bought one from Harley $145 and put it in and its worked just fine. I then put the other new battery in my Honda backward and now the Honda has a new battery too.lol

Blackdog 15 · 07-31-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badassbrutus

buy a oddesy battery and be done.way better than a HD battery and its a dry cell.

I put an Odyssey in my scoot a year ago...WOW !!! 565 CCA fits in the stock location...

Deputy · 07-31-2009, 11:55 PM

Well the best laid plans...etc. I was trying to re-route the positive cable to the correct location per the service manual and the cable broke off at the starter terminal. So now I am waiting for a cable from J&P. Fortunately, the nut on the starter wasn't as difficult to get as I first thought. I was gonna get the same battery as I removed, but closer inspection shows that it wasn't a good fit in the battery compartment. So I will get the "correct" replacement battery that's supposed to be in there.