[harleyman15801]

Hiya I have a question my battery has been getting week had to keep charging it so yesterday I went to hd shop got a new one when I was putting it in I had the positive cable hooked up and went to bolt the ground on and im getting a slight spark this tells me its got something drawing power from the battery im thinking but I am not familiar with the electrical system on a 04 fxst softail is this normal? Thanks in advanced

 

[SCHMIDTY]

The small spark is normal, the electrical system is energizing.

 

[Yon Yonson]

The small spark is normal, the electrical system is energizing.

Can you go into more detail about this Schmidty?
If he has no security or clock, there should be no draw of any kind should there? Nothing is being energized.

 

[FritzHD]

Ecm,voltage regulator,odometer etc all have parasitic draw.

 

[SoftailBilly]

Little late now you bought a new one. The HD shop can do a test on your original battery, print out a test on bats condition. They did mine last week on my original 09's battery.

Here are the results: voltage 12.66, CCA 373 . Both my self and shop guy were impressed with its performance.

If yours tests somewhere in good range could keep it for a spare or what ever. Or may be you have another problem... Test is free. Ride Safe

I always keep it on a tender 24/7

 

[Rustyg]

MOst auto parts stores will test your battery for free. Autozone, Advance, Napa all do. Just take it in and 1 minute later you have a printout of its condition.

 

[SoftailBilly]

Testing should be done with a fully charged battery then run test. A one minuet test is not correct.

 

[harleyman15801]

Thanks all for the reply's. I believe it is normal when I make contact with the ground wire its the odometer doing the draw. I am going to have the old one checked anyhow just because but im shure it was going bad thanks again to all your help.

 

[big [email protected]]

you could try pulling fuses and see if your still getting draw

Always have your old battery load tested first to rule out battery .You could still have problem and spent a 100.00 dollars for nothing

good luck let us know how this turns out or problem still exists

 

[stevelassere]

Hiya I have a question my battery has been getting week had to keep charging it so yesterday I went to hd shop got a new one when I was putting it in I had the positive cable hooked up and went to bolt the ground on and im getting a slight spark this tells me its got something drawing power from the battery im thinking but I am not familiar with the electrical system on a 04 fxst softail is this normal? Thanks in advanced

When installing a battery always connect the negative first then the positive. When removing a battery remove the positive first then the negative. This should alleviate any sparking.

 

[sardonicus87]

When installing a battery always connect the negative first then the positive. When removing a battery remove the positive first then the negative. This should alleviate any sparking.

Way to resurrect a 7 year old thread with terrible advice. I doubt they're still around but this also is absolutely not how you remove it unless you want to risk getting popped and laid out on the floor.

Always remove the negative ground cable first when removing, and always hook the positive up first when installing. Never do it backwards, you could short the electrical system or yourself.

 

[JLR]

It's DC current, you won't get a shock. Ground first as Kyle said.

 

[stevelassere]

It's DC current, you won't get a shock. Ground first as Kyle said.

It's not a shock we're talking about, it's the spark near any gasoline fumes near the gas tank. No spark my way.

 

[JLR]

You are wrong.

 

[kouack]

It's not a shock we're talking about, it's the spark near any gasoline fumes near the gas tank. No spark my way.

Still wrong in the way you explained how to do it!