I figure I've messed up...

[consitter]

Last time I rode the trike was Christmas Eve. Haven't started it since. We've had temps go down in the single digits a couple of times. Forgot to hook up the battery tender.

Haven't attempted to start it yet. Kind of afraid to. Think the battery is a goner? Or can I hook up the tender and save it now?

Thoughts? Opinions?

It's a 2015 TG bought in June, btw.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Hook up a battery tender...give it a few days. My guess is that it will start right up.

Back a month or so ago I got home well after dark, it was below 30* & I was hungry. In my hurry to get inside, I did not turn the ignition off. It was sleeting the next day. So it was about 36 hours before I discovered I had left the ignition on that entire time.

I hooked up the tender, and the next day fired it up. It's been working fine since.

I may have shaved some time off the overall life of the battery, but it works just as well now as when I drained it down by leaving it on for 36 hours.

Kevin

 

[consitter]

I'm definitely going to give it a try. Good news is, if it doesn't work, I've got free battery replacement during the first 3 years, so I really shouldn't worry so much.

But, just one battery during that time.

 

[87Trike1200]

I, too, think it will be fine. Hook it up and give it a try... nothing to "lose". ThumbUp

 

[1dn5up]

Battery tenders are not charges, they matain a charged battery. If it's DOA, use a 2 amp charger . Fully charged at 12.7 volts.

 

[cavie]

I'm betting it will fire up without the tender. You'll know fast enough. You can't hert it. Tender won't charge a dead battery.

 

[87Trike1200]

Battery tenders are not charges, they matain a charged battery. If it's DOA, use a 2 amp charger . Fully charged at 12.7 volts.

Whoops - "scuse" me... I thought all he had to work with was a tender and that it was worth a try...

Personally, I've had excellent results with a Pulse Tech "Xtreme" charger (example here). It recently brought an automotive battery "back from the dead" after the battery sat idle for 2 years.

Regardless, we wish Scott good results... ThumbUp

 

[1dn5up]

No pun intended, the charger/matainer you have is a low amp (1 amp) . Good for small power sports battery's. All new battery's come with good charging info. charging with high amps will cook a new bat. Fool proof info that works.

 

[87Trike1200]

No pun intended, the charger/matainer you have is a low amp (1 amp) . Good for small power sports battery's. All new battery's come with good charging info. charging with high amps will cook a new bat. Fool proof info that works.

I do not wish to to start a "posting war" ( ) over battery chargers. I have no connection with Pulse Tech other than they are so good, I own 2 of them. I am, however, not sure what you are referring to regarding these units. The Pulse Tech literature that I am holding in my hand says it automatically adjusts up to 2.5 amps and, since it continuously "tests" the battery, it automatically adjusts downward for a float charge as required.

 

[1dn5up]

No wars, I tend to remember other info after I post.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

I do not wish to to start a "posting war" ( ) over battery chargers. I have no connection with Pulse Tech other than they are so good, I own 2 of them. I am, however, not sure what you are referring to regarding these units. The Pulse Tech literature that I am holding in my hand says it automatically adjusts up to 2.5 amps and, since it continuously "tests" the battery, it automatically adjusts downward for a float charge as required.

+1epper:
To the OP, I'm betting it will start.
However plug in the maintainer!
I'm on a quest to see how long my battery will last, having it plugged into the maintainer every time it's parked in the garage. Aug of 2006 to present, so far. Over 9 years:wave4:

 

[Dirtydan]

Just to add a comment here about chargers. Sometimes the maintainer won't bring it back. For those times I have modified my 2 amp charger. I replaced the cord on my charger with an extended plug in cord that plugs directly into the tender plug on the bike. I then used the end that I cut off the extension cord to make up an adapter with alligator clamps so I could use the charger as designed. I used a 25' battery tender extension cord so it had a plug on either end.

 

[Sully]

Scott, go for it, you have nothing to loose. ThumbUp Lets everyone know how it went. :Shrug:

 

[consitter]

At this time, it's been hooked up for 8 hours. I'll report back in the morning.

 

[trikermutha]

most chargers need a surface charge before they will start to charge anyway so the battery tender will work fine..I have let my bike batteries go dead in the past and the battery tender worked fine unless the battery was toasted.

 

[clint44]

Last time I rode our trike was 12/24/15. It fired right off today. Haven't hooked the tender up to it since we bought the bike.(Dec. 2014)

 

[desertclassic]

I got 7 1/2 years out of the battery on the ultra classic. Always plugged in if I was at home. Jim

 

[consitter]

Last time I rode our trike was 12/24/15. It fired right off today. Haven't hooked the tender up to it since we bought the bike.(Dec. 2014)

How cold has it got there? It was around zero a couple of nights, and several days in a row with highs in the teens.

 

[consitter]

Update--

Pulled the cover off, unhooked the tender (it showed a solid green light), hit start and she fired right up! Who knows, it may not have even needed the tender in the first place. I didn't feel like uncovering it yesterday to find out. It was c-c-cold.

 

[Sully]

There you go, you are all set to ride. You said you had to take the cover off for the tender :Shrug: don't you have a pigtail quick connect for the tender to plug in.

 

[consitter]

There you go, you are all set to ride. You said you had to take the cover off for the tender :Shrug: don't you have a pigtail quick connect for the tender to plug in.

I knew I should have clarified as soon as I posted....TRIKE cover. I don't have a garage.

And yes, it has a quick connect.

 

[Sully]

got it, my bad. ThumbUp