Any Trick For Dead Motorcycle Battery? Harley Ignition & Harley Electrics Discuss Any Trick For Dead Motorcycle Battery? in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; I rotate the old smart charger across the various motorcycles I own and ride to try and keep them is usable condition. I popped on onto a small 6-volt battery ...

[Buzz Kanter]

I rotate the old smart charger across the various motorcycles I own and ride to try and keep them is usable condition. I popped on onto a small 6-volt battery in one of my bikes and the lights turned off indicating either the battery was stone dead or the connection was not good.

I'd ridden the bike with the battery not so long ago with issues, so I suspected it might have been a lose connection. Sure enough one of the battery charger connections was lose. So I tightened the bolt that attached it to the terminal. Still nothing.

So I removed the battery and hooked up the charger - still no light. The electrolyte is at the right levels in all 3 cells (hey, it's a 6 volt battery!) I hooked up a small 6-volt battery to jump start the charger but still no light.

Is it possible I fried this battery somehow or is it just dead and needs to be replaced? Any tricks anyone knows to bring it back to life?

I am supposed to be riding this bike the day after tomorrow and don't know if I can get a replacement battery in time (no one stocks small 6 volt motorcycle batteries any more)

[Wrightturn]

Hey Buzz,

I found a 6 volt at Wallmart a yr ago. If the battery was down for a long time it is probably sulphated and I have never found anything that really works. You could see the white looking material in the old clear plastic batteries and know when they were gone. When they were just starting to go you colud replace the acid and overcharge to burn of the sulphate.

If you do not have far to ride you could do a quick and dirty 12 volt conversion. Borrow a 12 volt coil, battery and light bulbs from one of your other bikes. Disconnect the generator and run "total loss" for the ride. Without the headlight you should be able to go 250 miles or more. With the headlight cut that to 50 miles and carry a spare battery.

Good luck

[Gas Man]

I'm sure its no different 6 volt vs 12 v. The battery plates can weld themselves or just break down... causing the battery to be junk.

Personally I will never buy another non-agm battery again. They just hold up better especially in our high vibration bikes.