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[Screamin08]

I had my battery light and engine light come on while riding today. When I got home I shut the bike off and then tried to start it again and there was nothing. Could it just be the battery since the bike was still running like normal.....or is there something else going on....I'm terrible with electrical problems. It's an 08 serk...thanks

[2k]

Electrical problems can be *&#@$&#%. My first guess would be a Rotor/Stator malf$%*sion.

[cambo]

Not knowing anything about bikes, I will use my knowledge of cars to convey my potentially irrelevant diagnosis for a motorcycle because I suspect they have a lot in common.

The battery is used 'primarily' to start the car, after that it's the alternator's job to provide the necessary current for the vehicle. If you have a bad alternator, the battery will be used while it has any juice left and then the engine will die. Before that you should notice the headlights dimming, etc, etc, as the battery is gradually drained and unable to provide the necessary power. If, however, the battery light is on but the engine is running fine otherwise (headlights normal), then the battery is potentially defective and if you shut the engine off you won't be able to start it again.

So based on that if this happened on my bike I would replace the battery.

[Screamin08]

Not knowing anything about bikes, I will use my knowledge of cars to convey my potentially irrelevant diagnosis for a motorcycle because I suspect they have a lot in common.

The battery is used 'primarily' to start the car, after that it's the alternator's job to provide the necessary current for the vehicle. If you have a bad alternator, the battery will be used while it has any juice left and then the engine will die. Before that you should notice the headlights dimming, etc, etc, as the battery is gradually drained and unable to provide the necessary power. If, however, the battery light is on but the engine is running fine otherwise (headlights normal), then the battery is potentially defective and if you shut the engine off you won't be able to start it again.
So based on that if this happened on my bike I would replace the battery.

That's what I was thinking

[Fired00d]

I'm with 2k (and Cam to a certain degree). The battery is used to start the bike however once it is started the Stator and Voltage Regulator provide electricity required and also charge/keep battery charged. The fact that your bike originally started and your battery and engine light came on during the ride would indicate to me that there was something going on in the equipment that provides electricity (and charges the battery) during that ride. I had a Stator go out on a previous bike and it took out the voltage regulator and battery... Don't be surprised if you end up replacing all three.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Para Bellum]

A bad voltage regulator (VR) will cause the same symptoms you have.  On a SEUC (no help to you), it's easy to see: the voltage gauge will show about 14 volts when the system is running properly, but will only show battery voltage (about 11 with the cheap gauges HD buys) if the stator isn't making electricity or the VR is burnt out.

When the charging system goes bad, the battery can keep the bike running for a fairly long time, often long enough to get you home, but b/c it's been drained down, it doesn't have enough juice to run the starter--and each time you hit the start button, it discharges what little is left in the battery.  Sometimes the battery will be fine after getting a fill-up from a full-power charger (not a battery tender), but if it's been drained too far and left for too long, not.

So, the problem could be any one of the three (stator, VR, battery), or any two of them, or all three.  I'd start troubleshooting by fully charging the battery, then try starting the bike 3 or 4 times in a row.  If it works, the battery is probably OK (and check the cables for corrosion), so you'll need to check the VR and/or stator.

[cahdbiker]

screamin08, I had the charging system go out on the 95 Heritage I used to have. So it just drained the battery until the bike coughed a couple of times and then quit. I disconnected every light bulb I could and connected my friends Dyna to my battery with some small battery cables while his bike idled for about 15 minutes. This was enough to get the neutral light to come on and with a push start got me about 5 miles to a station that had AAA tow trucks.(I did not have towing service at the time) The tow truck driver was cool and hooked my battery to the charging system on her truck at fast idle for about 30 minutes. I hopped on the freeway and made it around 50 miles home to my local repair shop. When I shut it off it would not start. Voltage regulator and stator were bad. I guess the point to my story is that if your battery is dead pull any bulbs you can especially the headlight, and with a good charge you should be able to go about 50 miles after your battery is charged up. That was on a Heritage maybe a SEUC would not make it quite as far. CAHDBIKER

[FLHTCUSE7]

My money is on the voltage regulator. HD have had issues with these for many years. For a while I used to bring an extra with me on long trips.

[Foot Loose]

Why not try to charge the battery.  If it doesn't charge, or hold a charge, you know the battery is junk.  Just another idea 

[sadunbar]

There are actual diagnostic checks you can do to troubleshoot the stator and regulator.  Get your electrical meter out and have at it...

And you can take your battery to an auto parts store and have a load test performed. 

Here's a start for you...  http://community.jpcycles.com/articles/tech-articles/pages/testing-harley-davidson-charging-systems.aspx

Do the work and you'll figure it out!   

[Foot Loose]

Just another idea - Buy a new bike 

[cambo]

Just another idea - Buy a new bike 

[sheef]

The other morning I took my bike off the tender to back it out of the garage and parked it in the driveway. About an hour later when I wanted to leave and start the bike my battery was dead . The ignition was not left on . Needless to say I had to have my wife help push it back into the garage and I put it back on the tender. After about 6 hrs the battery was charged back up . I have made an appointment to  take to the dealer so they can run some diagnostic test on it . It sure has me baffled as to what it could be . The bike is a 2013 CVO ULTRA . Anyone have any ideas ?

[sadunbar]

The other morning I took my bike off the tender to back it out of the garage and parked it in the driveway. About an hour later when I wanted to leave and start the bike my battery was dead . The ignition was not left on . Needless to say I had to have my wife help push it back into the garage and I put it back on the tender. After about 6 hrs the battery was charged back up . I have made an appointment to  take to the dealer so they can run some diagnostic test on it . It sure has me baffled as to what it could be . The bike is a 2013 CVO ULTRA . Anyone have any ideas ?

Could be your battery has an internal short.  Could be your bike has a dead short that's draining your battery...  Diagnostic testing of each could lead you to your solution...   

[Twolanerider]

The other morning I took my bike off the tender to back it out of the garage and parked it in the driveway. About an hour later when I wanted to leave and start the bike my battery was dead . The ignition was not left on . Needless to say I had to have my wife help push it back into the garage and I put it back on the tender. After about 6 hrs the battery was charged back up . I have made an appointment to  take to the dealer so they can run some diagnostic test on it . It sure has me baffled as to what it could be . The bike is a 2013 CVO ULTRA . Anyone have any ideas ?

First thing I'd do is check for a loose cable.  Not just at the battery end.  Might be more, but it might not.  And it costs you nothing to do this easy check.