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[Puzzled]

When I have to jump start a bike I use the lug on the starter and a ground. This way I don't have to pull the seat. I use one of those Micro Start PPS X1 jump boxes (carry it in my saddlebag).

http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/micro-start-xp-1/

[T-Hawk]

Sorry if I led anyone to believe I meant that you could jump start using the tender as a source... it will only 'charge' at the rate it's intended.  Jump starting is not an option as mentioned above.

[grc]

First, let's stop all the speculating this point: the battery tender connection WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT work for jump-starting the bike. Period. (that's a real one...not an Executive period) The fuse will blow (if you're lucky) or if it has no fuse, the itty-bitty wires will immediately fry.

The same connection COULD be used to slowly CHARGE the battery with a regular 10~15 amp battery charger or by connecting to a car's charging system. Of course, if you've already tried to jump-start it through this connection, you'll need to replace that fuse.

Second, the easiest way to hook up jumpers on the bike is by connecting the jumper cables to the trans case (which has a direct negative cable to it from the battery) and to the battery cable post on the starter (which has a direct positive cable to it from the battery) and you don't have to pull the seat or anything else off of the bike.

I agree with everything you said except for the part I highlighted in blue.  Unless you have a pigtail with a much bigger fuse than what comes in the standard Harley pigtail (7.5 amps), using a 10 amp or larger battery charger or a car charging system to charge the battery will blow the fuse immediately.  I actually made that mistake many years ago with my 10 amp charger when I failed to engage my brain before I tried it.  That 10 amp charger starts out at nearly 10 amps and only tapers to 5 amps or less as the battery voltage comes up.  So it will pop that fuse immediately.  And an automotive charging system will crank out a heck of a lot more than 10 amps.

By far the best method if someone doesn't want to remove the seat to access the actual battery is the one you mentioned.  The starter lug is connected directly to the battery positive terminal, and there are several possibilities for the negative charger connection including the one you mentioned at the trans side cover.

Jerry

[JoeVibe]

When I have to jump start a bike I use the lug on the starter and a ground. This way I don't have to pull the seat. I use one of those Micro Start PPS X1 jump boxes (carry it in my saddlebag).

http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/micro-start-xp-1/

That is really cool! How long will the power pack hold it's charge if unused?

Joe

[Puzzled]

That is really cool! How long will the power pack hold it's charge if unused?

Joe

I've owned mine since seeing one in action in March while in Daytona and I've only charged it once since the initial charge.

[BigD2112]

Mr. Surly
you are a genius...i appreciate your post.....BTW take it from a chump (ME) that tried jumping the battery thru the tender...IT DOES NOT WORK,,,,thank God the fuse went and i had no damage...that little wire will melt together in a snap...then its a tender and more than likely a battery you will need....because if your battery died out of the blue and its a little bit old then it will never regain its full charge....Anytime a battery has a glitch...best to replace it...because take it from another chump (ME) the worse thing on a bike is to have a night at the watering hole, go to your bike at 2 am and that booger will not fire up...  Lucky a nice girl felt sorry for me and drove me home about 15 miles from the bar....(NOTHING HAPPENED, but i did treat the girl to $20 in gas and a Denny's breakfast) so we had a lot of fun......

[senorjeem]

(NOTHING HAPPENED) ....sorry for your luck!

[popsracing]

A buddy if mine left the key on for a couple hours yesterday and drained his battery...I've been carrying around the little alligator clip battery tender cables just for this situation...I plugged in to the tender port on my bike in hopes of being able to start his but I had no power at the clips...Shouldn't this work or am I missing something here??

[HOGMIKE]

A buddy if mine left the key on for a couple hours yesterday and drained his battery...I've been carrying around the little alligator clip battery tender cables just for this situation...I plugged in to the tender port on my bike in hopes of being able to start his but I had no power at the clips...Shouldn't this work or am I missing something here??

Sorry, won't work
Not good for amps needed by starter
 

[Fired00d]

A buddy if mine left the key on for a couple hours yesterday and drained his battery...I've been carrying around the little alligator clip battery tender cables just for this situation...I plugged in to the tender port on my bike in hopes of being able to start his but I had no power at the clips...Shouldn't this work or am I missing something here??

See Puzzled's reply #15 of this thread... just read an article about them in September Bagger magazine also.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[grc]

You also need to understand that the color coding on those alligator clips assumes you are connecting to the polarized connector coming from the battery tender, not the connector on the bike.  In other words, if you connect it to the pigtail connector on the bike the red clip won't be the positive any more, and if you connect to the other guys battery using red to positive, black to negative, you will definitely have a problem.  The smart thing to do is forget about the tender connector for anything other than using the battery tender on your bike, or using it to attach a voltmeter when you don't want to remove the seat.

Jerry

[harleyteam]

Between the 4 Harley's, and 2 ATV's on tenders in my garage,  I have all the extra plug connections they give you with the alligator clips.

I took 2 of them  and cut off the alligator clips. reversed the wires and made myself some jumpers with a plug on each end. (this left a fuse in both sides of the cable)  Yes I have jumped a bike twice with these cables and never had a problem. The thing you have to remember, is just like jumping a car with cables. the doner vehicle ( the one suppling the battery) should always be running. Hook the cables up and let your bike run for a few minutes so your alternator can help charge the dead battery.