Battery Tender Jr question

[ANNIEFATS]

I usually remove the batteries from both our bikes in the winter, and bring them in the house.  I just bought a Battery Tender Jr yesterday. 
I bought it because it seems every fall, with the colder weather, and shorter less frequent rides, my battery will end up dying on me and I have to charge it or jump it with the truck ( not running of course ). 
My question is - should I still remove the batteries come winter time, or would leaving a battery in the bike with the BTJr hooked up in the cold garage shorten the life span of the battery???
Just wondering what everybody else does.
Thanks in advance.
Todd

[hpdjoe]

I live in Minnesota and have used battery tenders for the last 5 yrs and have just left them on in the garage and not removed from the bike,have had no problems.

[f-x-d-w-g]

Ideally you'd have a Jr for each battery.  Being cheap, I rotate my battery tender (actually a Yuasa) between bikes about every other week.

[Karl H.]

I leave my bike in the cold garage with the battery tender on. The tender must be specified for AGM batteries (Voltage regulated to 13,8V max.)

[Bladesmith]

Ideally you'd have a Jr for each battery.  Being cheap, I rotate my battery tender (actually a Yuasa) between bikes about every other week.

Dan..If you really want to do it on the cheap...Try a Harbor Freight batter tender which are under $10,even less on sale...........You going to the Rio Rancho Toy Run tomorrow??  If so look for us,"The Ole' Fartz"...Easy to find 'cause thats what we are.

[ANNIEFATS]

Ideally you'd have a Jr for each battery.  Being cheap, I rotate my battery tender (actually a Yuasa) between bikes about every other week.

Funny you should mention that.  I was planning to do that next season.  I had already thought to cut off the alligator clips and solder on a pair of ring terminals, so both bikes would be wired and ready to charge.
Todd

[f-x-d-w-g]

Art, tell me more about the RR toy run.  My wife invited me to lunch with her friend, but I could change my plans.  Gotta finish mounting my new Metzlers first, though.

Both of my bikes have external 2-pin connectors so I can easily swap my tender between them.

[crazy joe]

You guys have a part # for the Battery Tender Jr
that's good for the AGM batts.

[Bladesmith]

Art, tell me more about the RR toy run.  My wife invited me to lunch with her friend, but I could change my plans.  Gotta finish mounting my new Metzlers first, though.

Both of my bikes have external 2-pin connectors so I can easily swap my tender between them.

The 18th Annual Rio Rancho Toy Run will take place on Sunday, Nov. 21,
2010, and will kick off at approximately 11:30 a.m. at Rio Rancho High
School, 301 Loma Colorado Blvd.



Riders participating in this motorcycle rally must donate at least one new
toy and two non-perishable food items, or $20. Items and proceeds collected
will be given to children in need.


From the high school the rally will travel along Northern Boulevard, Unser
Boulevard, U.S. 550, N.M. 528/Pat D’Arco Highway, and east on Sara Road
ending at the Italian-American Association, 1565 Stephanie St.


At the Italian-Association Association there will be music and a variety of
vendors.


For more information call (505) 604-4326.


Last year there were about 1,000 motorcycles there!.....Afterwards we rode to "The Range"resturant for breakfast and ditched the party,we'll proberly do the same this year...From Santa Fe it's fun to ride to the relativly warm weather of Albuquerque.. 






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[ANNIEFATS]

You guys have a part # for the Battery Tender Jr
that's good for the AGM batts.

No part number, but here is the BT link.
http://batterytender.com/motorcycle/battery-tender-junior-12v-at-0-75a.html

[ANNIEFATS]

I just noticed the price of $39.99
I bought mine in London, ON near here, for $29.99.
The best price I have seen in this area.  Usually 45 to 50 bucks.
Todd

[Bladesmith]

I just noticed the price of $39.99
I bought mine in London, ON near here, for $29.99.
The best price I have seen in this area.  Usually 45 to 50 bucks.
Todd

Battery Tender Jr.......Amazon.com   $23.38.....free shipping if you purchase $25 worth of stuff..no tax

[Tollbooth]

I rotate the tender because of what a cheap tender did to a boat battery over winter. Cooked it big time. Dead as a doornail. I get 6 years out of my HD batterys and change em before I have trouble,(still good). Boat batterys 5 years with same results. Once every 3 or 4  weeks I hook em up to the battery tender till their full,(Green light). May take 1-2 days each in a cold northern Illinois garage.

[NETacomaFatboy]

I have both machines on a Battery Tender and have never had a weak battery when I start the bikes.  I do disconnect the BT before I fire up the bike to warm them up.

I bought a used 03 RG couple years back and whenever I would ride it after a short lapse, it would spin real slow but start.  Bought a BT and that cured it.  Fired up real fast.  Have used them ever since.  I never disconnect them but have them plugged in 24/7

[PoorUB]

My question is - should I still remove the batteries come winter time, or would leaving a battery in the bike with the BTJr hooked up in the cold garage shorten the life span of the battery???
Just wondering what everybody else does.
Thanks in advance.
Todd

Actually, storing the battery in cold is the best thing you can do. A battery works off a chemical reaction, slow that reaction down, and the battery will last longer.
Every fall I take the battery out of my Ultra, clean it good, and put it right back into the bike. I put a battery tender on it too, but I don't leave it on all the time as the bike gets moved around the shop once in a while.

Years back I had an automotive electrial class. The instructor asked students if any of them had electric start snowmobiles, and how long did their batteries last. Most students said if they get a couple years they were doing good. Keep in mind a snowmobile will sit in someone's hot shed all summer. This instructor claims he gets 5-7 years out of a snowmobile battery, and this is why. every spring he would pull the batteries, clean them, and charge them. Then wrap them up good in plastic and drop them in the deep freeze for the summer. As long as the battery is in good shape, and charged it will not freeze.

I ran a boat for a few years. In the fall I would clean the battery, and drop it right back into the boat. I did not have a float charger so I would just leave the battery disconnected so the electronics would not drain the battery. I would store the boat in the back yard, under a tarp. When I sold the boat it still had the same battery.

[hawwk]

Anniefats I think Rocky's might have them on sale I know Kitchener did a while ago. Men's night is coming up soon might get a deal on them. Sometimes Hully Gully might have them cheaper 
The jr tenders I got had the harness to attach to the bat and leave on all the time.

[Glide-Rider]

I use the Battery Tender Jr mainly for my generator.  It has a key starter system as well as a rope start.  I got it due to the wife has difficulty with the rope start only model.  It requires, "NO MORE THAN .75 CHARGER."  So I did not want to take a chance with the 1.25 Battery Tender.  One for the bike and one for the generator.  I went thru Drag Specialties and found a nice zipper case made for the tenders.  Went down to the dealer and he ordered me two of them.  Cost: $5.00 each.

[ultra 08]

I just leave the batteries in both of my bikes and just put a tender on them. A good place to buy cheap tender is Wallmart I only paid some where around 20 bucks for them they go into a float mode and just maintain. The battery in one of my bikes is fifteen years old and it still works just fine.

[Ultrashovel]

We've got a Harley, a Honda Rebel and two Honda riding mowers. They are on Battery Tender Jr.'s all of the time when parked. I never take a battery out if I can avoid it. If the battery is under float charge, it's not going to freeze, although it almost never gets below 40 degrees where I am.

The battery in the 2004 HD is the original AGM from March 2004 and it's still going strong, having always been on the charger.

You can find the Battery Tender Jr.'s on eBay all of the time for $24.95 with free shipping and no tax. HD sells them for $39.95, plus tax and a dirty look if you ask for a discount or tell them that they are 35% higher than online. 

[dunbarton]

I picked up one of these http://www.toolsource.com/battery-companion-trickle-charger-p-104837.html at Walmart in Toronto for @ $26 on sale a few weeks ago when I was in snooping around for M15-50 oil. It seems to work fine and is a great value price IMO. I will use it to maintain the bike and lawn tractor batteries by rotating the unit between them periodically. It include both alligator clips and round terminal-type. I'll just leave the round terminal wire on the bike as it fits my electric vest too, which is very convenient during cool weather riding season.
Personally, I prefer the 1.5 amp because it will bring the battery up to full charge faster.
You shouldn't have any problem leaving the battery in your bike over winter in Southern Ontario temps provided it's kept fully charged. 

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[ANNIEFATS]

PoorUB - Thanks, that was the info I was looking for.  I had a hunch that's how batteries and the cold work, but wasn't sure.  I think I will leave my battery in this winter with the tender.  See how that goes.  My wife's bike is already put away and the battery is in the basement.  So it going to stay there.
Thanks all for your input.
Todd

[apes]

In Sacto I got my Jr. for $19.95 at the Yamaha place on Auburn Blvd...every day all day