Deka / HD Battery Life

[Admiral Akbar]

While at the expo I got into the discussion about batteries with a Yuasa Rep.. I asked him about the issue with Deka battery life compared to Yuasa and that the newer Dekas did not have the life of the older ones.  The guy claimed that he'd worked at Deka back when change occurred and claimed that HD went to Deka to tell them to limit the life of the batteries because they were lasting too long.. Deka complied and that is the reason why the current Dekas don't last as long as the older ones and don't have the CCA.. One of the things I've noticed about the newer Dekas is that after some time they won't hold a charge. You can place them on a charger, charge till full then let them sit a couple days and the voltage will drop to where my load tester says it needs a recharge..

Another thing that was interesting was that Yuasa made the BigBoar battery.. That was the second battery in my 131 and it lasted almost 4 years.. I suspect that I'll start using the GYZ batteries from now on. Can get the smaller Dyna/Softail battery from summit for $104 delivered.. The one I ordered, arrived one day after the order was placed..

[Latrobedyna]

Max a few of us around here including myself use Odyssey Batteries  http://www.odysseybattery.com they hold up really well. The oldest one i know of is going on 7 years not a ounce of trouble.

[Admiral Akbar]

Max a few of us around here including myself use Odyssey Batteries  http://www.odysseybattery.com they hold up really well. The oldest one i know of is going on 7 years not a ounce of trouble.

I had an oddesy PC525 and it would barely turn over an 88 ci evo.. Keep your motor stock they might be OK.

[truck]

While at the expo I got into the discussion about batteries with a Yuasa Rep.. I asked him about the issue with Deka battery life compared to Yuasa and that the newer Dekas did not have the life of the older ones.  The guy claimed that he'd worked at Deka back when change occurred and claimed that HD went to Deka to tell them to limit the life of the batteries because they were lasting too long.. Deka complied and that is the reason why the current Dekas don't last as long as the older ones and don't have the CCA.. One of the things I've noticed about the newer Dekas is that after some time they won't hold a charge. You can place them on a charger, charge till full then let them sit a couple days and the voltage will drop to where my load tester says it needs a recharge..

Another thing that was interesting was that Yuasa made the BigBoar battery.. That was the second battery in my 131 and it lasted almost 4 years.. I suspect that I'll start using the GYZ batteries from now on. Can get the smaller Dyna/Softail battery from summit for $104 delivered.. The one I ordered, arrived one day after the order was placed..

I suggested that a few months back.

[koko3052]

 

[pwmorris]

Max a few of us around here including myself use Odyssey Batteries  http://www.odysseybattery.com they hold up really well. The oldest one i know of is going on 7 years not a ounce of trouble.

I had an oddesy PC525 and it would barely turn over an 88 ci evo.. Keep your motor stock they might be OK.

Max, was this several years ago? There was a time (not sure, but maybe 4-7 years ago?) that Odyessy had a bad stretch of production. I had failures such as swollen batteries, not holding charge after a short period of time, and CCA not as advertised. Returned all of them and they credited me new ones but eventually stopped honoring their warranties with my returns. There was some race guys who also had issues as well. This is about the time I switched to lithiums, and love them as a far superior product as to CCA, and weight. Even ran a lithium 16 volt, which is the ticket for a race application and is used by many car guys now.
However, I have a PC680 now as a spare and have tested it from time to time firing my bike and checking overall health and it is very strong. I believe they have improved their product and I also used their PC925 in my race bike for awhile (took it out as it weighed a ton) and it cranked it over nice...
I have no issues with their product now...

As far as Deka, straight up corporate greed and no different than many current products designed to fail after a specific shelf life...

[Bike31]

The current HD batteries may indeed be a POS, but I believe part of their setup and maintenance is to charge them higher than 14.4V but at a low amperage.

Mine in my Softail is a replacement that's a year old. After purchase last May it was new but struggled to crank and wouldn't hold a charge. Within a couple of weeks it'd fall to 12.5V even after riding but later sitting for a few days. The security system does draw it down and removing the 40A fuse or enabling transport mode helps slow that process. A remote switch would make that disconnect easier unless theft is possible.

My CTEK charger has a cold temp setting that'll hit close to 15V during the charging cycle, versus 14.4 normal. I use the low 0.75 A setting at that voltage, but 4.5A is also available. When I first tried the higher voltage the battery took and held a charge never falling below 12.8 in the same conditions as above. It'll also equalize the cells near 15.8 but at a very low amperage. Sitting for a month this winter between charges it maintains 12.8 with the security off in transport mode and cranks the new 110 kit easily.

Transport mode:
To Enter Transport Mode. With an assigned fob within range, turn the ignition switch to IGNITION. Before the security system lamp goes out, turn the ignition switch to OFF. Within three seconds, simultaneously press both the left and the right turn signal switches.

[Admiral Akbar]

While at the expo I got into the discussion about batteries with a Yuasa Rep.. I asked him about the issue with Deka battery life compared to Yuasa and that the newer Dekas did not have the life of the older ones.  The guy claimed that he'd worked at Deka back when change occurred and claimed that HD went to Deka to tell them to limit the life of the batteries because they were lasting too long.. Deka complied and that is the reason why the current Dekas don't last as long as the older ones and don't have the CCA.. One of the things I've noticed about the newer Dekas is that after some time they won't hold a charge. You can place them on a charger, charge till full then let them sit a couple days and the voltage will drop to where my load tester says it needs a recharge..

Another thing that was interesting was that Yuasa made the BigBoar battery.. That was the second battery in my 131 and it lasted almost 4 years.. I suspect that I'll start using the GYZ batteries from now on. Can get the smaller Dyna/Softail battery from summit for $104 delivered.. The one I ordered, arrived one day after the order was placed..

I suggested that a few months back.

Thanks, I probably missed it.. Still it was good to talk to the source..

[Admiral Akbar]

Max a few of us around here including myself use Odyssey Batteries  http://www.odysseybattery.com they hold up really well. The oldest one i know of is going on 7 years not a ounce of trouble.

I had an oddesy PC525 and it would barely turn over an 88 ci evo.. Keep your motor stock they might be OK.

Max, was this several years ago? There was a time (not sure, but maybe 4-7 years ago?) that Odyessy had a bad stretch of production. I had failures such as swollen batteries, not holding charge after a short period of time, and CCA not as advertised. Returned all of them and they credited me new ones but eventually stopped honoring their warranties with my returns. There was some race guys who also had issues as well. This is about the time I switched to lithiums, and love them as a far superior product as to CCA, and weight. Even ran a lithium 16 volt, which is the ticket for a race application and is used by many car guys now.
However, I have a PC680 now as a spare and have tested it from time to time firing my bike and checking overall health and it is very strong. I believe they have improved their product and I also used their PC925 in my race bike for awhile (took it out as it weighed a ton) and it cranked it over nice...
I have no issues with their product now...

As far as Deka, straight up corporate greed and no different than many current products designed to fail after a specific shelf life...

Yes,, This was about 7-8 years ago.. Good to know they've gotten better.   As Turboprop mentioned, Bikers choice has lithium ion batteries with the same form factor as standard bagger / dyna / softails.. They advertise about 20% more CCAs and a 2 year warranty.. Might try one of those next.. Price is less than a Braille.

[Bike31]

HD wants warranty liability to last until the end of their obligation...2 years from activation by sales. Any longer and it's an uncompensated bonus. So 3 years max in most situations.

[strokerjlk]

Max a few of us around here including myself use Odyssey Batteries  http://www.odysseybattery.com they hold up really well. The oldest one i know of is going on 7 years not a ounce of trouble.

I had an oddesy PC525 and it would barely turn over an 88 ci evo.. Keep your motor stock they might be OK.

Max, was this several years ago? There was a time (not sure, but maybe 4-7 years ago?) that Odyessy had a bad stretch of production. I had failures such as swollen batteries, not holding charge after a short period of time, and CCA not as advertised. Returned all of them and they credited me new ones but eventually stopped honoring their warranties with my returns. There was some race guys who also had issues as well. This is about the time I switched to lithiums, and love them as a far superior product as to CCA, and weight. Even ran a lithium 16 volt, which is the ticket for a race application and is used by many car guys now.
However, I have a PC680 now as a spare and have tested it from time to time firing my bike and checking overall health and it is very strong. I believe they have improved their product and I also used their PC925 in my race bike for awhile (took it out as it weighed a ton) and it cranked it over nice...
I have no issues with their product now...

As far as Deka, straight up corporate greed and no different than many current products designed to fail after a specific shelf life...

Yes,, This was about 7-8 years ago.. Good to know they've gotten better.   As Turboprop mentioned, Bikers choice has lithium ion batteries with the same form factor as standard bagger / dyna / softails.. They advertise about 20% more CCAs and a 2 year warranty.. Might try one of those next.. Price is less than a Braille.

i missed seeing the biker choice battery .who makes it for them?
there are very few battery manufacturing plants left. they have just about been regulated out of business.

[calif phil]

The Bikers choice batteries come from overseas. 

[Admiral Akbar]

I'm not sure you will find any LI battery that doesn't come from overseas.. They might be assembled here but the core part is still from overseas.

[strokerjlk]

The Bikers choice batteries come from overseas.

I'm not sure you will find any LI battery that doesn't come from overseas.. They might be assembled here but the core part is still from overseas.

[Cracked Head]

The top U.S, manufactures of battery's  Johnston controls,  Exide, EastPenn-Deka,  Yuasa.The Deka etx series agm batteries are sold to many company's.If they truly cheapened H.D. battery's,the rest of the etx line seeems just fine.Be carefull what you believe in the corporate marketing world,as B.S. is plentiful.The only difference in the HD batterys and the rest of the etx line,is the top terminals,and the labels stuck on the battery's.In over 15 years of sales,I have not seen all these problems.If I did the line would be dropped quick.The Yuasa GYZ battery's are very good.The most problems I see are people that do not know maintenance of agm style battery's.

[strokerjlk]

The top U.S, manufactures of battery's  Johnston controls,  Exide, EastPenn-Deka,  Yuasa.The Deka etx series agm batteries are sold to many company's.If they truly cheapened H.D. battery's,the rest of the etx line seeems just fine.Be carefull what you believe in the corporate marketing world,as B.S. is plentiful.The only difference in the HD batterys and the rest of the etx line,is the top terminals,and the labels stuck on the battery's.In over 15 years of sales,I have not seen all these problems.If I did the line would be dropped quick.The Yuasa GYZ battery's are very good.The most problems I see are people that do not know maintenance of agm style battery's.

i used to back haul semi loads from Johnson and Deka. they put all kinds of diff brand names on their battery's. it's the same battery ,just a diff label.

In the case of the top terminal being diff on the harley batteries ,that's what was explained to me as well. But I was also told they can not make that terminal design for anyone else .

[truck]

While at the expo I got into the discussion about batteries with a Yuasa Rep.. I asked him about the issue with Deka battery life compared to Yuasa and that the newer Dekas did not have the life of the older ones.  The guy claimed that he'd worked at Deka back when change occurred and claimed that HD went to Deka to tell them to limit the life of the batteries because they were lasting too long.. Deka complied and that is the reason why the current Dekas don't last as long as the older ones and don't have the CCA.. One of the things I've noticed about the newer Dekas is that after some time they won't hold a charge. You can place them on a charger, charge till full then let them sit a couple days and the voltage will drop to where my load tester says it needs a recharge..

Another thing that was interesting was that Yuasa made the BigBoar battery.. That was the second battery in my 131 and it lasted almost 4 years.. I suspect that I'll start using the GYZ batteries from now on. Can get the smaller Dyna/Softail battery from summit for $104 delivered.. The one I ordered, arrived one day after the order was placed..

I suggested that a few months back.

Here is where I suggested it.
http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,86317.msg976853.html#msg976853

[rageglide]

Is there any reason why a Yuasa rep would propogate a rumor about Deka quality?

Does his comment hold for Every Deka battery that Deka makes that is not badged HD?  HD mandated a change to all Deka batteries to meet their standards?   Sure seems like a class action lawsuit wouldn't be tough to justify.


I've been wondering if the quality of batteries has been going down due to the recycling of lead and lower grade materials.   The Duracell (overseas I'm sure, but maybe Deka) no longer has Lead terminals, they're a stamped alloy.  Maybe this is related to what Stroker said, can't use the Lead terminals... dunno. I presumed it was part of an effort to use less lead.

[PoorUB]

I find I hard to believe HD ordered a battery with shorter life, a lower price perhaps, which in turn lead to shorter life, but not specifically a shorter life.

I am also suspect of information from a competitor. Usually they don't go around telling everybody how great the competition is, but bring up any short comings without much prodding.

[04 SE Deuce]

While at the expo I got into the discussion about batteries with a Yuasa Rep.. I asked him about the issue with Deka battery life compared to Yuasa and that the newer Dekas did not have the life of the older ones.  The guy claimed that he'd worked at Deka back when change occurred and claimed that HD went to Deka to tell them to limit the life of the batteries because they were lasting too long.. Deka complied and that is the reason why the current Dekas don't last as long as the older ones and don't have the CCA.. One of the things I've noticed about the newer Dekas is that after some time they won't hold a charge. You can place them on a charger, charge till full then let them sit a couple days and the voltage will drop to where my load tester says it needs a recharge..

Another thing that was interesting was that Yuasa made the BigBoar battery.. That was the second battery in my 131 and it lasted almost 4 years.. I suspect that I'll start using the GYZ batteries from now on. Can get the smaller Dyna/Softail battery from summit for $104 delivered.. The one I ordered, arrived one day after the order was placed..

I suggested that a few months back.

Here is where I suggested it.
http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,86317.msg976853.html#msg976853

truck,   If your connections validate/believe the above then shame on both companies.  If you remember I copied/re-posted your other posts about a possible change in manufacturing process in a recent thread.

It would seem more plausible/believable that the MOCO dictated a lower price per unit and in the process of meeting the price EP/Deka lost/lowered the quality. 

All I can say is after the last 3 HD branded Deka batteries having a service life of 26, 22, 20 months in a bike that never sits,  I'll walk before I buy another Deka.  I wouldn't have bought the last one except it was a couple days before a trip.  -Rick

[jbexeter]

We've got a local place that does batteries, and nothing but batteries.

I've been going there 30 years in every vehicle imaginable, and asking for the biggest / best battery that will only just fit. Let them recommend, it's their field of expertise... they'll also make up cables and do all the other heavy DC stuff you might need.

For motorcycles it's always been yuasa, and they last me at least 5 years.... one time I had a 2+ year old yuasa in the 103 and I'd let it sat for just over two months outside in winter, with the alarm on etc, went out and thought no way this is going to even click the solenoid... cranked over slow a couple of revolutions and fired up a treat.

Now I have a friend who has done away with it all, he basically has a small moped size lifepo battery and a bank of supercaps, starter spins like it is on 24 volts, absoluely awesome, so may well be trying it myself next time.

https://youtu.be/LX_o3hl2Dv4 similar idea

[kcbike]

I don't know when deka  started making lower lasting batteries so far my 4 year old 2012 or battery is holding up well. Road glide with 79 thousand miles

[black]

just replaced my 2009 last fall i would say that is pretty good

[dynablack07]

My Deka from Oct 2012 is useless, after a sitting a week.. and the parasitic drain has not changed.

[harleytoprock]

I use to think Deka batteries were great. But now they don't seem to last as long or have same power. I thought it was in my head until I saw this thread.