Motorcycle Batteries for Harley Davidson Sportster 883
It can be a great feeling to start up your Harley-Davidson Sportster 883s engine whenever you want to head out on a ride. If youre in the market for a new battery for your motorcycle, you can find a variety of choices that fit your Sportster. The replacement process is fairly simple, so you can get out on your Sportster after a minimal amount of work.
What batteries should you use for the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883?Look around for parts that fit your specific Sportster, whether its the Iron 883 model or a custom bike. Brands that make motorcycle batteries for Harley-Davidson include:
- Duracell
- XTreme
- Sigmastek
- Yuasa
- Take off the cover, which you can find right under the seat.
- Unstrap the batteries. Use a socket wrench with an extendable handle to unscrew the bolts that are on the side of the unit.
- Pull out the battery a few inches. Find the metal piece that is holding the battery down, and move that piece off to the side.
- Use your socket wrench to unscrew the other bolts that are closer to the interior of the bike. This will release the battery.
- Slide the new battery in place, negative side first.
- Hook up the negative terminal to the negative cable. Push in the battery into its compartment, and hook up the remaining wires.
- Reattach the metal piece that holds the battery in place. Reattach the bolts using your socket wrench.
- Replace the cover.
Vehicle batteries are continually discharging energy. When your Harley-Davidson Sportster is parked and the engine is not running, the battery still lets out small internal loads. This is referred to as "self-discharge”. Additionally, high temperatures and additional accessories, like an alarm system, can lead to a higher rate of energy depletion. Eventually, your battery could fully drain and become permanently disabled if the bike sits for a long period of time.
When should you replace the battery on the Harley-Davidson?The following is a list of possible signs that you may need to replace the battery on your Harley:
- If you cannot start your Harley-Davidson Sportster 883. This is an obvious sign that your battery has died.
- If your Sportster battery does not seem to hold a charge. In this case, it may require frequent charges from an external source or your starter may sound like its having trouble during ignition.
- If you take a voltage reading and see that the voltage is 12.4 or less. This can indicate that the part has experienced a short circuit, has a dead cell, or is sulfated. Sulfated means that sulfur crystals have hardened onto the plates and prevent the efficient production of power.
- If a digital voltmeter reading drops within 30 seconds of continuous monitoring after you push your motorcycles start button. Immediate drops and steady drops both indicate issues with your Harley-Davidson Sportster battery.