Im going to have to sell my gear.

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this isnt the place to worry about it either way, im getting it worked on soon and will be back up, just going to take a little longer than i hoped.

[pellet gun]

Bummer man, you'll re-aquire when things straighten out...I'm sure...

[Jcavenagh]

thanks. yeah, she and i are working things out between us anyway, and weve always stayed friends. so im very lucky having her in my life, along with a few good friends.

Hmmm...grown ups! Whoda thunk it? Good news

[Fig]

Well, since it was brought up, and your post sent up a huge red flag for me this might be a good time to educate people on something that could cost them money. Money they could use toward camping gear. Now I would never suggest taking legal advice off the internet, but you should be aware of the laws protecting you. Rev, please understand that I am not calling you out on this, just merely trying to help here.

Car batteries come classified by size - http://www.batteryweb.com/bci.cfm. Those codes determine the physical size and post configuration, ie: positive post on the left or right, and if it's top post, side post, or a combination. From there you have amp ratings, which determine the capacity of the battery. Things like cold cranking amps, amp hour ratings etc. As long as you match the original as closely as possible you are fine. Motorcycle batteries have a different numbering system, but it's similar in nature. To clarify for AaronAlso, Harley might provide the specs of their battery, but they do not have to "approve" any others that are made to that specification. As long as a part meets or exceeds the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specs, you are allowed to put that part of your car and still have the warranty coverage afforded by the manufacturer. If someone tells you otherwise, then be very suspect. One other point to be made here is that I would be willing to bet money that Harley does not even make this battery. It's a battery from a battery manufacturer that has branded this for Harley. A quick search has a couple of people suggesting Deka makes them for Harley.

If I recall correctly this all played out over oil filters and manufacturers were denying engine warranties based on the fact people were using aftermarket filters. The govt stepped in and with this law basically said you can go ahead and force people to use your filter to keep their warranty, but if you want to play that game then you have to provide the filter to the consumer free of charge. Otherwise OEM spec filters will not void any warranty. It applies to all auto parts, but I think oil filters were the catalyst. I could be completely wrong on that but recall that was the explanation I was given.

If you get a bad vibe from a mechanic or a part guy, by all means get a second opinion just like you would if you were at your doctor and didn't like what he said. Car and motorcycle repair can get expensive quick, and when you are talking about your sole means of transportation, it can be a real problem.

[default]

i understand all that, and while i thank you for your help, its no longer an issue and doesnt need to be discussed anymore. even if it was, id still be out of pocket for repairs that need to be done now that somethings messed up. the new/old battery is back where i got it, it tested bad and is being replaced. after that ill test my system and see what needs to be replaced to make it right again.

no one is at fault here, it just sucks that it happened and im just a month out of warranty. the OEM battery lasted me about 2 weeks out side of the warranty, so HD cant do anything.

[DaleW]

....

If I recall correctly this all played out over oil filters and manufacturers were denying engine warranties based on the fact people were using aftermarket filters. The govt stepped in and with this law basically said you can go ahead and force people to use your filter to keep their warranty, but if you want to play that game then you have to provide the filter to the consumer free of charge. Otherwise OEM spec filters will not void any warranty. It applies to all auto parts, but I think oil filters were the catalyst. I could be completely wrong on that but recall that was the explanation I was given. .....

Sounds right to me. The law has been on the books for all long time. I remember Fram stepping up and buying a long block for several customers who had issues like blown filter casings or jammed relief valves that were a direct cause of the engine failure. I saw Dana (suppling NAPA engine parts at that time) cover a water pump that exploded at high RPM's and basically wiped the front of the engine off a tow truck, taking all the hydraulics and radiator out--- and the fan went through the hood. The rep just handed over the paperwork and box up the damaged parts and took some photos. This kind of stuff doesn't happen often, but the manufacturers all seemed to take it in stride and cover the customer and service providers.

I would think that the battery manufacturer would step up if the battery shorted and fried the system. I imagine it could get dicey on a rig with a lot of customization.

[JaxHiker]

no one is at fault here, it just sucks that it happened and im just a month out of warranty. the OEM battery lasted me about 2 weeks out side of the warranty, so HD cant do anything.

Welcome to the third law of nature.

Glad things are working out better than expected.