Trying to help a friend with a 2006 Sportster 1200XL. The battery on her ride died during the winter from non-use. Since her bike is different from my Touring, does anyone have the "technique" and tool requirements to complete this task? I appreciate your help.

 

you should be able to jump it from your bike.Or a car for that matter.

 

Thanks, Booey, put it dead beyond resuscitation. It now must be replaced. Any How-To's that will help?

 

If thats the case then go to the local stealer or better yet the local motorcycle parts place and get a new 1.Sorry it's that dead.

 

On my 2000 XL1200C it took all of 15 mins and a small wrench, but I wouldn't tell her that. I you were to have ulterior motives with the she friend, you couldn't ask for better opportunity to up that anti a notch or two.
Oh, In case your not aware, be sure to get a AGM (sealed) battery.

 

Getting it out is going to be fun cause its pretty darn snug. Fishing the ground cable up from where it fastens down on the motor will take some small fingers, some swearing and likley some adult beverages. Then theres the fun of getting the new one backin only this time be sure she gets a battery tender and that you put the pigtail plug on there for her when reinstalling it so this does not happen in the future.

 

10 mm open end wrench fits pretty good. Book says to undo the ground cable at the case. If you don't, the fit trying to get the bolts out/in on the balletry terminals is reeeeeeealy tight! Seat and sidecover off (LH), you'll figure it out, no sweat!

 

Seat can stay on. Remove ground cable from case and unclip from oil bag. Unclip left side cover, unscrew battery retainer strap. Slide battery towards you while fishing ground cable up through little opening. Undo battery cables as you can access them. Pull battery out. Make sure to get a tender with pigtales and some anticorrosion spray when you reinstall it. As it is not a process you want to have to repeat. Install is the opposite, make sure you get the ground cable fished back throug properly.

 

After you take the cover off, it just "pulls" off the plastic clips, slide the maxi fuse retainer forward, pull it off and let it hang there. Remove the crew from the battery retaing strap and remove the strap. Grab the battery and pull it out as far as you can. You should be able to remove both the positive and negative cables without removing the ground strap from the frame (although it is tight). Put the new battery in in the reverse manner.
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Thanks, fellas. It did take a 10 mm socket- go figure; that allowed meto remove the ground lead from the battery terminal. The battery tender harness was attached during this install. Appreciate all your help.