Thanks Buck20.
Perhaps my situation sould be set forth in depth. First the bike perrformed flawlessly for the first three (3) years. The battery was maintained by regular use of a battery tender but finally died a natural death on March 6, 2010. My dealer did not have an OEM battery in stock so the appropriate Yusa battery (YTX14-B, 220 CCA) was used. This unit never did seem to return to full charge as readily as the OEM unit, which I put down to the "lesser" battery used. The problem progressed until (on June 12, 2010) I had my dealer look at the situation and a loose battery ground strap was discovered, after which all was rosy on the battery front.........for a while.
About three (3) weeks ago the battery started to show signs of weakness in starting although the slow recharging cycle did not reappear. I dismissed it as my failure to promptly hook the battery tender to the battery after my weekend ride due to laziness on my part. After leaving the battery tender off for a week through the labor day weekend, I went to start the bike to finally put it away and it barely started, exhibiting all the traits associated with a weak battery. I concluded the ground strap was again loose, although recharging was always prompt and quick on the battery tender. However, while warming the engine it abruptly died and when I restarted the clock and trip sets were reset, as if the battery had been disconected. A first occurence and upon the happening of which I resolved to take the bike in, which I did Friday Sept 10th whereat I was informed of the failing stator.
I have ridden HD for about fifty (50) years, inclucding about six years working in a HD dealerhsip (three (3) years of which were as a general manager of two (2) Harley dealerships, and although I remember some old gradual failure with generator windings, I cannot remember any gradual failures of the windings on a stator although I remember some magnets adrift on the rotors and loose take off wiring on the stators! However in all fairness my memory is not what it used to be.
Frankly, I was suspicious, especially after not finding the report of one (1) stator failure (gradual or abrupt) on this board. Besides things electric baffle me and your (Buck20's) suggestion that I check it out myself is frankly beyond me.
Sorry for the length,
Cheers,
Curtis