Bike Battery Blues (BBB)

[monstermick58]

Well the old battery has finally given up, I think its the third one I've had in ten years, so me thinks that I will upgrade to a maintenence free this time 'round and seeing that we dont have much history here at the moment, I thought that I would ask the questions here.

Standard batteries have a vent tube on the left side of the battery, and over the years this vent tube has come adrift and done some paint damage down the left side of the bike, so I thought a 'gell cell' type would be the go.

I was told the Odyssey PC 680 was the one to fit, its almost the same size as the standard battery, standard being L=200mm W=70 H=160, whereas the Odyssey is L=185 W= 80 H=170 but (dont you love that word) talking to an 'expert' he told me that they are over priced $359, and the Deka YTX-20 is a far better and cheaper $220 proposition, but (again) the closest size in this is L=175 W=88 H=155 so its a little bit wider than whats ideal.

Has anyone fitted a battery such as this, remembering that my bike is a 1997 model, modified the battery box or any other solutions would be gratefully accepted.

I will just have to wait.





                                                       Mmick

[Super T.I.B]

Just pulling something out of my arse but there is a battery mob just around the corner of my place.

Would only be too happy to ask them if they stock motorbike batteries.

I've used them for years in the cars I've owned and one battery I had lasted 5 years.

Which is pretty bloody good IMO. 

[sydmonster]

Mick, I have the DEKA, and its awesome. It is a little bit bigger than mu old 95model plastic tray but it fits snug and did go in there once I remove the round rubber bumpers to allow for some room.. think of it as "the next hole in the belt" snug!
 Very reliable and vent & maintenance free too! - Chris

[Spider]

do you lay the battery down...and therefore width becomes height?

if so you'd be moving from a 80mm to an 88mm - the cable will reach the extra 8 mm?

mine wouldn't make the extra 18mm!

[monstermick58]

Mick, I have the DEKA, and its awesome. It is a little bit bigger than mu old 95model plastic tray but it fits snug and did go in there once I remove the round rubber bumpers to allow for some room.. think of it as "the next hole in the belt" snug!
 Very reliable and vent & maintenance free too! - Chris

Actually I have tried putting in that battery and yes it is a snug fit, also +500 cca as opposed to the standard 220 cca, but it turns out to be my starter motor not the battery, but I would definately put that battery in next time, by the way, the people at 'Affordable Batteries' at Narellan was so helpful with my problem, they actually told me not to buy the battery because that was not the problem, we both fiddled with my bike for at least 40 mins and as I said very helpful, I think it did help that both the sales person and the (female) owner of the shop ride bikes, so maybe I should give them a plug in the 'good vendor' section





                                                      Mmick

[Spider]

Actually I have tried putting in that battery and yes it is a snug fit, also +500 cca

                                                      Mmick

Jebus, +500 cold cranking amps? just pull your ignition key out of your jacket and point it in the rough proximity of ya bike and she start!

It was my focus on CCA and the alignment of the points that I missed the fact mine was 18mm to tall for the cables.

Good to hear you're back on the road!

[dutchieal]

I have a Dekka Battery (USA) in one of my Dukes. Left the bike untouched for a a few months whilst I was o/seas and came back to a dead battery. as it was only 11 months old, I took it back to Batteryworld, who gave it back a week later, after revitalising said battery. Apparently , this type of battery should never be allowed to run down completely, as it can be terminal. Wish they would have told me that when I purchased same.

[monstermick58]

Jebus, +500 cold cranking amps? just pull your ignition key out of your jacket and point it in the rough proximity of ya bike and she start!

It was my focus on CCA and the alignment of the points that I missed the fact mine was 18mm to tall for the cables.

Good to hear you're back on the road!

Err..... not back on the road, you see my problem is now with the starter motor 






                                         Mmick

[Spider]

that was over a week ago....what's going?

and how did you work out that it was the starter?

could be good to know!

[dutchieal]

A friend had his Multistrada (Its a Ducati !) off the road for a coupla months with starting problems.
Turned out to be the Battery as it was inferior to the original Ducati battery. Please make sure an upgraded battery is actually a real upgrade.

[monstermick58]

Update..... update.... update

My starter is now with an auto electrician, what happened was that the bolt that you put the electrical cable on ( that big thick cable hanging off your starter) was rusty, and in my vain efforts to clean and tighten the elecrtical fitting its attached to, I actually turned the whole bolt in its housing, which then made the starter cable earth out on the starter body.

So back at auto electricians, he has repaired the damage that I caused in the housing and put an extra nut on the outside of the bolt, so when I tighten the cable up on the bolt, I tighten against the outside nut and not the whole bolt. He has also made a new set of brushes for it, machined the communtator(?) checked and lubed the bearing, and as we speak is reassembling and cheaking his work, he is confident that all will be well, but I wont know until I pick it up tomorrow.





                                                         Mmick

[Betty]

Sounds like you are getting on top of it Mick - s'pose you don't know your own strength (..... well now you do)

[monstermick58]

Starter motor is back in and..............

It all works fine 

All it cost was a little bit of effort and $160 at an auto electrician who had the ability not to let little problems beat him, ie; the bakerlite insulator on the rusted bolt which just collapsed when pulled apart.

So bike is now starting well, in fact I dont think that it has ever started this good even when I bought it new, its like like the difference between a normal and a LED indicator when it flashes, one is just so much sharper than the other, so all is well.






                                             Mmick

[Dockstrada]

Thats great mick we may see yu out and about  again

[monstermick58]

Thanks Dock, you really dont know the pain I've been through, I'll tell ya over a beer.








                                           Mmick