| Author | Message | ||
     Buellwinkle |
The battery died on my 2001 S3T and I'm trying to figure out how to remove the old, install the new. Can it be done without removing the tail section under the seat? If I do need to move that, how is it done? | ||
| Bad_karma |
Carl Not sure about doing it with out removing the tail section. To get the tail section off. Remove seat Remove tail light lens Remove rear tank retaining bolt Remove two screws retaining seat latch plate Remove four screws in the under seat area around the latch plate. Takes about five minutes. Joe | ||
| Krash |
I seem to have to replace the battery on my 1999 S3T annually. It's no fun but you can do it without removing any bodywork. The battery strap is tightened down on the left side of the bike, the smaller wrench the better because there if very little room. Once you turn that loose a quarter turn, or less at a time, the right side slides off. With the strap off, the battery will come out at the right angle. Plan on some skinned knuckles. | ||
| Bikerjim99 |
"I seem to have to replace the battery on my 1999 S3T annually" My 1999 S3 has it's original battery. Try to keep the terminal screws tight. With time, they loosen, so every month tighten them. A battery tender should be hooked up in the off season. Good luck. | ||
| Ratbuell |
+1 on the battery tender. $40 for the (perfectly capable) Tender Jr. as opposed to $95 for a battery, and my batteries last up to 5 years with tender usage, as opposed to the annual ritual without. Even my high compression 1340 hasn't needed a battery for 3 years now! To practice battery removal, though, go buy an old Rubiks Cube off eBay and play with that for a day or so. It'll practically un-install itself after you re-train your hands, LOL. | ||
| Buellwinkle |
Thanks, I removed the tail section, wasn't that hard and replaced battery. And as faith would have it, that wasn't the problem, must be the stator/regulator as it loses voltage as you rev it. I figured the battery must be 6 years old so time to change anyway. I was wrong to guess that a bike with 2,000 miles couldn't possibly have a stator problem as my past '98 Buell S3T had many more miles and never needed one. Is that a diy type job? Do you have to remove the clutch and primary chain? Does anyone have a link on a how to on this? | ||
| Krash |
I know it's somewhat my own fault I end up replacing that battery so often. I don't ride the bike often enough and I don't start it up nearly often enough, if at all, during winter. I did try a battery tender on it last winter. It showed green the whole winter but when spring came and I tried to start it, no go. 10-4 on the terminals. I have caught them loosened more than a few times and I should make that a part of the regular pre-ride inspection. Bad part is I leave the house at o'dark thirty with no lighting then by the time I make it home I'm about wupped and end up doing the minimal after ride checks. At least I know who to blame! Sorry to hear the battery didn't solve the problem. | ||
| Buellwinkle |
Took it to the dealer, I wanted them to do a full service anyway since I just bought it. It turned out to be the voltage regulator that was bad and labor charges covered by the service. Putting the new battery on is OK since the old one was 6 years old. | ||
| Krash |
Sounds like a good dealer! | ||
| Buellgekk |
What brand battery was it? I have the originele HD battery for 10 years and still working. | ||
| Buellwinkle |
Harley brand battery. I know they can last a long time if you use the bike. The problem is this bike sat unused for years and that's not good for the battery. |
