| Author | Message | ||
     Gentleman_jon |
Lurking deep in the recesses of what might charitably be called every Buelligan's mind is the nagging thought that one's battery really ought to be replaced. Am I right, my brothers? First it is a series of long pauses when one tries to start. Then one finds the clock is wrong now and then. Strange electrical gremlins pay a visit on occasion. Then the final indignity. The sucker just won't start just when a group of admirers are patiently awaiting the glorious sound of the Drummer. You're totally bummed, but with a four year old battery, one shouldn't be surprised. Relief is near at hand, and unlike many home repairs, the results are swift, the effort minimal, and the benefits substantial. Of course you can just do it any old way, but if I may be granted the liberty of making a few suggestions, there IS a right way. 1. Use the HD battery. Yes I know this runs against the cheapskate philosophy, but there does NOT seem to be a better, cheaper alternative out there. At least couldn't find one. And yes, I did try. 2. If you have an S, get a very large friend to help you with the damn rubber band. Don't have one on my R tailed S. 3. Charge the battery to full charge before installing it. Typically an hour or so on a 1.5 or 2 amp charger will do the job as the battery comes with a charge on it, but rarely a full charge. A fully charged battery is a happy battery, and will stay happy longer. 4. Remove the screws and wires from the battery, and remove the battery. Natcherly we will dispose of same in an environmentally sensitive manner, and that does not include throwing it in the supermarket's dumpster, ok? 5. Many brothers have reported having trouble keeping the battery screws tight. Anecdotal evidence suggest these screws are about 1/16" too long. They have an unthreaded section at the end of the screw. Feel free to grind it off. I did. 6. With a piece of sand paper, clean the corrosion off the lugs on the wires that go to the battery. 7. Put a liberal amount of medium, that's the blue Loctite that comes in the red tube, on the screws and tighten them down on your recently cleaned lugs REAL tight. They have an annoying tendency to vibrate loose just when you don't want them to. A wrench here is better than a screw driver. The screws themselves are kind of low grade, so just replacing them with a properly sized stainless machine screw is always a good idea. 8. Light her up. Note that she veritably springs to life, just like she did when she was a puppy. 9. Set The clock. (The trip log will also go to zero, so if you use it as a sort of a gas gauge, just gas up now). 10, Go for a ride. And that's just about all I got on Batteries. See you at MBV!  PS: I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to discover that the battery screws are metric. 6mm x 12 mm. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on March 06, 2008) | ||
| Jaydub |
and that does not include throwing it in the supermarket's dumpster, ok? Damn!!! I'll just put it in a corner of the garage, and let the leaves, and debris cover it  | ||
| Irideabuell |
I properly disposed of mine when I purchased a new battery for my wife's car. The Interstate battery store gladly took my old Buell battery. I did purchase the HD battery and have been very happy with it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Why? It's so much more fun to get a total stranger to jump your bike off in the parking lot of an IGA in North Georgia, ride your bike to the O'Riley store down the street, buy whatever battery they have, and pray that it lasts. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Use the HD battery. They make great gifts too. The price was so right, I bought two and gave one to a friend of mine with a Fatboy. He was so much more appreciative than my girlfriend was when I got her an Optima battery for her car... on Valentine's Day. Seemed like what she needed the most at the time. Sigh... | ||
| Court |
Considering that the price of a battery is less than a business lunch I'm not sure why folks are so reluctant to replace them. Although . . . I confess I am the worse. Good ol' laziness raring it's ugly head . . | ||
| Buellrider11960 |
may i also suggest using a battery tender ;since i've started using mine no battery issues. | ||
| Redponcho |
The battery monster reared its ugly head this last weekend for me. A buddy with a tuber's died in downtown podunk kansas. Then we tried to push start it on a brick street. Finally a good ole boy came up and jumped him. Ahh good times! | ||
| Pwnzor |
Around here, if you don't turn in a battery when you buy a new one, you pay a hefty core charge. Disposal problem solved. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
every NAPA store i've worked at would gladly take take a used battery off your hands for free. i suspect other auto parts stores have similar policies. very interesting battery charge percentage vs. voltage reading data, link courtesy of Reep: http://www.buchanan1.net/lead_acid.shtml FB | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"2. If you have an S, get a very large friend to help you with the damn rubber band. Don't have one on my R tailed S." Please tell me there's a tool you can use to attach that damn strap?? I got a new HD battery about 2 weeks ago. My bike was clicking and pausing while trying to start. BOOM. The new battery solved all of that. I got mine for about 67.00 at my dealer. They take off 10% off the bat and they told me they gave me a "spring special", I don't know how much a battery would normally be though. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Normally the ones I buy are $80 at the dealership (It's the one they offer for the Buell, fully sealed to lay flat) The one listed to fit the Buell at my local Wal-Mart is $88 and is an off brand, well not HD anyway. Who da' thunk? The one that came on the bike lasted five years. I've never had a battery, bike or otherwise ever last as long as the original. |
