| Author | Message | ||
     Superthrob |
Anybody have any experiences to share regarding replacement batteries? Could always go and shell out big bucks for a new HD unit, but hoping to find a better option. Price? Stores or mailorder? Installation notes? Thanks! | ||
| Jprovo |
Yuaasa Batteries - Like em, one of the biggest battery manufacturers in the world. Installs the same as stock. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
For some unknown (to me) reason when the Blast battery is listed in some places (Dennis Kirk for one)for some brands it says installation kit needed from Buell. I do know a Power Source (Lynn Vick Products) battery installs like stock (kit not needed). Power Source pt# WP14-B HD pt# 65948-00 Yuasa pt# YTX14BS Also the same battery as an XB9R | ||
| Swampy |
Try a Optima(I think thats it) battery from Interstate batteries. They are the dry cell type that can be mounted in any position. I bought one for the Sportster and it cost $124 , but dry cell batteries last for loooong time. The Blast batteries are 5 years old and still good. | ||
| Berkshire |
"TX-14BS" is like a universal size code for any compatible battery. If there's a "Y" before the T, then it's a "new & improved" type. Older types have a "C" or "G" at the beginning. That's what I heard, anyway. My battery died HARD two days ago... riding along about 40 or 50mph, when the bike suddenly started sputtering and acting like it was out of gas. I had already used up about half of the reserve, so that also made me think it was low-fuel related. The motor died as I was pulling over. Once stopped, I leaned the bike way over to the left to get all the fuel over to the valve. Then I straightened it up and pushed the starter button. Click. Turned key & kill switch off and then back on again. Pushed the starter button again. Click. Pushed it to a bar down the street. Totally hot bartenderess! Got a jump-start (not from her, unfortunately). Started right up, but died immediately when the first cable was unhooked. Hooked up cables again and let it charge 5 or 10 minutes, then tried it again. Started right up again, but died immediately when the first cable was unhooked again. Called a friend with a truck... Charged battery overnight, but it still barely showed 12 volts with the charger connected, and only about 10.5 by itself. I think it had an internal short or something. Whatever it was, it happened all of a sudden. It was a "Magna Power" GTX-14BS that was in the bike when I got it with 4200 miles. It lasted to 8350 or so. Cheap batteries on ebay are $30 shipped, but I didn't want to wait a week. Cycle Gear had one for $60, Wal-Mart for $63 - didn't ask what kind. Sam's Club was $64 for a USA made "Interstate", with 6-month free replacement. NOT the "optima" type. (They had optima for car & boat, but not for bike.) It came with an acid "cartridge" - you insert the cartridge, and after that it's completely sealed (same as the ebay ones, and my old one, and maybe some of the others too.) Some of the ones on ebay said they fit the Blast, plus other Buells, and I think some Sportsters too - but the closest H-D place didn't know anything about Buells or YTX-14BS batteries. The local Buell place was the most expensive, at $65 - but it had 6-month free replacement AND 12-month pro-rata. And unlike Sam's, the Harley place takes visa... that clinched the deal! When I picked it up, the parts guy said it was a gel-cell (same for all the new H-D batteries). It's got a raised oval area that matches up to the oval hole where the battery goes, and there's a bar & shield logo that can be seen thru the hole... kewl - I think I'll paint it! (Message edited by berkshire on September 02, 2006) |
