[Rick Sperko]

My father's day gift was a Yuasa  YTZ14S equivalent battery from Parts Unlimited to put in my right side toolbox. It arrived this week and I made the mounting bracket and put it in today.

I started with a 6"x18" piece of aluminum. Made a paper model, then using tin snips cut it out:


I used a vice block of wood and hammer to shape it. Picked up a black rubber mat and cut it to protect the battery.

Here it is in the toolbox:


Here is the left side of the bike without the battery:


And finally, here it is on the bike:


To be perfectly clear: DO NOT DO THIS! I am now using an 11ah battery. The bike is supposed to have a 14ah battery. Your current battery can turn over the starter for longer than mine can. The concern with 11ah is too little juice causing the spag clutch to frag. I am willing to take the risk, particularly since I almost never use the ES.

A while back Blltrdr recommened this battery here: http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,1875.msg36016.html#msg36016 I agree with him, but you don't have to. My bike turns right over with this battery, perfectly.

Now I just need the get the Ace Air Box and put it in place. I think the bike looks like a  greyhound.

-Rick

[geoffbaker]

Nice! I'm still thinking about doing pretty much the same thing...

my diesel only needs 5A but I have a lead acid battery. I'm betting your 11A gelcel probably weighs no more than my lead acid unit... and could give me twice the power storage which would be helpful in ekeing out my electrical power...

To get high mpg I'm not charging the battery enough so that the system runs down over several hours. With one of these batteries, that could be extended...

ace has also recommended (and I'm looking into) using a 11v-13v step up transformer to up my alternator output at low revs (higher voltage but lower current). This might help me keep the battery charged... I'll be talking to the electronics store guy on Monday on this issue.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread but do you think the gelcel would be worth trying?

[Rick Sperko]

Nice! I'm still thinking about doing pretty much the same thing...

my diesel only needs 5A but I have a lead acid battery. I'm betting your 11A gelcel probably weighs no more than my lead acid unit... and could give me twice the power storage which would be helpful in ekeing out my electrical power...

To get high mpg I'm not charging the battery enough so that the system runs down over several hours. With one of these batteries, that could be extended...

ace has also recommended (and I'm looking into) using a 11v-13v step up transformer to up my alternator output at low revs (higher voltage but lower current). This might help me keep the battery charged... I'll be talking to the electronics store guy on Monday on this issue.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread but do you think the gelcel would be worth trying?

It is actually an AGM battery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA#Absorbent_glass_mat_.28AGM.29 this article shows they are often used for electric vehicles. Price wise, it cost me about $70. I was following your capacitor queries, this might be a good solution for your idling power concern. Apparently, they charge rapidly. You might be able to find an even higher AH AGM that would fit in the KS batter location to extend the discharge even further.

-Rick

[geoffbaker]

It is actually an AGM battery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA#Absorbent_glass_mat_.28AGM.29 this article shows they are often used for electric vehicles. Price wise, it cost me about $70. I was following your capacitor queries, this might be a good solution for your idling power concern. Apparently, they charge rapidly. You might be able to find an even higher AH AGM that would fit in the KS batter location to extend the discharge even further.

-Rick

Don't suppose you have a link to the battery at that price? It's a bit cheaper than I've found on the web just typing in the product number...

[Rick Sperko]

Dennis Kirk: http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp;jsessionid=NPXAU0Q5RB1Z5LA0WTISM4VMDK0OWIV0?store=&skuId=209044

My brain is great at playing down how much I spend. It is $75+ shipping. I found cheaper ones on eBay, but for no real reason other than a good friend of mine works for Parts Unlimited I felt safer with that brand since I was not going to pay Yuasa prices.

-Rick

[geoffbaker]

Dennis Kirk: http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp;jsessionid=NPXAU0Q5RB1Z5LA0WTISM4VMDK0OWIV0?store=&skuId=209044

My brain is great at playing down how much I spend. It is $75+ shipping. I found cheaper ones on eBay, but for no real reason other than a good friend of mine works for Parts Unlimited I felt safer with that brand since I was not going to pay Yuasa prices.

-Rick

thanks Rick!

[1Blackwolf1]

  Looks good Rick.  Will.

[Rick Sperko]

Thanks, Will.

I was not sure if I would like it, but I really do. I think it will look great with the Ace Air Box (patent pending:) chromed on both sides.

-Rick

[ace.cafe]

Rick,
Looks good!
Just be careful that nothing can touch those terminals when the toolbox is closed.

Airbox went out yesterday via Priority Mail, and if they ran the trucks over the weekend, you might get it Monday.

[1Blackwolf1]

  We'll have to compare pictures when we both get the air boxes installed.  Will.

[Blltrdr]

Rick I'm glad to see that someone (you) took the initiative to put that battery in their ES Bullet. I did the research to make sure that battery would fit and emailed the guys at Yuasa to make sure that battery would be sufficient for the ES Bullet. I am very happy to see that this setup works great for you. These batteries hold there charge longer and also have more CCA than their lead/acid counterpart.

Like you pointed out the AH difference is the only thing to possibly be worried about, but time will soon tell if there is a negative to this setup. Keep everyone posted on your findings.

By the way, i like the way this has opened up your frame. Looks great!

I'm sure others will follow suite as soon as you give a full performance update.

[Rick Sperko]

Thanks for the info Blltrdr, I have been using the electric start today just to test it and the bike turns right over. It is working well.

Then I started taking my gearbox apart to replace the clutch lever and see why I am popping out of 5th. I gave up taking apart the gearbox for now, and the reassembly is not going well. It is now after midnight and before I break anything I am stopping for the night. Hopefully I will get to ride the bike again soon. I am sure some sleep and the light of day will show me what I messed up.

-Rick

[luckylefty]

i am riding the 500 military es..so which battery model i should get that will have the same specs as the stock but smaller in size...i am not really good with electrical stuff.

[Rick Sperko]

As far as I know, there is no battery with the same speccs that will fit. I did quite a bit of searching. The Yuasa listed above and its clones are the best we can find.  I had to file the bottom left corner of my bracket, so 1/8" deeper would not have worked.

While this battery is not the same spec, when I push the starter button - pow it starts, instantly.

-Rick

[Blltrdr]

One thing I did notice Rick is that you need a version with the terminals flipped so you have more room for that positive terminal. I could have sworn when researching the battery you could get it with the terminals in either configurations. I guess you will have to be extra cautious while working on that POS terminal.

The positive side is,  it looks better than stock!