Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: squire on July 27, 2013, 02:03:06 am

Title: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 27, 2013, 02:03:06 am
How do some of you get a replacement battery installed? I spent four hours today trying to install my new Motorbat battery without success. I tried every configuration of terminal ( the battery has adjustable terminals) and cable routing. I'm ready to reinstall the old battery or go pickup one of the new miniature batteries. I'm not a mechanic ( but a mechanical engineer) but without putting new fittings on the cables I'm at a loss. I even put a nice weld bead on my chrome fuel tank when I touched it with a wrench and ZAP.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: GSS on July 27, 2013, 02:38:00 am
The original connectors are pretty flimsy and the configuration doesn't work for most non-OEM batteries. Most folks here have replaced those with heavy duty connectors from autoparts or hardware stores. It will also make it easy to connect your new battery.

GSS
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 27, 2013, 03:09:23 am
Thanks. That's what I found odd, knowing the fittings are flimsy I tried everything to pull or twist them till they came off but no luck, they are there to stay. Guess I'll cut them off and pick up something different. My negative lead is none too long that's why I was hesitant to cut the cable if it wasn't necessary. My original battery is still usable but I was being proactive by replacing it. I have a new chain I'll be putting on to replace the original after reading some of the chain and sprocket horror stories on here. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: wildbill on July 27, 2013, 08:19:29 am
mine went on my c5-what have you got
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 27, 2013, 03:53:17 pm
I have a C5 as well.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: ROVERMAN on July 27, 2013, 07:41:17 pm
Do not wish to sound condescending but, i think you may want to leave this to a professional. Melting wrenches on batteries is scary and dangerous.
Please don't take offense, Robert & REnfield.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: Arizoni on July 27, 2013, 07:55:42 pm
I guess the new battery doesn't have terminals with more than one screw thread in them?

The new battery I bought has two different threaded holes in each terminal along with some brass spacers.  That allows a number of combinations of attaching the wires.

The only place I could have gotten into trouble is they sell two different batteries in the size I needed.  The difference is the + and - terminals are reversed.

Had I bought the wrong battery there is no way my power and ground leads would have been long enough to attach without splicing in some extra wire.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 27, 2013, 09:00:11 pm
Do not wish to sound condescending but, i think you may want to leave this to a professional. Melting wrenches on batteries is scary and dangerous.
Please don't take offense, Robert & REnfield.

In 60 or so years of working on my bikes and cars I've had far more damage done to my vehicles by dealers than by my toying with them. The last time I took a bike to a dealer the tires were installed backward and the alloy rims damaged.....no thanks.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: ROVERMAN on July 27, 2013, 09:06:55 pm
No problem man, just had to mention it.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 27, 2013, 09:11:28 pm
No problem man, just had to mention it.

I'm not against dealers, when I retired from my real job I worked at dealers for a few years but not as a mechanic. If I had an RE dealer I could trust I would take it to him but unfortunately I don't. I'll figure the battery out. Thanks for your suggestion though.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: TWinOKC on July 27, 2013, 11:40:50 pm
The most important thing is to get a replacement that is the correct size and the terminals are on the correct side.  This is one I had good luck with.
http://www.batterystuff.com/powersports-batteries/sYTX14AHL-BS.html

The price was right and delivery was quick. 
I am sure there are others out there that will work just fine.

On mine, the battery terminals went toward the inside.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: Bulletman on July 28, 2013, 01:45:09 am
I'm not against dealers, when I retired from my real job I worked at dealers for a few years but not as a mechanic. If I had an RE dealer I could trust I would take it to him but unfortunately I don't. I'll figure the
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: wildbill on July 28, 2013, 01:59:09 am
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/wildbill2010/P1050858_zps98be18f3.jpg)

(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/wildbill2010/P1050861_zpsd107c088.jpg)

(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/wildbill2010/P1050860_zpse63125cc.jpg)

(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/wildbill2010/P1050859_zps9c8d3184.jpg)
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: Arizoni on July 28, 2013, 02:43:06 am
The batteries shown in the link and the photo show what I was talking about.

The battery TWinOKC posted the link too has the negative terminal on the left side which seems to be the way the C5 is set up for.

The battery in the photos wildbill shows has the positive terminal on the left side like the one I bought.  It works well in the G5.

I don't know which battery the B5 uses but if you own one be sure to buy the battery with the same + and - terminal locations as the one that's installed on your bike.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: TWinOKC on July 28, 2013, 03:12:38 am
The + (on mine) is on the inside, toward the front of the bike.

Another way you could say it is + is on the left side of the battery when installed.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 28, 2013, 03:28:57 am
Thanks to everyone who responded. I have the same battery as Wildbill which I purchased from the dealer in California. By coincidence, before seeing Bill's pictures, I went out and bought the same cable fittings and I'm up and running. Even with these different fittings it is definitely a tight squeeze. I wasn't able to hook the Battery Tender leads due to space restrictions but I'm going to hook the leads up to the outside fittings which aren't used now. I hope this battery lasts a long time. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: wildbill on July 28, 2013, 04:12:36 am
appears to be a very good battery with instant start up - even if left for several weeks.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: squire on July 28, 2013, 04:49:39 am
According to the reviews I've read they're awesome.
Title: Re: Installing battery
Post by: wildbill on July 28, 2013, 06:47:13 am
mine had not been ridden for several weeks and it's been 0 to -4 daily. just did a check with a multimeter and it's sitting on 12.87 volts.
as for my hi ace-the battery had no go whatsoever and registered 0.07 -looks like a replacement here tomorrow