 BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280 |
Well I just learned an expensive lesson. Cold weather ,and my bike was turning over a little sluggish when I hit the starter button, so being the handy guy that I am , I pulled the battery out for a little look see at the acid level. So what that the battery says maintenance free, I do this all the time with my car batteries, you just peel off the tape on top of the batterie, ignore all the warnings, and viola! the caps are right there just waiting to be removed by me. I peeked down inside the cells with my flashlight and I could see the tops of the plates exposed and not covered with acid, so I carefully added water...not too much, and repaced the battery into my bike and plugged it into my battery maintainer for an overnight charge. Job well done, I congratulated myself. The next day I rode my bike to work and back home and was horrified to see that my proffessionaly maintained batterie just puked acid on my left muffler leaving a permanant scar in the chrome. My bike is parked now while I am awaiting delivery of a TRULY sealed AGM batterie that is in the mail as we speak. If you are interested here is the batterie and where I got it. http://www.batterystuff.com/power-sports-battery/sYTX12-BS.html Why is it that I have to learn everything the hard (and expensive) way? My first marriage being the prime example. Keep the shiny side up...Bob. 
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
sorry to hear it. Mine is a walmart special cause i dropped the original one on its head. I'm gonna go look and see if it's sealed - what the heck, it's a slow day.
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 20
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 20 |
If no one can recommend a better place to buy, or which battery to get, I'm going to pull the trigger and get the same deal Mailman got at BatteryStuff.com. Mine will barely hold a charge, so it's time. $56.00 inc. tax and shipping looks like a fair deal to me. 
Last edited by StevenK; 12/31/2008 3:18 PM.
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485 |
Got a Duracell bike battery (who'd a thought?) at the local Farm& Fleet for about $50 a couple of years ago.
Last edited by blackdog; 12/31/2008 3:18 PM.
"Despite all the amputation, you could dance to a rock 'n roll station..."
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
I recommend these folks Bikebatts.com
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
I am awaiting delivery of a TRULY sealed AGM batterie that is in the mail as we speak.
Don't depair Bob.
If it is truly sealed, you could always drill some holes in the top to check the level.................
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
Keep the shiny side up...
Would that be the LEFT shiny side, or the RIGHT shiny side?? 
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280 |
Drill some holes in the top of the batterie.....GENIUS! I shall not be so easily defeated! And to you Lazy...any shiny side will do. By the way, now I've been eyeing those posts on how to drill out the baffles on the stock pipes, it seems I've got a very shiny new pair lurking in my garage with no acid stains on them. 
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,729 Likes: 5 |
AutoZone batteries work fine, and cost about 35 bucks
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 208
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 208 |
On the subject of batteries. My bike was not started for about 2 weeks and of course it would not start.
So I removed it with difficulty and gave it a good slow trickle charge and when installed the bike started right up.
HOWEVER I cannot get the silly thing back into the holder. I have a 07 Speeedmaster and I cannot stuff it back from whence it came. Is there a special trick to this or am just a flummox?
07 Speedmstr, Long Tors, bags, sissy bar and rack, windshield, engine bars, 2 ww lights, 2 fast eddy stickers and a .45 ACP.
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280 |
It is tricky, first you have to set it on the ledge that it rests on and connect the cables, then you have to tip the top of the battery towards you while shoving it hard towards the bike to set the base in place , finally tipping it upright into position. Trust me I'm getting pretty fast with it. Fast but not smart!
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
Keep that acid-etched pipe in mind when you drill holes in that next battery..... Oh, and you may want to change your online name to MoltenFace while you can still see to type.... 
More flags
More fun!
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1 |
Hae Mailman if you end up learning another expensive lesson with thoes pipes,I got a nice set thats not to expensive.
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,335
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,335 |
Sorry about the battery leaking acid. Hopefully the AGM battery will work much better.
Currently I am still running the OEM battery in my 2002 America, but I am starting to think it is time to look into a replacement battery. The AGM type battery would be my first preference.
Tom
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280 |
Well here is the update. I got the battery about a week ago , I didn't get around to installing it right away. The bottom line is the battery works fine. Although it says it is a direct replacement for the Yuasa, it is just about 1/8th of an inch taller, and the stock battery is a very tight fit, so... I could no longer fit the plastic cover back on the top of the battery. I cut a strip of rubber out of an old inner tube and placed it underneath the chrome tie down strap just so it wouldn't rub on the battery. It doesn't look much different without the cover. All is well and I'm back in the saddle....Yippee, Yi, OH, Tiyay!
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Just sand down the top of the battery. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
While smoking... 
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Re: BIG DUMMY! .... DON'T MESS WITH THE BATTERY !
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,354 |
Wouldn't it be faster, instead of sanding, to just use a cutting torch?  I'm sure Paulie Jr did it once sometime? Probably wasn't wearing safety goggles either.
Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
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