Battery Swap

[gambrinus]

Time for a new battery in my 1100R. Have the battery and am ready to assault the project. Is it any more complicated than pulling the tank and dropping the new battery in? Any hidden dangers lurking? Any quick tips or hints that the peanut gallery would like to offer?

Cheers

[kbasa]

Nope. It's pretty straightforward. Remove and replace. Are you buying the battery already charged?

[gambrinus]

Just got the battery from WestCo? Already juiced. Any tricks to pulling the tank? Gotta say that this is a first for me, Owning a bike that requires a tank drop to swap out the battery...grumble grumble.. Really no other spot for it, so I guess I can't complain too much.

RW

[kbasa]

Um, lessee. You may not need to actually pull the tank. On the R, there are little black panels on the side. You'll need to get those out of the way. On the right side of the tank is a big allen head bolt. Take that out and you can lift the tank without having to necessarily remove it. If you can corral a helper or a block of wood to hold the tank out of the way, you should have good access to the battery.

Hey lorazepam! You ever take the battery out of your Roadster?

[gambrinus]

Thanks for the tip with the block of wood... Still being lazy (It was REALLY monkey ass hot here today) I'll give this a whirl tomorrow. As for the Sportster, doesn't the battery just fall out on it's own from time to time?


Cheers

RW

[jdiaz]

Using the Westco, you may want to protect the positive leads with tape (or salvage the plastic cap off the old battery) to make sure that they never touch the underside of the steel tank. I think the Westco terminals are slightly inboard of the locations on the original 19AH Mareg, so it may not be a worry, but double-check the clearances to be sure.

[lorazepam]

The battery can be accessed with no sweat. Just take out the allen head screw on the right hand side of the tank, and raise it up. there is a rubber strap on the side the battery comes out of, the left, and I believe you might have to move the air pipe out of the way as well. The negative lead is first, disconnect it and pull the battery out till you get to the positive terminal. It is that simple.

[Camshaft]

Is this the same procedure for a 94 R1100RS? How long would the battery replacement take a first timer (but reasonably competent)?

[boofer]

On the R1100RS you won't have to touch the tank at all. Remove seat, air cleaner cover (also 1 electrical connector), intake tube, and you're there. Left side tupperware as well.

Tim

[Andy VH]

The original Mareg battery in my 94 Rs lasted eight seasons. Back then I had a minimum 1/2 hour highway ride no matter where I went, and I put on 12k per year up to 2002. Then I moved, and my riding dropped with next to no daily commute (I worl out of my home). The replacement Westco (actually a relabelled Panasonic battery) only lasted three seasons, and "suddenly, totally" failed right after an 800 mile long weekend ride. I found a direct replacement, exact fit Toyo battery from Breiter Battery in Florida. They shipped it direct to my house in Green Bay WI for $39! So far its on it's third season with no indication of reduced power.
The Toyo (Chinese made) battery is an EXACT duplicate of the Panasonic sealed battery.

I do now use a Battery Tender, and my bike is ready to ride 12 months a year, even here in Wisconsin.