WestCo Battery

[MIAirhead]

I got the battery in the spring, already gone. Even if I leave it on the Battery tender all night, it does not have enough juice to start the bike.
Had to get a jump at work to get home. Anyone else have issue with these batteries. Yes it still under warranty but not the point. I guess tomorrow I'll find out about the warranty is.
I checked the charging system 13.6. I have a endurlast to install when I can get the chace.
I charged the battery with my charger, in the morning about 20 seconds of crank the gone.

[easter85]

I have had several Westco batteries. The last one I replaced recently in my /7 after 6 years just because I got scared of it because of its age. It was still going strong.

I did get a bad one though. I thought I had a starter starting to drag; but, it was the new Westco battery. I made a phone call and Westco sent me a new one pronto. I wouldn't get to excited yet. Just call Westco; I feel sure that they will make it good.

I used to always run Yuasa (sp); but I only got about 3 years out of them. I even run Westco's in my Guzzi. I think they are very good batteries.

[pmdave]

I've run Westco batteries for many years. Generally, I feel they are good quality. But anything can fail. I recently had a Yuasa sealed battery fail at one month of service.

Good on you to check the charging system, and to keep your battery on an automatic charger. However, I have had some questionable chargers, including Battery Tender. One would continue to charge way too long, then if I unplugged it and reconnected it would go to maintenance charge. I'm of the opinion that it would try to overcharge the battery. I no longer use Battery Tender chargers.

I've had good success with the Schumaker Junior automatic charger, which is available from Wal Mart for around $20. I was told by a motorcycle electrical guru that it's good as well as cheap.

With our vintage airheads, it's essential to clean electrical contacts every few years. Scrape the battery terminals clean, and lubricate with battery grease (or petroleum jelly) to reduce oxidation. Don't forget the grounds, including the one near the coils.

Rather than connect the ground wire to the transmission vent bolt, I have connected it to one of the frame bolts under the RH side cover. That avoids stripping the threads in the end cover, and ensures a good frame ground.

pmdave

[Yarddog]

Don't know if they are available for Beemers, however, per Consumer Reports, the Kirkland batteries from Costco are rated very high...I have a WestCo in mine, the P/O installed it, seems to workin' fine, however, it's kept hot with a Battery Tender... which I got from...the MoCo...

[MIAirhead]

When home I use a battery tender, always. Just makes since to keep it peak.
A couple a days ago after a 35 mile to work, battery was dead at work.
I charged it when I got home, did not put on tender, next morning turn over if a few seconds. Just wondering if maybe there is a better battery for my two wheel friend.

Anyone ever try a Tempest, most CCA I find.

http://www.batteryspec.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?action=link&product=30&sub2=300029

[ebeeby]

I had a one year old Westco short out and strand me. Anecdotal I know, but I'm an Odyssey man now.

[tvrla]

Same here - I had a Westco crap out at a year. Beyond the warranty period, so used Odysseys after that. But they used to be $60, not any more! Now I'm into the Panasonics. Great batteriess, years-long shelf life, and last a long long time. Plus they're one of the cheaper sealed batteries out there.

[Braddog]

I had a Westco crap out on me after returning from West Bend in 2007. It worked great during the whole week of the rally. I came home, parked the bike, and didn't start it again for a week. When I tried to start the bike, it was completely dead, not even a dashlight would come on. Battery was toast. I believe it was like 6 years old at the time.

I replaced it with a sealed battery that looks like a Westco clone from Batteries Plus. So far so good.

[osbornk]

I've had good luck with Westco batteries but any battery can fail early. The Westco in my airhead is nearly 10 years old and still working fine. When the last battery went bad, I took the old Westco out of my K75RT and put it in the airhead and put the new battery in the K75. I replaced the original battery in my 03 R1200CLC last spring with a Universal Battery from Batteriesasap.com because the battery was old but still working. The Universal Battery has failed (new one is on the way under warranty) but I reinstalled the original and it is still working. I think my batteries last a long time because the bike stays in an insulated garage and the temperature is never very hot or cold.

Ken

[MIAirhead]

My dealer in GR, MI test and gave me a new one. Warren starts today for one more year. If I make it more then a year I think I will get one elsewhere next time as dealer has only WestCo in stock.

The battery was only 3 months old.

[Mudbug]

Same here - I had a Westco crap out at a year. Beyond the warranty period, so used Odysseys after that. But they used to be $60, not any more! Now I'm into the Panasonics. Great batteriess, years-long shelf life, and last a long long time. Plus they're one of the cheaper sealed batteries out there.

+1 on the Panasonic batteries. I just replaced my original 5 years old original Gel on my K1200GT. I was afraid it would leave me stranded. I chose Panasonic because I have one in my other Beemer. It is sealed and requires no specialized battery charger. Once every three months or so, I charge it. Not necessary though.

[Bill Burke]

I had a two year old Interstate flooded battery drop dead without warning after a 1500 mile road trip. Replaced it with a Westco AGM, which now has a roughly equal two years and roughly same miles on it. We'll see how it goes from here, but it's about to outlast the Interstate. My impression is that batteries remain in the crapshoot category. Some apparently are good for 10 years and some for 10 months.

[Brownie]

"Igor" has had a Panasonic for 4 years..........no burps at all, my "Inga" has a 4 mo old Panasonic!!

Bought both from Digi-key............great price & service!!

[rogermansfield]

I've used Westcos in my RT and /6 for several years. They seem to last 3-4 years for me. I try and keep them charged with a charger that is not "correct" for them. I have read before about using the proper charger for these batteries. Perhaps those getting longer lives use the "proper" chargers?

[shire2000]

Had to replace my Westco battery this past summer. It was over 7 years old. I always used a Battery Tender charger on it. Never used any of the older style chargers on it. Those "incorrect" chargers put out way too much power which can damage the AGM batteries and definitely shorten their lives.

That being said, you can also get a bad battery brand new. When I went to replace my old Westco I could not get one for a price I could afford at that time. So ended up getting a Yuasa AGM. Went thru 2 bad ones from the same batch before I got a good one from a newer batch.

Figured I would try out the Yuasa as I have a local supplier for them and the closest supplier for a Westco/Panasonic or an Odessy is a $100 ferry ride away. The Yuasa was $150 cheaper. Yes, batteries are very expensive here in Canada.

[47512]

I just replaced the Mareg battery on my /6, It was 1 month short of 6 years old, it would still start the bike but it was alittle slow. I replaced it with another Mareg it's the OE battery for the old machines, it fits perfect. It would be nice if the new BMW's would come with a quality battery.

Ken G.

[GeorgeRyals]

The little 1.5 & 1.75 amp battery maintainer type chargers will not bring an AGM battery back from a discharged state (11.6 V) They will maintain one easily. Put your 10 amp charger on it for a few hours and see if it comes back. AGM's need chargers that will do 14.2 volts at least to bring them back from a discharged state.