Subject: LOOPFRAME BATTERIES
Author: Prusnek
Date: Oct 17, 2004, 7:43 AM
Post ID: 1717713945
All tractor batteries are not the same; I just went through this on
my 2 loops this spring. Basically it boils down to the amount of lead
plates in them, the more plates the more cold cranking amps. If you have
an opportunity to pick up a cheap one and an expensive one you can feel
the difference. I was able to buy a couple of new 'blems' at the local
battery place for ten bucks apiece, they tested at something like 450
amps, and they're really heavy.
Like Greg says, if the charging system works and you maintain them,
they should last a long time. You should check the electrolyte at least
a couple times a season, and keep it on charge if you don't ride it for
over a month.
Another thing to look at is your connections; a rusty ground can do
you in (battery to battery tray, and battery tray to tranny), as can a
crimped (instead of soldered) connection at the battery terminal. I've
seen green corrosion creep up under the insulation on the positive lead
and cause problems.
John Prusnek
| Today I went on a 200mile jaunt in southern NY. Nice day. Halfway through the trip I lost all electrical facility except ignition. Headlight, taillight, horn dash lights out! One of my buddies told me that he had seen my headlight getting dimmer and dimmer. I was able to make it home without getting arrested. When I the road I checked all connections, looked at fuses - all was OK. (Last week when I went to the Guzzi breakfast I mentioned to Joe Casey that the battery was getting weak, so I shoulda taken action sooner.) I have had a 12v Yasua 300cca battery in my Ambo for about 3 years. I guess the battery is wasted because I took it to Autozone this evening and they told me that I only have 41 of the original 300 cold cranking amps left. So, I bought an Autozone battery 12v 300cca designed for garden tractor which is what Joe Casey recommended last week. So should the Yasua battery have lasted longer? About how long do these cheaper garden tractor batteries last? And... since the bike was running OK why didn't the generator continue to power the lights?? Bob |