Battery woe

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:08 pm

It appears the winter and my Datatool Alarm (and lack of regular use - ok I bought a car!!!) have seen off my battery.

Currently attempting temporary revival on an optimate (it'll last about 4 days before its flat again).

Any advice on batteries - I'm completely ignorant of how these work on the BM - on the R6 its in the subframe under the seat ie. easy to get to.

Should I get one fitted by an approved BMW dealer (ie. pay through the nose) or can my local hackney shop sort it out?

Comments appreciated.

Ade.

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:24 pm

Battery access is a pain - plastics off, remove fuel tank.
Buy a sealed for life type (Hawker/Oddesey) from Motorworks or similar if you're going to keep the bike.
The OE bmw battery is £60 + vat + fitting at the last count.

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:26 pm

A Buy new battery preferably an Odyssey
B Strap it to bike
C Come to my house
D Fit battery piss easy
E Go home a happy boy having saved lots of money
D Any questions

julian · Post by **julian** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:29 pm

Boxadog 2000 wrote:A Buy new battery preferably an Odyssey
B Strap it to bike
C Come to my house
D Fit battery piss easy
E Go home a happy boy having saved lots of money
D Any questions

Great service

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:21 pm

I have never had to remove the fuel tank

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:07 am

As Bob said, you don't need to remove the tank, just raise it. Easy, Peasy.

Adam

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:30 am

Okally docally, I,ve only ever messed with battery/connections whilst doing other things and the tank has been off anyway. Apologies for the misinformed twaddle I wrote earlier.

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:04 am

mmm. will put on to do list and have a go..

item 1. read cd rom manual
item 2. buy battery
item 3. attempt plastics removal
item 4. go to Boxerdog's
item 5. forget the above and clip on the optimate again.....

if only it was a little warmer....

cheers for the replies.

Ade

winny · Post by **winny** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:53 pm

item 6: jump start from Vespa

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:48 pm

the vespa can barely generate enough power to spark its single plug at full throttle - let alone turn over a 1100cc twin...

I could perhaps flip it on its back and use the rear wheel to friction start the S like a motogp bike

julian · Post by **julian** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:56 pm

Ade

If you can't be arsed to go to Bob's then I'm in W.London if you need a hand.

julian

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:05 pm

Cheers Julian

I'll see how it goes - gave it a good optimating the other day and it seems ok at the mo - I think the cold mornings finish it after its been standing for a few days.

Am annoyingly busy at the moment and havn't had the chance to do much other than sort out work problems of late (he says typing on bike site rather than writing up large tedious snagging list). Am trying to escape to Ally Pally this weekend at some point and may attempt a bike clean which may provoke feelings of pride, remorse and then action on the battery front.

I also need to take off the leaking steering damper and put the Ventura rack back on.

the problems of vehicle ownership

Thanks for the offer - I may take you up on it soon.

Ade

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 11:15 am

Right. read the manual - looks fairly easy (famous last words), today's task is to track down a battery and then attempt the switch.

Julian, will give you a shout if it goes belly up.

Cheers.

Ade

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 2:20 pm

Sorted!

Took more time finding the Datatool manual than anything else!

Couple of fun sparks as I caught the fuel tank with the spanner earthing the +ve terminal.. whilst removing old battery

Unimpressed with the general fiddlyness of the fairing fasteners under the front end - genius placement of pipework next to them...

The wiring is atrocious - cables seemingly just jammed every where and chafing...

Compared with the R6 (fairing off in 5 mins, not much cabling to speak of - racing loom) it has taken over 2 hours - I'm not surprised that service costs are so high.

Still at least its done and seems to work.

Ade

winger · Post by **winger** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 5:09 pm

Hi Ade

If it's your first time thats about par for the course,but after a few times you'll find you can do it in minutes.

Chris