Saturday, June 15, 2013

Oiy Vey (slap my forehead)

Like the rest of you, I want what I want.   When I was getting my bike ready for the highway, I told my mechanic that I wanted a good battery.  We discussed this and that about battery types and I decided to just get a regular sealed lead acid, rather than those new LiPo or AGM even though they may be better as I didn't want to have to purchase a new charger/maintainer.

Last Saturday my battery arrived and I decided to install it myself  (read here) .    You will read where I mentioned that this battery was only 12 amps,  but the one that was removed was 14 amps


Here is my new battery, notice the model number,  YTX12 xxx   which was installed last Saturday.   Now, I am not really happy about having a battery of less capacity but I thought I was "stuck" with it, for now.   I was actually thinking of buying another one of the correct amperage

Last Saturday when I arrived at EMS: Essential Motorcycle Services they were busy so I told Ted I would take care of installing it

Bobskoot, bESS:  "Ted, where is my battery ?"

Ted:  "It's under the staircase"

bESS:  "thank you"

My mistake was not going "under the staircase" to obtain it.   There was a table next to the staircase where there looked to be a new battery waiting for me.   So I grabbed it and found that it was smaller than the original one and I had to put a wooden spacer Under the battery so that it would fit under the battery bracket .   Anyway the battery was replaced and I made my way home and parked my bike.   All week it was bothering me that this battery was under spec'd

Yesterday night I was looking at my photos and remembered that I was at EMS when Ted unboxed my battery.  I forgot that I snapped a photo of the chemical pack being emptied into the empty cells


Here's where I noticed the model number of this battery was  YTX14 xxx    which meant that the correct battery was ordered.   Because the chemicals have to be absorbed by the plates in the battery it has to sit for a few hours before use and the reason that I left and came back later, but grabbed the wrong battery to install.

I contacted Ted and sure enough, my battery was still under the staircase waiting for me and somehow I must have installed a new looking battery which belongs to someone else

On the way home tonight I stopped by to pick up my 14 amp Yuasa battery


It was still on the shelf under the staircase.   Below is a closer look


I put it into my car to take it home


I dug out my socket set and torx bits and went to work.  First I removed the seat


and then I had to grab my screwdriver and torx bit


I eventually swapped out the batteries .


The correct 14 amp Yuasa on the left, and the 12 amp Interstate on the right.   I don't need the wood spacer anymore as this battery is the correct size

There's nothing like having to do a simple job twice but now all is well and my bike is ready.   I might do a windshield wind test on the highway this weekend to see how my spacer worked


19 comments:

  1. Good one Bob! You must feel better with the correct battery in place.

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    Replies
    1. Erik:

      I always like to buy the highest capacity battery for all my vehicles. I have to park my bikes outside all year, even during Winter so I needed the bigger one. When I installed the 12 amp one I was still going to replace it before Winter to get the right one

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Nikos:

      I thought the battery I grabbed WAS under the stairs. How did I know you had to open a door first. I thought the wrong one was ordered

      Delete
  3. I saw the 6th photo and thought you wrecked the Vette, upon closer inspection I realized that's a pretty shiny workbench.

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    1. Troubadour:

      That was the cement floor of the carport. It looks shiny as I always put down a metal plate so the kickstands don't dig in.

      Delete
  4. If the bike is going to just sit in your carport, then it doesn't really matter which battery is installed.

    When are you going to announce that the R1200R has been sold and you are taking the V-Strom on your trip? Based on your posts on the Beemer, it sounds like your dislike and dis-trust for it is growing as your departure date gets closer.

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    1. Richard:

      I haven't ridden my Vstrom in nearly 3 weeks. I am trying to get used to my "R". I wished I had a higher seat but don't think I can find one before I leave.

      There is a reason I may take my Vstrom instead but it is always ready. I don't need to prepare it for a long distant trip. Would just need new sprockets and chain

      Delete
  5. Bob: It's good that you now have the correct battery. Your Yuasa AGM is far superior to an Interstate. I've not had good service from Interstate.

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  6. With a little digging I found that your YTX14 battery is 12anp according to Yuasa.

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    1. David:

      You may be right BUT the YTX14 battery is larger with larger plates, thus should have higher capacity. For my car I have always preferred Interstate and I have always had good service from them.

      I was reading about Shorai batteries and I may try one "next time"

      Delete
  7. Bob,
    This sounds SO much like something that Coop guy would do.

    Glad you got it resolved.

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    1. Coop:

      You are more organized than me. I can't see you doing something stupid like this. I am happy to have a new battery, not that the old battery is bad but it was Original so at least 3 years old and I know it was abused when I got the bike. It took several days to get the battery up to full charge when I bought it

      Delete
  8. Bob:
    The 14 is so obviously the right battery. It even says YTX14-B(ob)S(coot) right on the sticker. Glad you got in in, in time for Oregon.

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    1. Chris:

      Sharp eyes you have. Now I know I've got the right one installed. I may bypass Oregon this year. I have ridden to Oregon for the past 5 years, not unless I head there on my way back but I may be a bit time limited on my return route as I may dilly dally too long in Ontario.

      Delete
  9. Now you can......charge on with your trip!

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    1. Ken:

      You are too far south for me this trip. The closest I can come is Cody, WY my next trip should take me farther south into Utah and CO.

      My bike is ready, now it's just packing and unpacking trying to figure out what I don't need to bring

      Delete
  10. Ed:

    Stupid me. I grabbed the wrong one but sitting on the table, next to the stairs looked to be a brand new battery, so I thought it was mine.

    A bit of extra work but the good thing is that I now know how to set my clock, but all my trip meters reset to Zero

    ReplyDelete