Battery

[Matt_Harrington]

Of course, if you have loads of spare cash, you could fit an Odyssy battery. They are very good but expensive. Also take up a lot less space than conventional (like most AGM batts)...

[royhall]

I have found a bit of a problem with AGM batteries in that they are slightly taller than standard and the leads aren't quite long enough to reach. Most of my leads did fit after a bit of rerouting but on the 350 I had to replace with slightly longer leads.

I thought it may just have been Motobatt so I tried a different brand this time and that's the same. I'm told it's because they have a circuit board on top so that adds height. Never opened one up so don't know if that's true.

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[Pauarc]

Hi Martin
When I lifted my cb750 engine out I made a platform just in bit higher than bike frame the put jack under engine with a piece of wood on jack and then slid it out I did it on my own but if you got help even better I left on platform to work on
Paul

[royhall]

They are truly heavy engines. Well done doing it on your own.

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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Not sure if it applies to motor cycle batteries, on cars many but not all manufacturers specify a casing type such as Type 019 that applies to two of our vehicles. This dictates the layout & type of connection lugs, battery height, width & length in mm.

When looking for a replacement battery I search by casing type, Ah & cca I then double check the dimensions as there seems to have been a drift for selling some 019 types that are not quite the original dimensions. I suspect that manufacturers are looking to make batteries that fit a wider range of vehicles by ignoring some of the fine details.

I bought a replacement Varta battery for a BMW Mini some years ago from Eurocarparts - it was very cheap at the time compared with everything else. When I came to fit the battery it was not tall enough - it was impossible to fit the connections due to the battery location as it would have shorted on the bodywork of the battery well. I managed to make it fit by standing it on a thick peice of Polystyrene sheet. Far from ideal - the battery failed a few months out of warranty.

Below video shows AGM technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2QwntIO4Mk

[Oddjob]

I tend to try and find the original battery as fitted by Honda, see what's it's measurements are then see what available in replacements. In the 500/550 range the AGM batteries are 1mm taller, 161mm as opposed to the standard 160mm. I doubt 1mm would cause any problems. Width and depth are the same.

[royhall]

All mine have been specified for the relevant bike and have been between 6 and 8mm higher.

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[K2-K6]

Looking at Ted's link, this associate one came up

 https://youtu.be/8CxFpIoKwy0?si=p__DBh2uaozMN8L7 interesting just to see the process.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Looking at Ted's link, this associate one came up

 https://youtu.be/8CxFpIoKwy0?si=p__DBh2uaozMN8L7 interesting just to see the process.

Interesting video - I have read about how to de-sulphinate lead acid batteries previously the video method looks as though it can be dangrerous.

On later smart chargers like my C-TEK there is a Reconditioning mode that they advise you only use once a year on a battery - I belive it uses pulse charging at higher voltages to reverse the effects of sulphination.

[Martin6]

Hi Martin
When I lifted my cb750 engine out I made a platform just in bit higher than bike frame the put jack under engine with a piece of wood on jack and then slid it out I did it on my own but if you got help even better I left on platform to work on
Paul

Neat idea. I have a couple of mates offering to lend some muscle. I'll remove the ancillaries, including the exhaust flange fixings (the parts that screw into the head). But I'll leave in the stator / dynamo, clutch etc. and see how we get on.

Your idea, plus with some 4"×2" strapped to the barrels, to lift it each side, should work. It doesn't matter if I scratch the frame getting it out, as I'm planning to strip it and paint it up. Getting it back in though...!

[JezzaPeach]

Re the height of batteries, I think some, maybe my Motobatt AGM, (which has proved excellent) had a section that can be removed making it less tall. I didn’t spot it initially when struggling to fit it.

[Jan B]

Very good experience with Motobatt also. Over 4 years in use without any issue. Cold storage during winter with trickle charger attached.