1972 Commando battery straps.

Can anyone tell me how the small rectangular metal tabs locate on the battery carrier?
Where do they attach and why is the L shaped bracket so long?
Cheers Hillbone.

The tabs hook into holes in the front and rear of the battery tray. No idea why the hold down bracket is so long.

I typically make my own. I bend a piece of 14 gauge steel into a small angle (5/8" x 3/8"), and make hooks from 3/16" rod. I make the angle long enough to suit the battery (3/16" clearance hole in each end), and bend a dog-leg in the rear hook so that it reaches the hole in the rear of the tray. The hooks are threaded 10-24, and I use nyloc nuts to secure it. Works a treat.

hillbone said:

Can anyone tell me how the small rectangular metal tabs locate on the battery carrier?
Where do they attach and why is the L shaped bracket so long?
Cheers Hillbone.

Click to expand...

I would be surprised if you have a battery the right size to use the original-type hold down. Also, you probably would need to put the battery in facing the oil tank to keep from shorting the terminals. The bar is long so the straps can be more or less vertical. There are several threads here where people have posted their hold down solutions. Here's mine:

velcro is the only friend you'll need... applied on the back side of the battery an rear vertical face of the battery tray

olympus said:

velcro is the only friend you'll need... applied on the back side of the battery an rear vertical face of the battery tray

Click to expand...

I use the industrial "velco" knock off from 3M called Dual-Lok. A 3"x2" strip along bottom of tray and a mating section on the battery bottom seems to hold really well.