- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 2,788
In defense of the 12N9 lead acid battery system for us kick-starters.
Many here on the forum are into the new fangled and very expensive lithium battery option. Yes they are light and if I would be racing then this would be a way to loose a few pounds and keep drinking my Ginness.
I am going to bark about an old system that is still a good option and much cheaper.
7 years of service on the old battery and it showed the tell tail signs of running out of steam. This battery was in my Interstate 7 years ago when I bought it, and is now 11.99 volts just after a week of sitting when it was last charged. I will relegate this old battery to the workbench as a testing unit for power connections and such as I don’t trust it too much further in the bike for reliability reasons.
Last week I added electrolyte to the new battery and gave it an 8-hour charge at 500 mAh.
Today I checked the voltage and it shows 12.97 volts after a week of sitting.
There is a few detractors who complained that battery acid would get everywhere on the paint so I will show you how I solve the problem with this issue. Two self adhesive backed cable tie mounts, two cable ties, a 35mm film canister with top (clear preferred so you can see into) and a short piece of surgical tubing to fit into the battery overspill tubing that is supplied. A hole drilled in the top cover of the canister with a tight push fit for the surgical tube. All tied together for a cheap system for collecting any acid that may boil off. If you look carefully at the old battery you will see about 1/8th inch at the bottom of the old battery setup of electrolyte. Nothing to spill onto the paint.
As you see here, I use a soft rubber battery pad to take up any vibration on the bottom as well as the backside of the 12n9. If you leave the bike for more than a week I would suggest disconnecting the fuse to eliminate any parasitic phantom power drain. Lead acid batteries do not like discharge to go much below 80 percent of full. That’s what kills them off early. I have been pulling my battery out during winter months and keep it inside from the freezing cold winters of Canada. An occasional trickle charge during non-riding months with the battery charger shown in the pix.
Good luck with yours. Now lets see what can of worms I let myself into. Just like another oil thread…. Let the opinions fly.
Cheers,
Thomas
Many here on the forum are into the new fangled and very expensive lithium battery option. Yes they are light and if I would be racing then this would be a way to loose a few pounds and keep drinking my Ginness.
I am going to bark about an old system that is still a good option and much cheaper.
7 years of service on the old battery and it showed the tell tail signs of running out of steam. This battery was in my Interstate 7 years ago when I bought it, and is now 11.99 volts just after a week of sitting when it was last charged. I will relegate this old battery to the workbench as a testing unit for power connections and such as I don’t trust it too much further in the bike for reliability reasons.
Last week I added electrolyte to the new battery and gave it an 8-hour charge at 500 mAh.
Today I checked the voltage and it shows 12.97 volts after a week of sitting.
There is a few detractors who complained that battery acid would get everywhere on the paint so I will show you how I solve the problem with this issue. Two self adhesive backed cable tie mounts, two cable ties, a 35mm film canister with top (clear preferred so you can see into) and a short piece of surgical tubing to fit into the battery overspill tubing that is supplied. A hole drilled in the top cover of the canister with a tight push fit for the surgical tube. All tied together for a cheap system for collecting any acid that may boil off. If you look carefully at the old battery you will see about 1/8th inch at the bottom of the old battery setup of electrolyte. Nothing to spill onto the paint.
As you see here, I use a soft rubber battery pad to take up any vibration on the bottom as well as the backside of the 12n9. If you leave the bike for more than a week I would suggest disconnecting the fuse to eliminate any parasitic phantom power drain. Lead acid batteries do not like discharge to go much below 80 percent of full. That’s what kills them off early. I have been pulling my battery out during winter months and keep it inside from the freezing cold winters of Canada. An occasional trickle charge during non-riding months with the battery charger shown in the pix.
Good luck with yours. Now lets see what can of worms I let myself into. Just like another oil thread…. Let the opinions fly.
Cheers,
Thomas
