Accessing the battery on a BMW K1100LT

wtf? I mean; WTF?!?!?!

 

Hehe. They're all like that if they have ABS.

 

You people will buy these piles of shite

 

In message

So it's not (if I remember correctly); both side panels, extract part of
FI 'computer', remove tool tray, undo bolts holding down securing strap,
undo +ve and -ve leads, try to grip battery with only 3mm clearance all
round? It was along those lines on the K75, so you're going to tell me
it's worse on the K1100LT?

 

No, that's about it. Battery's nearly flat so I thought I'd put the
charger on it.

Remove fairing inner panels, remove side panels, disconnect FI
computer, disconnect ABS black box, etc etc etc.

Luckily, on investigation, I found I could just get the charger's
crocodile clips onto the battery terminals without actually removing
the rest of the gubbins, but, Ye Gods.

 

<fx: hollow laughter>

I think that's underneath the battery....

 

Can't you do it through the Aux power takeoff? I always direct hard wire
one in anyway.

A nice Hawker battery is your friend.

 

You realise that you tend to charge these through the ciggy lighter
style connector that's usually hidden somewhere on them, right?

 

Didn't think of that! Preusmably you need a charger with a socket that
fits the power take-off.

Have you tried it? Does it work or is the APT disabled with the
ignition switched off?

Soon, my precious, soon.

 

....and you will continue to be boringly predictable.

 

Not on the K1100. Newer bikes with the canbus then yes, the aux socket is
disabled unless you use a special charger. Easier & cheaper to wire one in
direct to the battery on these.

Excellent IMV.

 

See my reply to Hog. I do know now :-/

 

In your *what*?

 

In message

You *are* going to fit optimate leads, aren't you?

 

In message

I am fairly sure you can go via the APT with the key out. It's on a 10A
fuse, so you should be fine.

 

Decent chargers like Accumate/Optimate have an adapter for these
sockets. Guess how I know.

For charging they do.

 

I have 2 chargers - an early optimate - no adaptor available and an
Aldi one - again, no adaptor.

The K11RS needed a bit of a winter boost, so I read the manual and
thought "**** that!"

I had a look under the saddle, for a minute, then I just split the
charger leads a bit more, removed the sidepanels and connected up with
the crocs. Easy!

I do, however, have one of those solar panels from Maplin, which I
leave plugged into the socket as a top up. Works fine, except
December/January, when the window gets no sun and general daylight
doesn't last long enough.

 

You can get the same connectors for Optimate from Maplin and convert the
solar panel thing to the same system.

 

Well, I removed the charger, fired it up, all fine, replaced the side
panels and then tried firing it up again and there was no whizz from the
fuel pump.

Dead.

Oh ****.

Checked the fuses. All AOK. Flicked the kill switch back and forth. All
AOK, Unplugged and re-plugged in the black box wiring. Still nothing.

All the rest of the electrics worked.

You know that feeling of panic? "Oh, Christ, what have I done?" I
examined all the wiring I could see, with a small torch.

I decided to roll it forward again to have a look behind the right-hand
panel, and then I noticed that I'd left the sidestand down when I rolled
it forward a few minutes before to get some more room. :-/

I *hate* all sidestand ignition cutouts.

 

Thank you for your input, Trotsky.

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