Yesterday I noticed, through the kitchen window, a big shiny thing in the sky and thought I'd wander up to the shed to insert the XV's battery back into its orifice after giving it a good charging indoors some days previously. To access the battery box, and the ridiculously small underseat fuel tank, the seat hinges upwards from the back and by adjustment of the hinge, stays up. So, battery in, vent tube on, unscrew terminal bolts, *plink*, drop one of the tiny bolts down the front of the battery box. Arse. Peer down the back of the engine in the unlit shed. No bolt visible. Regret passing over the purchase of a magnet onna stick from the pound shop. Try all manner of screwdrivers to see if any of them are magnetic but none are. Try to find super-powerful magnet which will come in handy one day to magnetise things. Gone. Back down to the house for a torch and a long metal kebab stick for fishing-about purposes. Try to find something to magnetise kebab stick with. Wave kebab stick at big home cinema speaker. Think "twat" and give up. Back in bike shed, still no sign of bolt despite prodding with purpose-designed, non-magnetised, very pointy kebab stick. A careful look around the floor, even though the bolt went *plink* (the sound of a small bolt hiding itself amongst lumps of metal), not *donk* (the sound of a small bolt hitting a wooden floor), reveals no bolt. Seat kept falling down on head so removed it for better access. Side panels removed for same. Battery box unbolted and hoiked as far back as it will go. No bolt. Not to worry - a quick look in the other shed turns up two Allen headed bolts of a similar length to the originals. Back into bike shed, turf out bike's toolkit until 4mm Allen key eventually emerges, start to attach cables to battery. *Plink* Allen key falls down the front of the battery box. FOR ****'S SAKE!! Stare in disbelief at useless hands which used to be able to set Mk1 Fiesta points perfectly by feel alone. Shine torch down the same gap, notice Allen key sitting on the side casing of the engine, right next to the lost bolt. Reflect on how funny life can be whilst refitting battery box, side panels, battery and seat. Insert key, press starter button, listen to engine lurch once then the starter motor going clickclickclickclickclick. Remember that you *intended* to put the battery on charge before going to work but decided to wait until later instead. Carefully unscrew battery cable bolts...
Welcome to the club. Time was I could change the needle height on a carb using the naked eye between practice runs. Now I need Foster Grants, large pingfuckit catching tray and plenty of notice to even attempt it. Dropped bits will always manage to reach an inaccessible place by a route so tortuous that it beggars belief. A bit like the propensity for electrical cables of any description to become firmly entangled while lying neatly in a draw. If your life depended getting the same two bits of cable entwined so that you could be hoisted to safety you can be sure they would slip apart in an instant. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Yes and I'd have run an extension cable to the shed with the charger attached before I'd rip the bike apart again. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot banged the rocks together and said: Its these moments that make life (un)worthwhile. Then, a couple of hours later, when its charged, back in bike, and your riding it, that it all makes sense. (or you just don't give a damn for a short while
snip <long and amusing details> In such circumstances I have considered irradiating self with gamma rays and contemplating stealth taxes so I could go green and get enough strength to turn bike upside down and shake it - have settled for pointy things and swearing method. John
Can't you fiddle the connectors onto the terminals? I'd have a fly lead on too and I wouldn't even wait until I'd got a round tuit. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
Is it ok to charge a bike's battery with the cables connected then? I've always been told to disconnect them beforehand. *Thinks* Although, quite what terrible things might happen if the cables were left on I don't know.
have you not heard about those new fangled devices, invented in the 20th century, that can be left in circuit ad infinitum? They have strange names like Optimate, Oximiser & Accumate. Available from Ebayicus and Heinus Gerickus
For the last twenty years I've owned vehicles which contain batteries large enough to be able to hold onto their charge, and to start much bigger engines, so I've haven't needed to constantly remind them what they're supposed to be doing. I'm afraid the prehistoric neccessity to maintain a bike's battery as though it were a feverish "There's a 50/50 chance it might not make it through the night" kitten had passed from my memory, hence my question dear Wessie. I assume, from your rather naughty, and ultimately spankworthy, sarcasticivity, that Optimates and their ilk *can* be used with the battery in situ, wires attached, with no ill effects? That being the case I will now flounce off and look into the purchase of said item. I thank you. *Flounce*
Of course they can, that's why they supply a connector with a fly lead for permanent connection. Just don't leave it plugged up to the bike but not plugged into the mains for very long, or the Optimate will take back what it gave.
It's what everyone does that *I* know. I have mione permanently attched to an Optimate with a fly lead. Ride into the garage, lift the swat and shove the connectors together. It's never caused me a problem with bikes or cars. None that I've discovered, but I'm sure someone will find they have to disagree. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
