Any special Instrciton on new battery install?

[su_jumptd]

Hello all,
Getting a new Westco AGM battery and was wondering if there was anything special I had to do before, during, or after the install on my 2002 LT?

Many thanks in advance.

[mtrevelino]

The Westco is a good battery. When you reconnect the battery you should turn the key on (but do not start the engine), turn the throttle fully open and closed two times, after that you should be ready to ride.

[su_jumptd]

Thanks for all the input,............I got to thinking about what battery I should buy. Of course, I would like to get the best product for the money but I have two questions.
1) Which battery would work best with my bike? Have been reading several different opinions and/or issues that some batteries have with my 2003 LT (abs glitches, etc.)
2) Started to wonder if the charger that I already have would be the best one to use for (what ever) battery I end up getting. Or, is there a specific battery brand, type, OEM, etc that I need to buy to work the best with this charger? Was also looking for the manual to this charger but no luck. Also, is this charger a maintainance charger, straight charger, trickle charger, emergency charger, etc.? Recommendations on what battery I need to get that works the best with this bike & charger? Thanks again for all your help.
http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/4/8/2/2/battery-charger.jpg
BMW 72 60 7 679 040

[su_jumptd]

:rolleyes: Anyone.....anyone?

[cfell]

There are many thoughts... I went with the BMW replacement because the original died and that was the only one available to get my bike out of a parking lot.

I use a Deltran Gel Battery-tender. Charge fully before use if you have the chance..

Then install with the electrical grease and "just ride it".

[ibbones]

I have an Odyssey PC680 that I like. I also have the YUASA charger hooked up to it. I come back from a ride, plug the bike in, go inside and take off my boots and the green light is usually by then.
I have also heard good things about the Wesco and Panasonic battery but have never used either one.
The only thing I DO want in a battery is that it is sealed and I do not have to "check" it ever again for fluids. Kinda like the "Set it and forget it" thing.

[astuber]

I have the Panasonic AGM battery purchased from Digikey.com. Installed it a year ago and absolutely no problems. I have had it on the charger once or twice in the past year but I do ride the LT almost daily.

[su_jumptd]

1st I'd like to say thanks for all the input on this subject. After spending a few days researching the Panasonic, Westco, Exide Gel, and the generic brand Universal power. I decided to go with the Westco. I was going to get the Panasonic online but some online dealers charged shipping and some didn't, also after I would receive it I would have to charge it up myself. So, I just ended up getting the Westco here in Austin Lonestar BMW, was about average price ($92+tax) as all the online ones but good thing is that Lonestar will charge it up for me and have it ready to go the next day. Thanks again for all the help.

P.S. By the way the charger I have is a trickle charge and will maintain the Westco just fine.

[astuber]

I'm a little confused about your comment on having to charge the Panasonic battery before installation. I simply installed my Panasonic battery and started riding. No charging necessary.

[simoncharles]

Ed,

The charger in the picture is the one that BMW reccomend for gel batteries.

When the alarm is connected I have mine plugged in 24/7, and so far, no problems.

Simon

[su_jumptd]

astuber,
I called some of the online dealer for the Panasonic and they stated that the battery is shipped with only a "minimal" charge on it and that I would have to put a charger on it for approx. 16 hours to bring it to a 1st time full charge. Which more then likely confirms why our local BMW cycle dealer has to charge the new battery I purchased before I can pick it up. Have you heard different?

Simoncharles,
I called our local BMW cycle dealer and asked them about this charger. I did tell them that my dead battery is a gel, but they advised me that it would work fine with the Westco..........I called them back to confirm and they told me that "yes" this charger "should" be okay to maintain the Westco battery. Also can you give me a little more explanation on your comment, I'm a little lost. "When the alarm is connected".

[astuber]

astuber,
I called some of the online dealer for the Panasonic and they stated that the battery is shipped with only a "minimal" charge on it and that I would have to put a charger on it for approx. 16 hours to bring it to a 1st time full charge. Which more then likely confirms why our local BMW cycle dealer has to charge the new battery I purchased before I can pick it up. Have you heard different?
.



I found this on the Panasonic web site:
"Panasonic's batteries are shipped at 100 percent rated capacity, which means they provide full reserve power on arrival. Before shipping, Panasonic tests each battery thoroughly for its electrical continuity, rated Ampere-hour capacity and 100 percent jar-to-cover seal leak air tightness to ensure quality and performance in the field. This eliminates the initial field failures experienced by other standby power batteries - which in turn results in lower maintenance costs for operators."

My understanding from reading about other manufacturers AGM batteries is that they should be fully charged before being stored. Charging before use won't hurt but shouldn't be necessary.

I just took the battery out of the box and installed it in the LT.

[su_jumptd]

astuber...........?
Interesting, then why would the Digi-Key website (a Panasonic distributor) use documentation from Panasonic that states otherwise? My impression from this document is that all Lead Acid batteries need to be fully charged "before" use. Or am I reading this wrong?

This pic below is not good quality but I've provided a link on this forum as well as on the web.

http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/4/8/2/2/charg.jpg
http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T072/1994.pdf
http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/4/8/2/2/charg.jpg

[CajunBass]

I don't have a lot of experience with motorcycle batteries, but I do with trolling motor batteries in bass boats.

I've never seen a battery that came "off the shelf" that couldn't benefit from some charging. Some dealers are better than others about keeping a charge on, but most don't bother. (Note the local dealer talked about here, needed to charge the battery overnight.) I've never gotten one that was flat DEAD, but I've seen some that were pretty close. It probably depends as much on how fast the dealer tuns batteries over as anything.

The battery, a BMW branded Excide, in my 03 LT went dead recently. I mean DEAD. It wouldn't even take a jump start. The bike had been setting for a couple of months, so I took the battery out and carried it home, and hooked it up to my "Guest" battery charger for my boat. According the literature that came with the charger, it will sense the type/size battery and appy the type charge needed. How it does this, I have no idea, but it does seem to work.

Last night I took the battery off the charger, (they're meant to be left hooked up all the time.) and carried it to work and left it overnight in the car. This morning I installed it in the bike, and the bike fired just as soon as I hit the starter.

It will be interesting to see if the battery holds the charge. All I wanted was for it to get me home this morning. It's probably about time to get a new one since AFAIK, this is the original battery. The bike will sit for a day or two before I have a chance to ride it again. We'll see.

[RVB1019]

Just be careful installing the battery in the correct direction.

I made the idiotic mistake of installing the battery backwards (postive cable to negative battery terminal)! I installed the one side fine but as soon as I touched the cable to the other terminal, I new I screwed something up. The terminal began to melt!

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:74Ld_n2e_A6y7M:http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgMP0163.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lgMP0163.jpg&imgrefurl=http://newsbusters.org/node/9643&h=452&w=320&sz=20&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=74Ld_n2e_A6y7M:&tbnh=127&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3DD%2527oh!%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLG,GGLG:2005-31,GGLG:en)

I quickly removed the cable from the terminal. The only damage to the LT was a blown radio-- again (this will now be my third radio). ABS sensors and all other gauges were fine.

I think I read that because the radio draws through so many differnet circuits, it is suspetable to burning out. That would explain why so many radios die!

Luckily for me, I swapped in a tape cassette radio and I hope to get a replacement for it from Becker for under $150. Waste of money, yes but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

By the way, I've used both the Yusma and Odyssey batteries without much of a problem.

[astuber]

astuber...........?
Interesting, then why would the Digi-Key website (a Panasonic distributor) use documentation from Panasonic that states otherwise? My impression from this document is that all Lead Acid batteries need to be fully charged "before" use. Or am I reading this wrong?

This pic below is not good quality but I've provided a link on this forum as well as on the web.

http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/4/8/2/2/charg.jpg
http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T072/1994.pdf
http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/4/8/2/2/charg.jpg

A good question. If you read the first line in description is also says that all batteries are 100% tested for voltage, capacity, and seals during the manufacturing process. I suppose that like CajunBass says, they are trying to cover themselves in case the battery sits of the self for an extended time.

[CajunBass]

Just be careful installing the battery in the correct direction.


I ALMOST did that, but caught it at the last minute. :eek:

[simoncharles]

Ed,

My mistake.

What I meant was that when the bike is parked for some time with the alarm on, the battery drains quite quickly, so I always leave it on charge.

Simon