Battery Arcing with new covers

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Sep 28, 2014 | 11:56 PM

izzyryder

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Road Warrior

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From: USA

Battery Arcing with new covers

For anyone that has a newer style smooth black battery box cover, coat the inside of it with some duct tape. I recently had some arcing issues going on (caught it before the terminal melted completely). Bike wouldn't start , I'd get misfires, no throttle response.. Bike was running like crap.

Funny thing is I've been running the cover for over a year with no issues. Eventually the connector from the battery tendor pigtail and the cover met. Anyways, after it was fixed there were zero issues.

So if you're running this cover, just for some insurance, line the upper inside with duct tape.

Sep 29, 2014 | 12:09 AM

fxdlx

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From: north of the south pole

I wouldn't. Duct tape is conductive.

Sep 29, 2014 | 07:47 AM

izzyryder

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From: USA

It's not real (aluminum) duct tape, it's the plastic grey duct tape. Which (I think but could be wrong) isn't conductive?

Sep 29, 2014 | 07:55 AM

tomt

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From: Huntley, IL

Mine 04, has a plastic cover that goes over the battery, Then the metal one goes over that.

Sep 29, 2014 | 08:07 AM

Reindeer

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From: Suburban Mpls, Minnesota

I had the same issue with mine when I installed it. I covered the inside with a couple layers of electricians tape.

Sep 29, 2014 | 10:22 AM

izzyryder

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Joined: Mar 2012

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From: USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reindeer

I had the same issue with mine when I installed it. I covered the inside with a couple layers of electricians tape.

Yeah I kind of figured it couldn't be an isolated incident.

I also put some electrical tape over each of the terminals.

Sep 29, 2014 | 10:47 AM

fxdlx

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Posts: 1,181

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From: north of the south pole

Or cut a piece of plastic from a milk jug and tape it in place.
Yes the grey tape is conductive. Not as much as the metal, but who needs the drain the their battery.

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Sep 29, 2014 | 08:03 PM

DonN

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Joined: May 2009

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From: Manila, Philippines

I silicon glued some rubber from an old tube.

Sep 29, 2014 | 09:25 PM

#10

slyedog

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Joined: Aug 2013

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From: Hawkeye state

Undercoating, liquid tape, bedliner spray, many things could work. In my wide the battery is deep enough in I don't see any way of terminal contact occurring.