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I went to get my bike out the garage and re-install the battery after a winter of being stored and noticed I seem to have lost the 2 bolts that go on the end of the screws in the terminals.
Once Id screwed everything back up without these bolts, the bike acted like it doesnt have a a battery connected at all and did nothing upon starting it.
Can anyone clarify for me if these square bolts are vital in the battery and my bike simply wont start as it stands because I dont have them?
Ive attached a picture confirming the part I mean in case I havent described it well
bikes a 2018 XL1200 CX Roadster.
sorry if this is a silly question, I simply ride a Harley and Im mechanically useless.
also sorry if posted in the wrong place. Just looking for some quick advice!
Thanks!
Last edited by TommyJHH; Apr 15, 2023 at 10:59 AM.
You can buy bolts at dealer, I try to keep one on the bike, because it is easy to drop one. I had one ride on frame for years and 20-30k miles. I have also used metric bolts. Might be the best metal use, not sure. But I havn't noticed corrosion. I have cobbled together stuff at hard store. Bring other bolt with you to match. But I think all my harleys at the moment have a battery bolt in them. But other stuff has hardware store bolts.
Bottiom line is cable needs to be tight. Some have a star washer which may help stay tight.
On the topic of lock washer, when researching bellvelle vs traditional lock washers, neither was thought to do any good. You don't see lock washer in engines. They use loctite. Not that I would use loctite on a batteru.
2. I expect you may not have the tools to diagnose.
3. Take the battery to your local auto parts store and have it load tested to ensure the battery is good.
4. If the battery is good, the Auto Parts store should have some of the correct bolts & nuts for the battery terminals.
5. Make sure you hook the battery up correctly (polarity) positive cable (usually red) to the positive terminal and negative (usually black) to the negative battery terminal.
6. The square nuts are required to make a secure connection from the battery cable to the terminal, without them you may not have a good connection.
7. For future reference, make sure when you take the battery out to put the bolts back into the square nuts in the terminals that way they do not get lost.
Let us know how you make out.
Last edited by CoolBreeze3646; Apr 15, 2023 at 11:19 AM.
They are not bolts but captive nuts that go inside the terminal blocks on the battery. Without them you cannot tighten the screws to get a good connection of the battery leads.
If you go to a battery supplier they probably have loads floating around. If you went to a dealer they ought have some from doing battery changes.
As a last resort you get a square nut and cut it down to fit, it has a 6mm thread.
Doing screws up tight means different things to different people, it is a relative term and meaningless. HD recommend the terminal screws are tightened between 60 to 70 in-lbs or 6.8 to 7.9 Nm.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Apr 15, 2023 at 11:28 AM.
Always keep these bolts when battery exchanging.
A 1/4” long snippet of auto vacuum hose can be stuffed behind the square nut.
Works on many bikes, not all, holds square nut in place.
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Lost battery bolt
