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taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

Old Nov 6, 2007 | 07:00 AM
  #1  
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Default taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

Every time I need to take the battery cables off from the terminals its always a painful task. No room to get at the terminal bolts, no room to pull the battery up, etc. I'm sure everyone has dealt with this before. Can't imagine anyone with big hands trying to stick their fingers between the terminal and the frame. And what is the reason for the phillips head, since you can;t possibly get a screwdriver at it. God for bid if you drop the bolt.

Any advice which makes this job just easier is appreciated....
 
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Old Nov 6, 2007 | 12:48 PM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

My battery has a lip on the top and I use a blade screwdriver to set under the lip and push down to pry up. I only push it up about a half inch to allow a grip on the battery...yep it's tight. Once up I use a 10mm speed driver on the battery bolt. Why would you take it out often?
 
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Old Nov 6, 2007 | 01:50 PM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

Yup, mine's a pita as well. They corrected this for 2008. Terminals are on the top as apposed to the side.

Good advice about the lip spike. I bought a racket 10mm thing also. Seemed that every time I went to whack on some accessory I was told to disconnect the neg.

 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 06:36 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

Thankx guys. I thought I was losing it. that's exactly what I do also. to spikehyre, exactly what Demkay says fr disconnecting neg. side. I've already had to disconnect twice, once for trickle charger adapter, and another for my heated gloves.I'll be disconnecting again in next couple of months for handlebar replacment....
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 10:31 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

So true! I've only actually disconnected it when I replaced the stock ECM. It is a huge pain.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 10:36 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

I have a thin nylon band (the stuff to secure items to wood pallets)wrapped around my battery and crimped. All's I need to do is kift up on the strap, hold the battery up just enough to gain clear acess to the negitive terminal, and undo the bolt while holding up the battery. It's a little tricky, but after a few tries you figure it out.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 10:42 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

And I thought I was clever putting a big zip tie around the battery for the same thing.
Strange minds think alike.


Has anyone ever considered just pulling out the main fuse instead of the cable off the battery terminal?
Reading all the postings here I wondered if pulling it out would amount to the same thing as pulling off the cable.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 11:04 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

ORIGINAL: Citoriplus

And I thought I was clever putting a big zip tie around the battery for the same thing.
Strange minds think alike.


Has anyone ever considered just pulling out the main fuse instead of the cable off the battery terminal?
Reading all the postings here I wondered if pulling it out would amount to the same thing as pulling off the cable.
There's a big warning sticker I got with my ThunderMax that basically says to pull the ECM fuse before you disconnect the battery to preserve the life of the unit. I'll pull just the main fuse, and would like to know if this will suffice.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 11:14 AM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

ORIGINAL: YEFFRO12
There's a big warning sticker I got with my ThunderMax that basically says to pull the ECM fuse before you disconnect the battery to preserve the life of the unit. I'll pull just the main fuse, and would like to know if this will suffice.
they probably tell you to do that because as your messing around with the cable its connecting and disconnecting the circuit as you are removing the screw.
The fast powering on and off nature of the operationis not very good for most electronics. Pulling out the fuse opens the positive half of the circuit and stops it from damaging the elctronics inside.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 12:57 PM
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Default RE: taking off battery cables..why so difficult??

I found no trouble at all disconnecting my battery when I installed my PC III. I just grabbed it and pulled it up about 4" and disconnected the leads. Maybe mine wasnt installed right at the factory. Then again Im an Aircraft Mechanic and used to working in tight spaces so maybe I just didnt realize it was tight.. who knows. I did notice that they packed 10 pounds Of Crap in a 1 pound sackin that compartment. The use of teflon shielding around the battery to keep it from arching was a good idea but it took a lot of room up.
 
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