The number one tip we give every new member is to replace your stock wet cell battery with a sealed gel cell battery ASAP. You will avoid a lot of starting and performance problems with this simple modification.

Suggested batteries are... look up stuff to go here...

Does anyone have part numbers for the Yuasa and Wesco MF batteries?

My local shop looks at me like deer in the headlights.

I remember someone saying Sears sold them as the Die Hard, but Wesco was out of stock until July or something.

Thanks

The Yuasa High Perf Maint free battery is YXT14AHL-BS, available at a lot of places online and in stores.. Some points...
It has 20 CCA (cold cranking amps) MORE than the Westco, for abt the same money. Don't know abt any comparisons btw Sears or any other brand that might fit..
If you buy it online, it may come to you DRY (mine did), with the electrolyte. You will have to add the fluid, then charge overnite. Don't let this deter you...this is half the fun!! Some places are now filling them and shipping 'wet'.
Whichever brand you chose...get a MF asap. It will help your ride run better, and you'll be glad not to have to do one more pre-flight check...

Sears has the Yuasa battery under the DieHard label (Part# 44005). Several of us have that one. Might be a tad more expensive than Westco or Yuasa direct but with no shipping charge, probably about the same. Plus the joy of instant gratifications (<singing> [/]Don't care how, I want it now![/I]) I'm looking at the instructions that came with it and it says "Yuasa Battery Inc, Reading PA"

Yep, that is the one I just got. Makes all the difference in the world. Starts easier and can sit longer with out needing to worry about battery dying.

Ok...So I went to Sears to buy the MF battery. OMG...it was $80! Thats just crazy insane! So then I drove all over town and found various other stores that had wet batteries for $30 or so...but I figured I should pass on them and keep looking for a MF...I mean if I buy another wet I'm just gonna end up with acid and crap all over my bike again, right?


Bleh...

$80 vs $1000 for a stator replacement? How much was your junction box repair?

You can get the same Sears battery direct from Yuasa cheaper, at least through mail order/internet sales. Not as quick as walking out of Sears with it, but save a few buck. Westco batteries are also good and can be found. I think folks have recommended Batteries Plus as a source.

The first thing we suggest to all new vulcan owners (new or used) is to replace the stock wet cell battery with a Sealed Glass Mat battery. It will help save your electrical system from Acid damage, greatly reduce your weekly maintenance effort for the battery (no water to check, no acid to clean up), and it will prevent bike performance problems.

The two batteries recommeded by the group are the:

WestCo (stock # 12V14L-B)
http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid=14&vid=1&mid=150

Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS
http://www.yuasabatteries.com

Make sure you get the sealed battery folks ,not the wet cell ones where you have to keep adding water.

Sears in some places, also carries motorcycle batteries and has the Yusa one
(#44005)

RB

More good info

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [vn750archives] WestCo and Yuasa batteriesDate: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 05:24:01 -0800 (PST)From: Vince Hancock <unclegomer@yahoo.com>Reply-To: vn750archives@yahoogroups.comTo: vn750archives@yahoogroups.com

[Source: Ken Eng & Dan Morgan]

Both the Westco and Yuasa MF batteries are of the AGM
technology. Yuasa has a policy of not shipping theirs
with the acid in them. After adding the acid and
sealing it up it is the same as the Westco unit. With
an AGM battery the acid is absorbed into plates and
separators inside the battery. Therefore there is no
liquid inside the battery case to leak out.

From the Westco site:
These sealed batteries are built to perform. Multiple
features like Absorbed Glass Mat technology showcase a
completely sealed and maintenance-free battery that
provides the power needed for motorcycles.

Features
Maintenance-free
Sealed design
No liquid
Zero corrosion
Absorbed glass mat technology
Resists vibration damage.
Very low self-discharge rate
Higher cold cranking amps than stock wet batteries
Extra heavy duty terminal design


From the Yuasa site:
These sealed batteries are built to perform. Multiple
features like Absorbed Glass Mat technology showcase a
completely sealed and maintenance-free battery that
provides the power needed for motorcycles.

Features
Maintenance-free
Sealed design
No liquid
Zero corrosion
Absorbed glass mat technology
Resists vibration damage.
Very low self-discharge rate
Higher cold cranking amps than stock wet batteries
Extra heavy duty terminal design

The Maintenance Free Battery
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Technology is an advanced
battery design used in Yuasa's Maintenance Free
Batteries that eliminates water loss. Once it's filled
with acid the battery is permanently sealed - so
you'll never need to fill it with water or check the
acid level.

Long Life
Because of its lead calcium design, the AGM battery
will hold its specific gravity more than three times
longer than conventional lead antimony types. This
means much longer periods between ! charges when the
battery is used in a standby mode, like winter
storage.

And to remain factory-fresh the AGM battery is shipped
dry along with its own pack of high-gravity acid
that's added at the time of installation.

Sealed, Non-spillable
Once filled with acid from its special packs, the AGM
battery is virtually maintenance free. It's totally
sealed and all of the acid is absorbed in the special
plates and separators, so there is no need to worry
about acid leaks on valuable vehicle parts and
accessories.

Ken
NJ

----------------------------------------------------------------
Actually both batteries are the SAME. The difference is that Westco fills
the battery with electrolyte and charges it before shipping it to you or the
dealer. Yuasa has you do it for them. They both use the exact same
technology. The terms used differ slightly but in all ways, the same
technology. Westco says AGM or Absorbed Gas Mat technology whereas Yuasa
says they use advanced gas recombinant technology. It's the same thing
folks. It's all a copyright thing. If both used the exact same terms, one
would be paying royalties to the other. Here's something else. Westco uses
the term "valve-regulated design" when describing their battery. Guess What?
Yuasa says the EXACT SAME THING. Let me quote from Yuasa:

"Yuasa's innovative sealed VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) batteries are a
new generation made possible by advanced gas recombinant technology. These
include the YT and YI series batteries. We refer to them as "sealed VRLA
batteries" here."

The reason the Yuasa is cheaper? They don't have to pay someone to fill and
charge the battery before shipping it out.

Dan Morgan



-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [VN750] WestCo Battery and ChargerDate: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 04:54:37 +0000From: Pete Morton <mortonp@adelphia.net>Reply-To: VN750@yahoogroups.comTo: VN750@yahoogroups.com

WestCo has a 10% discount and free shipping special on purchase of a
MF battery and charger combination. See: http://tinyurl.com/236sw
(battery shown is for the VN750)

The charger charges the battery in three stages. First it charges
at 1.2A until the battery voltage reaches 14.3 volts, then maintains
14.3 volts until the charging current drops to 0.2A, and then
maintains 13.8 volts indefinitely. (The charging cycle restarts if
the charging current should increase to 0.2A.) The three-stage
charging process prevents the battery from being overcharged and
allows maintaining battery charge over extended periods of battery
non-use.

A cable is provided with the charger for permanent connection to the
battery while installed in the bike. The charger may be connected
to the cable and the battery charged without removal from the bike.

I just received mine. Looks like a good system. I'll install the
battery in the 750 tomorrow.

-Pete, 2002 VN750 solid black (salvaged)
Finksburg, MD VROC #12468

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [VN750] WestCo Battery and ChargerDate: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 04:54:37 +0000From: Pete Morton <mortonp@adelphia.net>Reply-To: VN750@yahoogroups.comTo: VN750@yahoogroups.com

WestCo has a 10% discount and free shipping special on purchase of a MF battery and charger combination. See: http://tinyurl.com/236sw
http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid=14&vid=1&mid=150
(battery shown is for the VN750)

The charger charges the battery in three stages. First it charges at 1.2A until the battery voltage reaches 14.3 volts, then maintains 14.3 volts until the charging current drops to 0.2A, and then maintains 13.8 volts indefinitely. (The charging cycle restarts if the charging current should increase to 0.2A.) The three-stage charging process prevents the battery from being overcharged and allows maintaining battery charge over extended periods of battery non-use.

A cable is provided with the charger for permanent connection to the battery while installed in the bike. The charger may be connected to the cable and the battery charged without removal from the bike.

I just received mine. Looks like a good system. I'll install the battery in the 750 tomorrow.

-Pete, 2002 VN750 solid black (salvaged)
Finksburg, MD VROC #12468

I have a sealed battery from www.batterymart.com. It has been working well all season and came with a year warranty. Mike "89 vn 750

Walmart has a schumacher <SPELL> that does basically the same thing with a permanent plug as well. 1.5 amp, 14.something volts, then to 13.2 for indefinate period. will also restart if loaded.
less than 20.00

I like mine.

Hey:

Thanks for this info. I literally saw this while working in my cage, (wireless internet RULES!!), and jumped onto the Westco site and ordered it on the spot.

Arrived four days later ready to go. Even fully charged.

Ran it almost all the way down before I realizesd what my problem was.

Not the R/R, or the Stator. Seems like some idiod, (me) put on a neon license plate frame, and it just dawnwed on me that it was likely sucking more amperage than my weak electrical system was putting out. Duh!!

Anyway, I swapped it for the stock light, and even put LED tail/brake lights in to cut the draw.

Lesson learned.

D

Got the Die Hard (Part# 44005) yesterday. Filled with Electrolyte, charged overnight, installed this morning, and the VN rolled over nice and easy for the first time started in 2 weeks. It started so easily I wasn't even sure it had started.

When the guys saying to get the MF sealed battery claimed it made the bike run better, I didn't believe them. I mean, what can a battery have to do with how a bike ran after it was started? Am I crazy that I thought my Vulcan ran better than ever today or does the better voltage make that much a difference?

The better "more consistent" voltage makes that much of a difference, yes!
And. no more worries about acid spills or taking time out to take the seat off to check battery levels. (Means more riding time then!)

I found the same thing when I replaced the wet cell in my Savage with an MF battery. I had been having trouble getting it started, and after installing the MF, it started first time every time, and really did run better overall. It really helped that it was there when I sold it, too. Impressed the buyer that I had gone the extra mile to maintain the bike. I got my asking price with no haggling.
I guess that I threw in the extra oil filters and the back rest didn't hurt either.

simple reason really, the MF battery has less internal resistance, whitch means the voltage is concistant as previously mentioned. when starter motor runs, there is still a higher voltage output than the same size wet battery. also when your ignition needs more power, the voltage doesnt drop either.
:)

Just replaced the stock battery after two months of frustration, with the sears part #44005, so far so good. What a world of difference. If things keep going as good as they did this weekend, I may actually build up alot of coinfidence about the bike starting warm or cold. Thanks very much for the info it is greatly appreciated.


Neil
West Palm Beach
2005 Vulcan

Yes guys , I had replaced my 6 month old (?) Yuasa Battery for a New Yuasa Dry FM Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS in my VN 750 /1990
, and surprise,,, all starting problems dessapear magically ( cold , hot , warm ,,),, no doubts .
I recommend strongly , but ,,, when I try to put the new battery inside the battery box , the battery result 1/2 inch greater , and so i had to cut the box holder and enlarge it adding by welding strips of metal plate , and finally bolting the box to the frame from outside instead from inside ( clear,,, or not )
Good Luck Vulcaneers

I finally bit the bullett. I spent $70.00 and bought an Interstate sealed battery for my 85 VN700. I went with interstate because of the 5 calls I made to Sears, Wal Mart, and 2 other places that deal exclusively in batteries, the people at Interstate were the only folks that understood what I meant by Maintenance Free. One guy even explained his understanding of M/F by stating "once you put it in the bike, you don't have to do anything to it". Although the battery he wanted to sell me had a vent tube. hmmmmmm. Another said, "bring your battery down, I'm sure we can find something that will fit".
So I put in the electrolite (acid), and charged her up. Installed it, and pressed the starter button. I didn't even hear it turn over before the bike was running. Nice :). I had the stater replaced last year, and the rectifier. I hope this will be the end of my electrical problems.
This is the start of the riding season here in Maine. We already have a ride planned to go to a place called "Hight of Land" in the Rangely Lakes area. I'm hoping it all goes well.

Ride Safe
Wayne :)

I finally bit the bullett. I spent $70.00 and bought an Interstate sealed battery for my 85 VN700. I went with interstate because of the 5 calls I made to Sears, Wal Mart, and 2 other places that deal exclusively in batteries, the people at Interstate were the only folks that understood what I meant by Maintenance Free. One guy even explained his understanding of M/F by stating "once you put it in the bike, you don't have to do anything to it". Although the battery he wanted to sell me had a vent tube. hmmmmmm. Another said, "bring your battery down, I'm sure we can find something that will fit".
So I put in the electrolite (acid), and charged her up. Installed it, and pressed the starter button. I didn't even hear it turn over before the bike was running. Nice :). I had the stater replaced last year, and the rectifier. I hope this will be the end of my electrical problems.
This is the start of the riding season here in Maine. We already have a ride planned to go to a place called "Hight of Land" in the Rangely Lakes area. I'm hoping it all goes well.

Ride Safe
Wayne :)
Wayne...this will be the best $70 you've spent on you're ride (so far!).
I'm pretty sure the Interstate is made by Yuasa/Exide....could you post the battery number when you get the chance??
For x-reference...

For those of you that are thinking about plunking the money down for a M/F battery, here's another choice for you. The Interstate battery I bought has the number, CYTX14AHL-BS. It also has an MFG # M62H4L.
I also installed a volt meter. Bought one at NAPA for $18.00. Mounted it on the handle bars with a U bolt. Got the idea from Mainevulcan aka Norm, when we met last year by accident at the local Wal Mart. It's amazing after having to shell out the money for a stater, rectifier, and new battery how much seeing the needle of the voltmeter in the safe range make you feel so comfortable.
Ride Safe
Wayne :)

Aside from getting a Maint-free battery, a voltmeter should be next on your list so that you can keep on top of what your electrical system is doing. Mine is not the prettiest, but it works great. I have it calibrated to display voltage at the battery terminals, not the fuse box. You can see mine on my web page http://www.angeltowns2.com/members/norman/norm-mods-voltmeter.htm

My future project is to put inline fuses on my stator wires so if something were to go south, at least my stator is protected. Keeping your oil fresh will also extend the life of the stator as it will take much longer for oil gunk to form in the stator and overheat it.


keep the rubber side down.

Norm

Got my Westco from www.ebatteries2go.com, $65 w/ free shipping. The battery came very quickly.

Not to be a pill here, but as I'm an electronice GEEK I just must point out that this battery has 20 AH (amp hours) and aprox. 200 CCA. (cold cranking amps).

Just call me an "ElectroDweeb"!!!


The Yuasa High Perf Maint free battery is YXT14AHL-BS, available at a lot of places online and in stores.. Some points...
It has 20 CCA (cold cranking amps) MORE than the Westco, for abt the same money. Don't know abt any comparisons btw Sears or any other brand that might fit..
If you buy it online, it may come to you DRY (mine did), with the electrolyte. You will have to add the fluid, then charge overnite. Don't let this deter you...this is half the fun!! Some places are now filling them and shipping 'wet'.
Whichever brand you chose...get a MF asap. It will help your ride run better, and you'll be glad not to have to do one more pre-flight check...

Try to order the Yuasa High Perf Maint free battery YXT14AHL-BS for my Vulcan 1986. However no possibility to obtain in The Netherlands Europe. Ordering by internet in US is no option, due to non-delivery or transport to The Netherlands.
Somebody to help me?
Greetings Peter

I just bought the ytx14ahl-bs yuasa battery at bike bandit for 60 and a few cents with shipping and handling. I took your advice about buying the free maint battery, and my bike is about 3 months old. Hope it was worth it. I try to listen to experience when I can. thanks!!

Not to be a pill here, but as I'm an electronice GEEK I just must point out that this battery has 20 AH (amp hours) and aprox. 200 CCA. (cold cranking amps).

Just call me an "ElectroDweeb"!!! Crystalship...Thanx for the added detail.
Re-read my post, and you will see that I was comparing CCA values. The Yuasa has 20 more CCA, according to both websites. That's why I think it's a better value.
I think it's only an 18~19 ah battery tho...

I got my Westco MF battery today. It fit like a glove and my bike started better than ever.

I just bought 2 ytx14ahl-bs Yuasa batteries for the wife's and my 750.


A question I have is...has anyone added the electrolyte and then let the battery sit overnight before charging or did you simply wait the recommended 30 minutes and then begin charging?

Would there be any benefit in waiting to charge the battery after adding electrolyte? Just curious.

Thanks!

I went out to Sears and got the Diehard 40055 MF battery last night. I'm looking to prevent starting problems before they start.

The directions for adding the fluid were pretty straightforward, but they were very unclear about how to go about charging the battery for the first time.

Any advice?

Rick

'06 Vulcan 750
NationalCycle 'Shield
Tourmaster bags

Hopefully you have a small battery charger such as the battery tender or equivalent (if not, you should invest in one). You must have a charger that will shut off automatically. Follow the instructions adding fluid to the battery and when they say charge the battery, hook up the charger to the smallest amperage charge possible (only one setting on a battery tender) and let it charge overnight or until the charger shuts off.

Hopefully you have a small battery charger such as the battery tender or equivalent (if not, you should invest in one). You must have a charger that will shut off automatically. Follow the instructions adding fluid to the battery and when they say charge the battery, hook up the charger to the smallest amperage charge possible (only one setting on a battery tender) and let it charge overnight or until the charger shuts off.
Should we keep the tender on the battery every night? Once a week?

Should we keep the tender on the battery every night? Once a week?

I am somewhat neglectful in this regard. I only use my tender occasionally unless the bike is stored for the winter. I tend to ride often otherwise and have not bothered unless I have been doing a lot of slow riding. The best practice would be to have a routine to put the tender on every time you park the bike at home and leave it on (it is called a battery tender for a reason). This way the battery would always be fully charged and from what I have been hearing about people that do, the battery may even last longer.

Thanks, I received mine today. It came in yesterday and the dealer put in the liquid and set it on the charger overnight. Put it in at the shop and it started right up.

To all! Thanks guys, I just ordered mine from Wesco. Ken

I ordered the Interstate CYTX14AHL-BS MFG#M62H4L as refered earlier in this thread. I just wanted to let anyone know, it is manufactured by YUASA. I'm kind of loyal to a local Interstate dealer.

I made the misstake to listen to the dealership when I decided to buy a new battery (which actually solved a big part of my start/charge problems) cause he told me the sealed one has different dimension than the old-type battery. My 2nd misstake was to not found this thread then.
A week later I went back and told to the guy to order me the sealed battery and I gave him the id of it which is the YUASA one that was posted all over this thread. He told me first that this is not to my bike and after it that it has different dimensions. I explained to him how much I'm interested about his opinion and that I know from secure source that this battery works.
I've got it yesterday (1 month from the US to Sweden), I had to fill it which was np at all, charged it and while I was waiting I've checked the YUASA homepage for dimension info about the 2 different batteries. Both has the same and the VN750 was listed on the sealed battery's page, too.
What can I say it did fit as it supposed to do. Cant say anything about any kind of different since the "old" one was only 1 month old so it worked fine but as I saw in the battery holder it was a bit rosty inside because of the acid so I'm glad that I can skip thinking about it anymore.
Thanks for a superb info even if I found it a bit late!

After filling the battery, I wait untill it quits bubbling before putting the caps on. Recommended charging is about 3-4 hrs with a 10amp charger.

For a motorcycle battery, I don't think a 10 amp charger should be used. For most motorcycle battries, a 1 amp charger is recommended. If you have a large charger, use the smallest 12v aperage setting.

There are execptions to that... I recently left my key on and drained my battery completely. So much so, that neither the battery tender or my battery charger would start charging it. I set my larger battery charger to bost mode and after a couple of seconds the battery started taking a charge. I then switched to the 2 amp mode (smallest setting) and charged the battery overnight

After filling the battery, I wait untill it quits bubbling before putting the caps on. Recommended charging is about 3-4 hrs with a 10amp charger.

I let mine sit overnight, put it on the charger the next morning at 1.5a, was fully charged in about an hour.

NAPA stocks an ETX15L sealed MF unit with 190 CCAs. It's a nice piece.

Hi all.

I have been trying to find a UK source for either the WestCo or the Yuasa and so far I have only forund them on EBay at £56 and £58 respectively (including shipping).

Does anyone know of a cheaper UK/Euro retailler?

There seems to be some confilct in this thread as to wether the batteries have the same output or if the Yuasa is more powerful. Really, which is the best, is there a measurable difference?

Thanks

Scot

Well the seller on ebayUK (t955ibigal) has just confirmed that the YTX14AHL-BS he has for sale is NOT a genuine Yuasa.

Hi no these are not Yuasa batteriers, they would be a lot more money to buy thanks Alan

Shame, but it looks like the Westco is good.

Went to Sears to buy the Diehard (Yusa) one today. Found it on the shelf for $77.99. You had to add the electrolyte and charge that one yourself too. I figured if I had to do that anyway then I may as well save $10 and get it mail order. Found it for $68.75 at http://www.motorcyclebatteriesusa.com/battery-mfg-details.asp?battery=169 with free shipping.

The following address has the battery for less than $40.00 to include shipping. You have to call the listed number to get that price but a few minutes on the phone will be worth it. I had to explain to the sales girl where to find the sale price at on her computer but once she was talke dtrough that the sale went smoothly.

http://www.motorhelmets.com/htm1/engineparts-batteries-yuasa-kawasaki-agm.htm

Note I got a regular battery but called the customer service and they replaced it with the proper AGM Yuasa battery for no extra cost.

Good deal!

Wow! That motorhelmet.com is an awesome deal. A bit late for me, but you can save yourselves!

Now that I got the sucker.... the directions say to charge it at 1.2 amps an hour for 5 to 10 hours.... I've only got a 2/10 amp charger or my 500ma trickle charger. Which one should I charge it with?

Thanks!

Here is something you might not want to know--
I put a new Westco battery in my bike after I replaced my stator (at 12,000 miles!!!). I ran it three months and about 5,000 miles. Away on a trip and my bike quit on me. Charging system is fine, but the battery crashed. It's still showing good voltage, but it doesn't run the bike. It cannot even close a relay contact--(clicks shut and open).

Anybody have that experience?
Any ideas why?
Angky.

Now that I got the sucker.... the directions say to charge it at 1.2 amps an hour for 5 to 10 hours.... I've only got a 2/10 amp charger or my 500ma trickle charger. Which one should I charge it with?

Thanks!
Using the 2 amp wont be a problem. Charging at lower amps, for a longer period is best for a complete charge, but the .8 amp difference isn't anything to worry about.
And the 5 to 10 hours might be more like 3 to 8 hours. I'd say go for it. :smiley_th

I put my Yuasa on a trickle charger for a couple of days, but it was no emergency. My stock battery was still good. Anyone want a FREE stock battery ?

Here is something you might not want to know--
I put a new Westco battery in my bike after I replaced my stator (at 12,000 miles!!!). I ran it three months and about 5,000 miles. Away on a trip and my bike quit on me. Charging system is fine, but the battery crashed. It's still showing good voltage, but it doesn't run the bike. It cannot even close a relay contact--(clicks shut and open).

Anybody have that experience?
Any ideas why?
Angky.
It may be showing good voltage but what about a load test?

I have replaced the battery with a MF gel battery and I agree that the bike ran unbelievably better. If you really want to make it purr, replace the plugs with iridiums. For me, the combination of the two made it start every time, hot or cold. Remember, though, use anti seeze if you change the plugs!

Sorry for my ignorance, but what's the anti-seize? And why would I use it on the plugs? (Just want to make sure I don't do something stupid while I'm messing around in there.)

I am no mechanic, but I am pretty sure it keeps the plug from becoming one (in a very bad way) with the engine. In other words seizing into the part you tighten it into..

okay, enough of this technical stuff for me.

slinking away looking ashamed...

kait

Anti seize it a paste you put on threads that you dont want to stick. DO NOT GET ANY ON THE END OF THE PLUG. Will cause the plug to foul fast, Anti seize is good to use on any bolt you might think might rust. Works good

I didn't mean to jump topics- I thought I was replying to a much earlier post about how well the bikes run after new MF batteries were installed. Sorry.

Anyway, you are correct that anti seeze is put on the THREADS of iridium plugs. Because thay need to be changed out, well... never, since they are good for like 60,000 miles or some ridiculous number. Because of this, there is the fear that not removing them will cause the threads to seize to the heads. A very bad thing.

It may be showing good voltage but what about a load test?
Load test!
Yeah, That's where I screwed up--as I found out later.
I should have hooked it up to a headlight and watched how long it lasted. (I don't have an ammeter big enough to test it that way.)

Here's the basics of the anti-seize.
Aluminum and steel have an interesting attraction for one another. The steel will cut right into aluminum and "dog up" or "ball up". It seizes tight. Our engines are aluminum. The base of the plugs are steel.
Ordinarily enough carbon & crud gets into the bottom part of the threads to keep them from sticking tightly to each other. But iridium plugs last forever. If you ever want to take them out, they will have been in there so long that they can't come out without stripping out half the threads from the aluminum head.
But all this should be in a different section of the forum.
Sorry about that.
Angky.

I have replaced the battery with a MF gel battery and I agree that the bike ran unbelievably better. If you really want to make it purr, replace the plugs with iridiums. For me, the combination of the two made it start every time, hot or cold. Remember, though, use anti seeze if you change the plugs!
MF gel battery?
I'm interested, but I don't know anything about it.
Can you give some info? What is it, why is it, how does it work, how is it better, etc.?
Thanks,
Angky.

I am pretty sure all that info is in the vulcan verses. Check it out and then post a new thread if you still have questions...

Go here. (http://www.vn750.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270)

I'd recommend NOT getting a Westco. They were made by Panasonic, but the new manufacturer appears not to be getting things right.

Get a Yuasa or DieHard

I put my Yuasa on a trickle charger for a couple of days, but it was no emergency. My stock battery was still good. Anyone want a FREE stock battery ?
Hold onto your stock battery for awhile, and keep it charged.
If your Yuasa battery goes south like my Westco did, you'll need it!
Angky.

I think Yuasa makes their own batteries, and I haven't heard of any Yuasa's going out yet. But Angky, Rnewell has been holding onto his battery for a while. Nobody wants it - nobody here, that is.

Hey.... my friend last took his Yamaha 850 to Washington and went to the Interstate Warehouse and picked up a battery there... I took a look and well...well....well.. it carries the same number as the Yuasa AGM for our bikes ( YTX14AHL-BS ) and he picked it up for around $56.00!!

This one is 210 CCA !!

WooHoo! Good Job. So we know that the Yuasa's are also under the Interstate name.

I have an Interstate Battery here... but have yet to go see if they have it at that price here...
I should check then I would "assume" that that price would be good else where!!

I have had no trouble at all with the wet cell battery in my bike . Starts right up every time hot or cold I think that I willstick to that type of battery sorry I just cant knock a good thing.................

I have had no trouble at all with the wet cell battery in my bike . Starts right up every time hot or cold I think that I willstick to that type of battery sorry I just cant knock a good thing.................
the main reason we suggest replacement is because of when the wet cell goes bad, it will fry the stator. its more of a preventative mantinance issue then an improvement.

I found Battery Plus to be the best place to get the MF battery :rockon:

Try to order the Yuasa High Perf Maint free battery YXT14AHL-BS for my Vulcan 1986. However no possibility to obtain in The Netherlands Europe. Ordering by internet in US is no option, due to non-delivery or transport to The Netherlands.
Somebody to help me?
Greetings Peter
E-mail me. I have friends in the Netherlands and ship parts to them often, as well as other parts of the world. I will be happy to help ;)

PVDL1949 posted that over a year ago, with no posts since.
I don't think he/she is around here anymore.
Did ya try sending him/her an email at all ?

Wouldnt your stater fry if the MF battery failed.. YES NO OTHER

Thanks for all the good info. on switching to a sealed battery. I've had problems with keeping my old battery charged for probably a year now. If I didn't ride almost every day, it acted like it might not start sometimes. I picked up a Diehard #44005 today, and it's getting it's initial charge as I type this. I can't wait to get that thing in. I also picked up the 1.5 amp battery tender which has the permanent connectors so you don't have to remove the battery to keep it charged. Great stuff! :smiley_th

I'm really impressed with how my bike fired up today with the new MF battery installed. It started cold (it was around 45 degrees) better than it usually starts after I've been driving it and it's warmed up. Very cool...thanks again for the good info. on getting rid of the old style batteries.

Nobody has said anything about the actual process of swapping my stock battery for a maintenance-free one, and I can't find instructions in the Vulcan Verses. Could this be because it is as simple/obvious as unhooking the pos/neg cables, removing the old unit, dropping the new battery in its place, and rehooking the cables?

Do I need anything extra, like a new/longer strap? And what do I do with the old battery?

I keep my stock battery on a trickle tender all the time in cold weather, so I don't have any questions about charging the new battery.

Could this be because it is as simple/obvious as unhooking the pos/neg cables, removing the old unit, dropping the new battery in its place, and rehooking the cables?

Do I need anything extra, like a new/longer strap? And what do I do with the old battery?

I keep my stock battery on a trickle tender all the time in cold weather, so I don't have any questions about charging the new battery.


That about covers it!! Just fill battery and charge per instructions first.

As to your old battery..... if it is still good, keep it around long enough to make sure you got a good battery.... if it's bad, then take it to back to where you bought your battery and turn it in for recycling.

If you are using a "Battery Tender" charger with permanent mount plug then you do not even need to take it out to keep it charged through the winter!!

Just be sure to disconnect the negative cable first. That way, if ya happen to accidently bump your wrench/screwdriver against the frame while disconnecting the positive cable, ya wont see sparks !

Once you know the new battery is good, you should be able to take the old battery back to the shop where you purchased the new one to get a $5 to $10 core fee back (mine was $10).

To answer Krawdad's question, the MFs don't boil their electrolyte off and therefore don't have the charging problems that the wet cells can develop. It's the over current of not being able to charge the battery that causes the stator and R/R to fry when the electrolyte drops below a certain level.
It's also kind of a matter of convenience to not have to check the battery fluid levels once a week or more often in hot weather. They also have a higher cold cranking amp rating and that seems to make the hot start problem go away.
Having said all that, I still have a wet cell battery in my bike and it will stay there until it needs to be replaced. I check the levels even though it is a pain but I will replace it with a MF when the time comes. I haven't had the hot start problem and all else is running just fine for now. I just can't justify the expense to my accountant when the battery I have is working fine for now.

I bought a good sealed battery on line a ebatteriestogo.com. No tax and no shipping charge but that was about 1 year ago. It comes already with the acid in it. Ship to me in about 5 days UPS. It is a off brand but it has been working just fine. Easy start ups ever since. If I remember right it was about 54 dollors a good buy. It was a gell battery

ya'll should just move up to a BMW size battery like i did. ;) if needed i could use this thing as an electric scooter now :D

One thing I forgot to mention about changing a battery...
When reattaching the battery cables, do the Positive one first, then the Negative. (for the same reason as doing it the other way when removing the cables).

One thing I forgot to mention about changing a battery...
When reattaching the battery cables, do the Positive one first, then the Negative. (for the same reason as doing it the other way when removing the cables).
i didnt think it would matter on a seal battery as there is no hydrogen gas leaking?

No hydrogen to ignite but the sparks can cause rapid heart rates and colorful language when it happens unexpectedly.

No hydrogen to ignite but the sparks can cause rapid heart rates and colorful language when it happens unexpectedly.

Exactly !!

I got a glass mat at Advanced Auto Parts. I don't recall the price, due to buying it a year ago, My only problem is the R/R, but that t will be fixed in short order. the part number for them is ETX15L puts out 190 cca, plenty of starting power.

One thing I forgot to mention about changing a battery...
When reattaching the battery cables, do the Positive one first, then the Negative. (for the same reason as doing it the other way when removing the cables).

Hyper, you look at you! Mr. Electrical! :D

Good advice, though, that I was lacking for my early years of car fixes. Fortunately I missed experiencing any of those potential light shows, but just cause of dumb luck.

Hyper, you look at you! Mr. Electrical! :D

Good advice, though, that I was lacking for my early years of car fixes. Fortunately I missed experiencing any of those potential light shows, but just cause of dumb luck.


Well, it is an experience better left unseen !! Especially on a car.
I hate banging my head off an open hood while leaning into the engine compartment !!

Well, I've put over 4600 miles on my 2006 VN 750 and finally replaced the stock (Yuasa) battery with a MF Yuasa. Even a non-mechanic like me can do it (including adding the acid)! No more checking the water; no more battery hose.

I lubed the splines a while back (what an adventure)... the only other "recommended project" I haven't done is relocate the R/R, but the 3 stator wires are protected in separate sleeves and tucked back... I don't anticipate any problems.

My next do-it-yourself project is learning how to change my own oil -- I did it on a Suzuki GS 450T about 20 years ago, so I can probably figure out how to do it on this machine. Figuring out how to conveniently yet responsibly dispose of the old oil is a concern.

Beyond that, I guess the next thing to think long and hard about is whether or not I want to put some hard luggage on the bike. I sometimes carry a bunch of stuff to and from work, so it would be handy not having to strap a bag on the seat or rack. But I like the simple look, and the Plexifairing 3 already adds to the complexity.

I bought my battery from batterymart.com feb 2004.
Big crank $49.95
* 14 Ah @ 10hr rate
* 190 CCA
* ETX15L equivalent
* Sealed, Maintenance-Free
* Leakproof/Spillproof
* Ships fully charged ready to install
* Environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable
* Vibration Resistant Design
* Fully Charged out of the box
* Made in the USA
I am not sure who makes them. It is still going strong 3 years later.

I just bought a MF battery from Bikemaster. They are supposed to be made exactly like the Yuasa. (for less money) . I paid 59.00 and the numbers on the battery are BTX14AHL-BS, which is the equal of the Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS

I also got a MF battery from www.batterymart.com. It was $57 and I believe that included shipping. Arrived two days after online order. It is called Big Crank. Has all the same descriptions as the others and it is also manufactured near Reading Pa. You think it could be a labeling thing. Anyhow, it has been a night and day difference. Best thing I have done to the bike. It is an 03 and I had already replaced the wet battery twice.

The Big Crank is a glass mat technology (AGM) battery, the latest in battery technology, I believe. I use one in my bike and swear by it.

Read about em here: http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/AgmTech.htm

So, are you saying the AGM batteries are better than the Yuasa, for example? Also, dumb question, do you have to charge all new batteries? I don't have a charger and have been putting off replacing the stock battery just to avoid the hassle.

Billable Ride,
AGM batteries are better than the flooded type (water & acid) batteries that typically come installed from factory. I put one in my bike this spring when first getting it out after its winter rest and I have yet to put it on the charger. Bike starts right up, never would before. I used to have to keep old battery on charger and bike would not start as easily even with the old type fully charged. It is truly amazing the difference. I would not have believed it, but I did not want to buy another water/acid battery that would only last for a short time and always require charging. I have let my bike set for periods of up to three weeks, due to weather and being busy, and it starts right up. I am almost certain I did not have to charge it prior to using it the first time.

So, are you saying the AGM batteries are better than the Yuasa, for example? Also, dumb question, do you have to charge all new batteries? I don't have a charger and have been putting off replacing the stock battery just to avoid the hassle.Yes, no.

OK, so I bought a Big Crank and just installed it. I took it out for a quick test ride and it started right up with no trouble. But, I notice while riding that the headlight indicator bulb was very faintly lit. This has never happened before. Any idea what that might be about?

If ya mean the white "Headlight" indicator on the dash, it should be faintly lit.

This is from the service manual.....

Oh, how strange. I never noticed it before. Thanks!

I never noticed that before either....

BUT- for what its worth, I installed the AGM in my bike (I had no obvious problems with the liquid cell battery running in the bike), and the difference was amazing. I am not sure what fixed the problem, but I also installed iridium plugs with the AGM and I have yet to hear any backfiring when warm starting. It used to happen without fail, and scare the crap out of me when it did it! That was early last season when I replaced the parts.

I just purchased a Sear's Battery 44364 which was listed as a MF battery but when I read the installation instructions it said there was an overflow tube and the fluid level needed to be checked monthly and topped off. This does not sound like a Maintenance Free Battery. Does anyone have this battery and have they had any problem with it?

I just purchased a Sear's Battery 44364 which was listed as a MF battery but when I read the installation instructions it said there was an overflow tube and the fluid level needed to be checked monthly and topped off. This does not sound like a Maintenance Free Battery. Does anyone have this battery and have they had any problem with it?

If there's a tube, and you have to maintain the fluid level, it's definitely not a maintenance free.

I found this online about that battery from ApexBattery.com (http://www.apexbattery.com/sears-44364-motorcycle-battery-motorcycle-batteries-sears-motorcycle-batteries.html)....

Conventional power sport battery that is lead acid that are shipped dry and must be activated and charged by the customer

And the Sear's site itself said....


Battery Type Conventional
Dry charged
Flooded lead acid battery
For maximum performance, upgrade to Premium AGM Technology with the Diehard Gold Powersport #44005.

My solution ................................
I have an 86 Vulcan that needed a battery per year because it used to be a bitch to start. I put saddlebags on it and a smallish car battery in one of the bags wired to the bike battery. I keep the car battery hooked to a solar charger when I am not riding the bike. I have had no trouble ever starting and riding my bike in the last 2 years - no matter how cold or how long it has been standing.

I also have a sealed AGM battery from the Battery Mart. Cost about $55, came filled and charged. Have not had to use my charger since installing it early this spring. Best thing I have bought for the bike. Solved all the starting problems. A MUST DO for these bikes.

Glad to see some of you are using the batterymart battery. I've had one for three years Ane they're made in the U.S.A

I'm ready for a MF after 6 years with the same Sears DieHard. I was thinking about trying a small car or tractor battery in my hard bags like ostryjak stated earlier. The solar charger is an interesting addition - never thought of that.

p.s. Why do we keep our vn's? I have a GL500 Honda for fun and it runs like the energizer bunny w/o any of our VN problems. Do we all like challenges?

p.s. Why do we keep our vn's? I have a GL500 Honda for fun and it runs like the energizer bunny w/o any of our VN problems. Do we all like challenges?

Not every one has problems with thier bikes.... mine runs like the Energizer bunny too!!
If you find a forum for your GL500 I'll bet that you will see that they too list many things they are working to fix! That is the nature of these forums.... tech support and moral support on fixing things yourself!

Besides that.. if you put these too "bunnies" side by side I'd have to say that the VN Bunny is on steroids! :motorcycl

on the GL500 boards, Stator and Mechanical seal are talked about (both require an engine pull).

For those who live in Europe, it's quite impossible to find a MF battery for the 750. I had to modify the battery compartment to place one...

Now I found them on ebay.de:

itemZ160092459358
cgi.ebay.de/Yuasa-YB14L-A2-KAWASAKI-VN-750-Twin-und-Z-750-1000_W0QQitemZ160092459358QQihZ006QQcategoryZ49786 QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Not to be a pill here, but as I'm an electronice GEEK I just must point out that this battery has 20 AH (amp hours) and aprox. 200 CCA. (cold cranking amps).

Just call me an "ElectroDweeb"!!!

I read through the whole thread and I found the Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS to have 12Ah not 20Ah and 210 CCA. If anyone cares.

I stopped at my local Advanced Auto Parts store earlier today to pick up some Lucas Oil gear lube for the bike and asked about a battery after seing a small selection of oil filters for motorcycles on the shelf. To my surprise they carry the maintenance free AGM one for our bikes in stock and ready to install for $64.99. I didn't get a part number yet, but when I do I'll post it here. I'm not going to buy one until next month right before riding season begins.

I stopped at my local Advanced Auto Parts store earlier today to pick up some Lucas Oil gear lube for the bike and asked about a battery after seing a small selection of oil filters for motorcycles on the shelf. To my surprise they carry the maintenance free AGM one for our bikes in stock and ready to install for $64.99. I didn't get a part number yet, but when I do I'll post it here. I'm not going to buy one until next month right before riding season begins.
I used to work at one of those, the part # is ETX15L. They were available next day at my local Advance Auto. $64.94 with exchange.

I stopped at my local Advanced Auto Parts store earlier today to pick up some Lucas Oil gear lube for the bike and asked about a battery after seing a small selection of oil filters for motorcycles on the shelf. To my surprise they carry the maintenance free AGM one for our bikes in stock and ready to install for $64.99. I didn't get a part number yet, but when I do I'll post it here. I'm not going to buy one until next month right before riding season begins.


I bought one of those from Advance Auto when I got my bike back in July of last year. It's been a very good battery so far (2 year warranty I believe). We've had some pretty cold days around here and it never fails, bike starts right up.

I got my AGM MF diehard today. $100.12 delivered to my door via UPS. Auto Zone did not have it so I had to pay more. It is definatly strong. I believe it is a good investment.

I was browsing the local Walmart store and saw that they had AGM for bikes which cost around $62 + tax. Did anyone measure what the dimension of our battery or the battery box is ? Since they have 3 different ones, I wanted to get the biggest that would fit our bike. Don't remember the other info but the CCA's were 180/200/270 for the 3 sizes. I have a feeling that the 200 was would fit as the 270 looked kinda big.

GNB 14L-A2, 14L-B2
Deka ETX15L
Delco MC1406
Interstate YTX14AHL-BS,
Motocross M62H4L, M3214Y, M2214B
Napa 740-1851, 740-1828
Sears 44005, 44364, 44059
WALMART ES14L-A2 . . . . . . .
Yacht CB14L-A2, CB14L-B2
YUASA YTX14AHL-BS

Some of the above may be wet cells ):


Above are several apparent compatible batteries for our VN750's.

Have visited several websites and often when I requested a YUASA battery the site would show anything but a YUASA battery, quite a bit of business trickery going on, changing listed CCA's and AMP HOURS, WARRANTY..
This is what I came up with.

BIKEMASTER... 14AH, 6 mo warranty.(but what kind of warranty? free replacement?? Limited Warranty ?

BIG CRANK... 14AH, 190 CCA, 1 year warranty. $54.95 +15.23 UPS ground shipping, no tax for most states ? = 70.18. Best Price and overall quality as listed. This is a AGM MF battery.

DEKA...14AH, 3 month warranty free replacement, 9 month prorated.

KOYO / POWERSONIC...CCA 205@ 0 degrees F./260 CCA @32 degrees F. Warranty 90 days free replacement.

MOTORCROSS... 12AH, 200CCA. 1 year warranty. One dealer sort of claimed this was actually a YUASA battery ?? (don't think so)

SCORPION... 12AH, 210 CCA. 1 year warranty.

WALMART... no data yet.

WESTCO...12 TO 14 AH depending on website listing???, CCA 190-200 depending on website listing.. Local dealership wants $101.99 plus Tax!

YUASA...12-14 AH, 210 CCA. YUASA warranty gives free replacement up to 6 months, many dealerships warranty for 1 year. My dealership wants $115.99 plus tax for this jewel that has the best rep of all MC batteries. This is a MF battery.

A WORK IN PROGRESS . . .

The shipping cost for the Big Crank will vary. Shipping from Virginia (where they are located) to Massachusetts was under $10 and took 3 days to reach me. Ordered on a Sunday late at night and got it that Wednesday.

I've been looking around to replace my old wet battery with a MF. Found a Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS at BikeBandit.com for $56.60 + $7.95 Shipping. Most other places list the Yuasa and Die Hard for around $80. Seems too good to be true. Do I have the correct Yuasa part number?

I've been looking around to replace my old wet battery with a MF. Found a Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS at BikeBandit.com for $56.60 + $7.95 Shipping. Most other places list the Yuasa and Die Hard for around $80. Seems too good to be true. Do I have the correct Yuasa part number?

I have just ordered one of these! It should be the correct one. :rockon:

Sears has the Yuasa battery under the DieHard label (Part# 44005). Several of us have that one. Might be a tad more expensive than Westco or Yuasa direct but with no shipping charge, probably about the same. Plus the joy of instant gratifications (<singing> [/]Don't care how, I want it now![/I]) I'm looking at the instructions that came with it and it says "Yuasa Battery Inc, Reading PA"

I just picked mine up from Sears! I like the pre-measured acid!! It is currently soaking up the juices. I'll charge it later today (overnight) and let y'all know how it works......:rockon:

Westco battery is $93.85 now...wow...but the shipping is FREE:

http://tinyurl.com/at63z


They come ready to install...no filling, no charging needed.


KM

Just buy one and be done with it!

I just picked mine up from Sears! I like the pre-measured acid!! It is currently soaking up the juices. I'll charge it later today (overnight) and let y'all know how it works......:rockon:

Check for a plastic spacer under the battery. Mine had one and wouldn't fit properly until I removed it.

Check for a plastic spacer under the battery. Mine had one and wouldn't fit properly until I removed it.

Thanks for the tip, I noticed already.:doh: Is that spacer just held on with double sided tape or something?

Thanks for the tip, I noticed already.:doh: Is that spacer just held on with double sided tape or something?

Yup

(replied to private message)

I bought my battery from batterymart.com feb 2004.
Big crank $49.95
* 14 Ah @ 10hr rate
* 190 CCA
* ETX15L equivalent
* Sealed, Maintenance-Free
* Leakproof/Spillproof
* Ships fully charged ready to install
* Environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable
* Vibration Resistant Design
* Fully Charged out of the box
* Made in the USA
I am not sure who makes them. It is still going strong 3 years later.
I just bought the big crank at batterymart and ordered the ETX14 instead of the ETX15L. Then I tried and realized the size does not fit. I will contact them tomorrow. could you let me know the size ETX15L? my vulcan is 2004. Thank you

http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Crank-ETX15L-Battery.html
Specifications: BM Part #: BIG-ETX15L Voltage: 12 V Capacity: 14 Ah Type: AGM Warranty: 1 Year
Shipping Weight: 11.00 Pounds Length: 5 1/4" Width: 3 1/2" Height: 6 9/16"

Bought the ETX15L at O'Rieleys today, $73.00 and core. Fit perfect. And learned the 14 does NOT fit a 94 :(
DW

I went with the Big Crank as well, both for the better price and because Battery Mart is only an hour away. Very good battery.

Have had Yuasa batteries and have had others--in various bikes. Yuasa never failed me. All others, including Westco have had issues. Maybe the difference is in the quality of the manufacturing?

I bought my battery from batterymart.com feb 2004.
Big crank $49.95
* 14 Ah @ 10hr rate
* 190 CCA
* ETX15L equivalent
* Sealed, Maintenance-Free
* Leakproof/Spillproof
* Ships fully charged ready to install
* Environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable
* Vibration Resistant Design
* Fully Charged out of the box
* Made in the USA
I am not sure who makes them. It is still going strong 3 years later.


The big crank is a DEKA battery made in Pennsylvania by East Penn Manufacturing, you can get one delivered under $70.00 P/N ETX15L fits all vn700/750. It Is the biggest bang for your buck. It is an MF AGM BATTERY. :beerchug:

http://www.motobatt.com/

these sealed batteries have a TWO year warranty,,best I have found...great price as well...the sell direct from E-BAY...65.00 total cost.

did a google search...roadstar forum had good things to say about them: more Capacity and CCA then a big crank as well...

Voltage: 12V
Capacity: 16 Ah
Weight: 7.7lbs (3.5kg)
Dimensions: (L x W x H) 134mm x 89mm x 166mm
5.31'' x 3.5'' x 6.56''
Charging Current (Amps) 1.2
C.C.A. 220

I did some research into the MottoBatt Company and as suspected it is a new upstart buisness that Tyler Kovar runs from his home. I just got off the phone with him and I told him I would like to become a Distributor so I could get the low down. I doubt some of the information he gave me he would disclose to a customer.

He teamed up with a Chineese Manufacturer to import them to the US.The 2 year free replacement is conditional, and the batteries are a universal fit and application. If the battery fails within 6 mo. He will replace it, if it fails after 6 mo. he will "TEST" the battery to see if the failure was due to over or under charging. If he does replace it the customer has to pay shipping unless its under 6 mo. They require spacers and terminal brackets.

The Amp hours and Cranking amps are listed Higher than what they actually are so they can sell to fit broader applications. He told me that even with the cheap materials used they should last 2 years and if they don't since his price is so cheap he could replace the battery 2 times and still make a proffit. :doh:

Once again do you want a cheap battery made in China or a High Quality battery made in the USA?

Do I feel bad I decieved the guy to get the truth? No!!!! :beerchug:

Way to go lance 328 - Good info...

Thanks Lance great info in these deepening depression times.

Here is the EBAY address for the MOTOBATT:

SEALED BATTERY Moto Guzzi BREVA YTX14AHL BS 2YR WARRANT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SEALED-BATTERY-Moto-Guzzi-BREVA-YTX14AHL-BS-2YR-WARRANT_W0QQitemZ400038582713QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo torcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item400038582713&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318


It's 5.31" X 3.5" X 6.56"

With the VN750 electrical system I've been advised to change out the battery every 2 years, and that's about how long my car batteries lasted
when I lived in hot Arizona. Think I will keep my two year old battery to the end of the riding season and then get another Made in the USA
YUASA YTX14AHL Maintenance Free battery that should last another 2-3 years easily.. What a you think Hyper ?



BTW: Thanks to SEA FOAM my 06' Vulcan started right up after sitting with gas only in
the Reserve tank for 1 year! As amazing as Linda Ronstadt still singing at 62.

I just purchased a scorpion 210 CCA AGM 14AH from batterystuff.com for $61.00 shipped, should be here tomorow ( hope so anyway)

I just purchased a scorpion 210 CCA AGM 14AH from batterystuff.com for $61.00 shipped, should be here tomorow ( hope so anyway)

The Scorpion is another Chineese made battery imported to USA. :doh:

I just ordered a "Big Crank" last night. (yeah I know, I know; long time to wait to join the MF batt crowd). Under $70 to my door, and ready to use. ;)

I just ordered a "Big Crank" last night. (yeah I know, I know; long time to wait to join the MF batt crowd). Under $70 to my door, and ready to use. ;)

Your wife or girlfriend will be glad to hear you finally have a "BIG CRANK" LOL :rockon:

FYI, the brass washers with the flat spot are used to clear the case when using the side post.

Word. :rolleyes:

I received and installed a MF Big Crank battery a few days ago, and a couple things about it;

1-it was less than $70

2-it was at my door in 4 days. (Might have been sooner but I ordered online Saturday night while they were closed)

And 3, which I rarely see mentioned, is it's a quality battery. Everything about it appears sturdy and worry free. You can tell by looking at it up close in your hands. It's built/assembled well, and even the lead connections lugs are larger and sturdy; no twisting or flexing when you tighten the bolts. The nuts inside the lugs stay in place, there's no fighting or fishing to start the threads. And finally, you can mount the cables using a top connection or side connection. No issue's, questions, or drama installing it.

Set it and forget it.

Doug - Would you have a link from where you ordered it?

Battery Mart.com (http://www.batterymart.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?) is where I bought mine. You can look up the specific model for the specific bike you have too.

Yay just got my Deka MF ETX15L.Did I metion for free! Good to have Bro in Law in the Battery bizz.hehe:rockon:

Installed Westco sealed battery last night. $76 delivered and ready to go. What a difference.

I installed the Sears Diehard Gold maintenance free battery ($88.00 with tax) about 3 weeks ago and noticed a huge difference in starting the bike. It replaced a 1.5 month old NAPA standard wet acid battery (also a very good battery I just didn't want to check acid level every month). The bike starts alot faster and more consistant. Also to help the amp draw on the stator I installed the Clear Alternatives.com (LED-46-L) L.E.D. taillight/brakelight replacement board ($50.00 plus shipping). Installs and looks excellent..it also only uses .75 amps with taillight on and brakelight on VS. the 5.5 amps of power the factory 1157 bulbs use. It gives off a very bright solid red light that the prople driving behind you WILL NOTICE. These Mods. are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me! I know these mods sound expensive but they are very worth their cost. I bought my '86 with a bad stator (Did not know this till 2 days after bringing it 250 miles home) and it cost me 2.5 weeks of no riding in perfect riding weather ........... OH YEAH! and $700.00 to a local bike mechanic!

Hi all,

I am living in Malaysia and I have contacted Yuasa office in Malaysia to get the dry cell but they don't have it here.
I asked them to bring in one for me and that I would pay all the applicable fees. The idiots have no clue where to begin with.

After a while of being on the wet cell, I met a dude who can ship this cell from the US to Malaysia. Since is it's gonna cost me a bomb to get my hands on that cell, I wanna make sure what he is gonna get me is the right thing.

The following are the pictures of the cell he is gonna get for me.
Now the problem is I have never seen it before so I would highly appreciate if anyone can verify whether it is the one.

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa3.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa2.jpg
http://img694.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa1.jpg

Welcome to the Vulcan madness ARAtai. It looks like the right one to me. It is rated at 14 amp hours, the pos/neg posts are oriented correctly and it is Maintenance Free with an Absorbed Glass Mat (MF-AGM). Measure the physical dimensions of your present battery (or battery box) and check them against the specs for this one. If they are the same, give or take a fraction of an inch, I would say that is the right battery.

Lance or one of the other folks here, will be along soon and confirm this for you.

Hi all,

I am living in Malaysia and I have contacted Yuasa office in Malaysia to get the dry cell but they don't have it here.
I asked them to bring in one for me and that I would pay all the applicable fees. The idiots have no clue where to begin with.

After a while of being on the wet cell, I met a dude who can ship this cell from the US to Malaysia. Since is it's gonna cost me a bomb to get my hands on that cell, I wanna make sure what he is gonna get me is the right thing.

The following are the pictures of the cell he is gonna get for me.
Now the problem is I have never seen it before so I would highly appreciate if anyone can verify whether it is the one.

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa3.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa2.jpg
http://img694.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yuasa1.jpg

That is the correct battery. See if you can get the battery in the link below, it's a better battery and they may be able to ship to in Maylasia.

ETX15L Big Crank Made by DEKA

http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Crank-ETX15L-Battery.html

Could you give an advice about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BATTERY-KAWASAKI-VULCAN-KL650-A-VN750-A-YTX14AHLBS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19b84d0386QQ itemZ110466237318QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccess ories

I think is a god price.

Cheerrssssssssssss

Could you give an advice about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BATTERY-KAWASAKI-VULCAN-KL650-A-VN750-A-YTX14AHLBS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19b84d0386QQ itemZ110466237318QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccess ories

I think is a god price.

Cheerrssssssssssss

The price isn't too bad, but the shipping to Mexico is $43.95, almost as much as the battery costs! You should be able to locate a good battery locally for less money.

I'm sticking with WestCo. Including the Vulcan, I have 4 bikes with batteries, and every single one of them has a WestCo. I am not easily satisfied with anything, but WestCo has managed to do it. Jerry.

I bought the DEKA battery per Lance's recommendation a few weeks back and love it. With the DEKA, and finally adding Iridium plugs, I now barely have to hit the start button and she fires right up. Thanks again Lance.:beerchug:

Picked up an ETX15L today from Advance Auto. Wow! Starts up immediately. The old battery sure was a pain in the ass... No more checking fluid levels or leaks from the vent tube. Hopefully it will last a while

Just bought the Interstate CYTX14AHL-BS and charged it up got it sitting in the garage waiting to be installed. I am sure it will be a great improvement over the 4 year old battery I have in the bike now as any new battery would be. Why don't we compare notes in 3 or 4 years and see which is the better one, WestCo or Interstate or Diehard or Yuasa. Then we will know for sure.

I also bought the Deka ETX15L at the professor's suggestion. Love it... hopin to get Iridium plugs this spring.

~dw

I also bought the Deka ETX15L at the professor's suggestion. Love it... hopin to get Iridium plugs this spring.

~dw

I got the plugs for a little more than $4 each at O'Rileys auto parts. Cheapest place I've found.

I still use standard NGK plugs, and change them about every 20,000 miles.

Since sealed AGM batteries are now available for pretty much any motorcycle, I can't believe anyone would even consider one of those antique things you have to put water in.

I hate to think of all the hours I wasted maintaining those things over the years. Jerry.

I still use standard NGK plugs, and change them about every 20,000 miles.

Since sealed AGM batteries are now available for pretty much any motorcycle, I can't believe anyone would even consider one of those antique things you have to put water in.

I hate to think of all the hours I wasted maintaining those things over the years. Jerry.

I am with you, Jerry. I was always caught off guard, and ran the water out completly by the time I reallized it was out of water.

hopefully getting an MF Odysey (think thats how its spelled) battery, cost of £50 which i dont think is to bad, also sure the guy in shop said these things have a 10 year guarentee ??????????? hopefully true but we will see

Hey sleeper, make sure you check on the dimensions of the battery before you pay to have it shipped to you.
The vn750 battery measurementsare approximately as follows: Length 5-1/4", Width 3-1/2", Height 6-9/16". capacity 14 Ah

I was checking out Odyssey batteries just a couple of weeks ago, and there is not one listed to fit the vn750. Here is a link to the Canadian Odyssey site and the motorcycle application page.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/applications.htm

Maybe one is available in the UK, but double check on what they are sending before paying anything.
What is the model or part number of the battery they want to sell you?

will make sure before i get one ....cheers mate
they said they are mainly used for the winch system on land rovers etc, hopefully they know what they are on about as shop is located in (westgate road) Newcastle, a full street of biker shops and a fountain of knowledge
will keep u all informed
Chris

Any brand of sealed AGM battery should be fine. I have no idea what is available in the U.K., or whether batteries from the U.S. can be shipped there.

Just checked www.westcobattery.com, and they have a link that says European Inquiries, which turns out to be an email address. They do not ship outside the U.S. from their site, but do say their batteries are used worldwide. Again, while I prefer their batteries because of my personal experience with them, I have no experience with any other brand, so I really don't know if there are better batteries available. Just get one of that type. They are 100 times better than those ones you have to keep putting water in, and IMO, if you let the battery run dry, it could destroy the stator, definitely not a good thing on a VN750. Jerry.

Spent some times reading all these battery stuff. Ordered one for my new 2006 toy. Plus 4 new plugs (NGK 7803) are on their way to me. By next weekend I should know if the results are good or not. Thank you guys.
---
James

Just put in magna power etx15l from Advanced Auto, previously labled as DEKA brand. Came ready to put in bike from store. No filling or charging. Price, I didn't think was that bad, $79.99.

I believe the ones that come already filled and sealed are better than the ones you have to fill, then seal. In fact, aren't they two different types of batteries altogether? The stock battery in my Rebel is sealed, but I was told it was not an AGM battery. Jerry.

So many batteries on the market, couldn't settle on one, so I turned to the
old reliable Yuasa from the Yuasa site online, 7.50 for shipping, total without
tax 104 bucks, but if your state charges sales tax, that will be added in.
Maintenance Free (MF) 210 CCA.
Dealer down the street wanted 127 bucks with tax included.

Old original Yuasa that came with the bike is 2 1/2 years old now, still works
fine, but don't want to take any chances with the electrical system.

BTW the gas additive that I've been using for the last two years sure works
good, haven't had to fill the tank near full like with other brands. The bike fires up easily with regualr plugs and Sea Foam gas additive in the tank.

Hi:
I looked at the sears, it was not yuasa, but was made in Taiwan by johnson controls. It's probably a good battery, but sears wanted to charge me a $10.00 core charge, and so I bought the Yuasa online with free shipping from Amazon. $87.26. It's made in America, Reading Pa. Keeps our people on the job for the same cost or less. The Amazon store was Fay Meyers in Colorado.
Bronson

I just purchased the Yuasa from cheapcycleparts for $82 with shipping.

Today I replaced my flooded battery with an AGM from Batteries Plus. It is model X2-15L Xtreme.
Item number: X2-15L
Capacity: 14AH
CCA: 210
It was $79 + tax
Also installed a quick connect cable for the Battery Tender Plus.

Just installed a Scorpion AGM YTX14AHL from ebay overhill600. This battery was previously mentioned by Norsseman and CapHAB.

Arrived out of the box with a 13.05VDC charge. So far so good. Bike cranks with barely a tap on the starter.

$61.00, 20% discount for using BillMeLater, free USPS Priority shipping. Ordered on Monday, arrived on Friday. Final price: $48.80

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-VN750-A-Vulcan-Battery-1986-06-YTX14AHL-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem43a02e2d47QQitemZ29045 0189639QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Hope your Chinese Scorpion holds up better than mine. After 18 months it died without warning and I had to trailer the bike home. Had 12+ volts and zero amps. Now have a U.S. made Deka battery for a few bucks more. Appears to be a much better quality battery.

How long has the Deka been in? Curious just how long these gel cells last ... USA or Chinese made. I'll keep all abreast of how mine does.

Since about April of this year, I think. Lance cautioned me about the Scorpion when I first got it. Unfortunately in my case, they were right! Longevity seems to run from 3-5 years according to what I read here.

has anyone ever tried an interstate MF AGM battery? rather than all these china made ones?

has anyone ever tried an interstate MF AGM battery? rather than all these china made ones?

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Search.aspx/Motorcycles/KAWASAKI-MOTORCYCLES/VN750-A-Vulcan?dsNavigation=Ns~product+Type%7c101%7c1%7c,N ~38-4282938582-4294487138

The Interstate Cyclotron Plus ($92) is prefilled with electrolyte, and the Cyclotron II ($85) must be filled from an acid pack before use. They are both Absorbed Glass Mat technology, so I believe they are high quality, but I can`t find any reference on this site or on Wikipedia if the batteries are actually made in the USA, even though the head office is.

Unless there is something about Interstate batteries that I don`t know, I`m not sure why a person would pay a $20-30 premium for one, when you can get a Deka MF-AGM online for $73 shipped.:confused:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Deka-ETX15L-Powersports-AGM-Battery-100-NEW-/270282472155?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item3eee173adb

because interstate batteries are awsome! haha. but thats ok i didn't get one i went with the recommended yuasa MF for our bikes. along with some gaskets in order to do my base gaskets. (leaking) temp fix was stop leak and it worked, but ima do it right to make sure it doesn't ruin my bike. i just needed time to get parts and **** together. :(

i just barely got done doing my back tire and spline grease, it has metzeler marathon 880's front and rear now (factory sizes) i feel like i should of gone with a bigger rear tire since there is room and it would make the gearing better but the old tire took up so much room i thought a bigger one wouldnt fit oh well. it was real easy! but is it that the bike falls apart at 10,000 miles? it seems that way.thats really bad quality gaskets if u have to pull the engine and replaces them at 10,000. :BLAM:

i considered trading in cus of all of it, but i love this bike, so fuggit! hopefully ther will be many miles of smiles after all this is through.:motorcycl

I had lots of trouble starting today, cranking, cranking, cranking. I've only owned my first bike a few weeks and 250 miles, and have been meaning to get a new battery as suggested by most owners on this forum. So I went to Batteries Plus and got a AGM X2-15L, and wow what a difference. It cranked SOOOOO quickly.
Thanks for all the great info!

Very useful information, I have just ordered a YTX14AHL-BS online. Thanks!

I just went to Yuasa's website. HOLY CRAP! 97.00 for a M/F battery. There has to be a less expensive place to get a decent battery w/o having to drop a C note to get it. Too much for my blood.

DEKA ETX15L , Powersport AGM battery recommended by our go-to-guy, lance 328, is still only $60.95:smiley_th
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Deka-ETX15L-Powersports-AGM-Battery-100-NEW-/270282472155?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item3eee173adb

Support your local battery dealer if you can find a MF-AGM battery to fit there. Check physical battery dimensions before buying though, as the first one I got from a NAPA cross reference last spring was a fraction of an inch too long to fit the battery holder.:(

I called Batteries Plus today, and they have 2 different AGM batteries.
1 year full replacement was 56.00
2 year full replacement was 78.00
I was told that both have 220 CCA's about half my car battery CCA's
Is that too much for the starter? I will have to double check the stats on them.

No, that's not too many CCA's.

It doesn't matter how many CCAs the battery is rated for as long as it's enough to keep you cranking on a cold day until the engine starts. Your starter will only draw what it needs, you can't have too many.

If you're buying a quality battery then 1 year replacement should be enough time for a defect to show up. If it works well for a year then I don't think it'll go bad in the second year. If it were me, I would not pay the extra for the second year of insurance.

Good luck

I've bought a couple of the $56 Batteries Plus batteries, and they work very well.

Thanks guys. I will stick with the 1 year battery. I will get part numbers, and I will let you know how it works for my bike. The battery in it now has plenty of juice for an acid type. I have cranked my bike for over 3 minutes (not continuously) and no lag in power from it. The starter was a little slow in cranking, so I will see how it does with the AGM one.

^^SPAM^^ Reported

After looking up the Yuasa batteries I found a cross reference chart for other equal batteries.

- Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS, YB14L-A2, YB14L-B2, 12N14-3A
- GNB 14L-A2, 14L-B2
- Deka ETX15L
- Delco MC1406
- Interstate YTX14AHL-BS, YB14L-A2, YB14L-B2
- GS-Ztong Yee CB14L-A2, CB14L-B2
- GS-JSB GM14Z-3A, GM14Z-3B
- Motocross M62H4L, M3214Y, M2214B
- Napa 740-1851, 740-1828
- Sears 44005, 44364, 44059
- Wal-Mart ES14L-A2
- Yacht CB14L-A2, CB14L-B2

After looking up the Yuasa batteries I found a cross reference chart for other equal batteries.

Duece, I think you mean it will replace them, not that they are all "equal".
Some of the batteries listed may be MF, but many are not.

An MF-AGM battery will fit but be superior in performance and/or longevity to non MF batteries.

For example I found this statement preceding the same chart you posted, on the ebay site selling the Deka battery.

Deka ETX15L

This part # is a direct replacement for the following part #'s:
Yuasa YTX14AHL-BS, YB14L-A2, YB14L-B2
12N14-3A
GNB 14L-A2, 14L-B2
Deka ETX15L
Delco MC1406
Interstate YTX14AHL-BS, YB14L-A2, YB14L-B2
GS-Ztong Yee CB14L-A2, CB14L-B2
GS-JSB GM14Z-3A, GM14Z-3B
Motocross M62H4L, M3214Y, M2214B
Napa 740-1851, 740-1828
Sears 44005, 44364, 44059
Wal-Mart ES14L-A2
Yacht CB14L-A2, CB14L-B2

Duece, I think you mean it will replace them, not that they are all "equal".


That's exactly what I meant. Thanks for the catching that.

The VN 750 forum comes through again! Took your advice and replaced my stock battery with a Westco AGM battery. WHat a difference!! A bike that used to be a real PITA to start just cranks right over now! Thanks again everyone!!

The VN 750 forum comes through again! Took your advice and replaced my stock battery with a Westco AGM battery. WHat a difference!! A bike that used to be a real PITA to start just cranks right over now! Thanks again everyone!!

that's because we know our sh!t! when it comes to Vulcan 750's, there is no other place that knows more. not even Ma Kaw! lol

Anybody's thoughts on the Advance Auto Parts version? I can get it for $81 dollars

The Deka is good quality, U.S. made, and cheaper on ebay. Here's the link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Deka-ETX15L-Powersports-AGM-Battery-100-NEW-/270282472155?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item3eee173adb

All the Advance Auto motorcycle batteries locally are made in Taiwan. Better than China, but don't think as good as Deka and West Penn.

The Advance Auto battery says 220 CCA the DEKA is 190 CCA. Would that make much difference?

It might. But IIRC, when I got my Deka battery, it actually said it has 220 CCAs. I think they haven't updated their photos in a while. Maybe someone can verify. It's getting late and I'm too lazy/tired to go see.

It might. But IIRC, when I got my Deka battery, it actually said it has 220 CCAs. I think they haven't updated their photos in a while. Maybe someone can verify. It's getting late and I'm too lazy/tired to go see.

fc is right ^^^

Check the chart at the bottom of this link to Deka`s site, and you will see an updated rating for the ETX 14 battery of 220 CCA
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0278(6.10).pdf

Ok. Thanks

I found an Interstate for 89 dollars locally

question .... why is it that the etx15l is whats recommended but the terminals are on the wrong side??

my positive is on my brake side
the etx 15l has the pos on the clutch side if the batt is facing the front of bike
the etx 15 has the pos on the brake side

question .... why is it that the etx15l is whats recommended but the terminals are on the wrong side??

my positive is on my brake side
the etx 15l has the pos on the clutch side if the batt is facing the front of bike
the etx 15 has the pos on the brake side


Maybe they sent you the wrong battery?

question .... why is it that the etx15l is whats recommended but the terminals are on the wrong side??

my positive is on my brake side
the etx 15l has the pos on the clutch side if the batt is facing the front of bike
the etx 15 has the pos on the brake side

The ETX15L is the proper battery, L signifying right side positive.

I have a non "L" battery and had to mount my battery backwards. It didn't really hurt anything. /shrug

I wonder if your battery was mis-labled.

Got my Golden Dragon Gel MF battery in. Got the battery pre sealed and charged. Seems to work great. Bike starts quicker and lights are brighter. Paid only 42 bucks.Now on to change lights to led!!
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Battery-Geek/_i.html?_nkw=Kawasaki+YTX14AHL-BS+Battery&submit=Search&_sid=240056493

just putting this out there. my battery is dead again. been running the magna extreme power from autozone. I do not reccomend it as this will be the third one im on and its dead. stored inside and charged a few times through the winter. been lucky to get two seasons tops out of one!

just putting this out there. my battery is dead again. been running the magna extreme power from autozone. I do not reccomend it as this will be the third one im on and its dead. stored inside and charged a few times through the winter. been lucky to get two seasons tops out of one!

Thanks for the heads up. I am not questioning your abilities or knowledge in the least but do you think this is all due to the actual battery or there may be a bad connection causing a constant drain. I have had the same battery in my bike since I bought it about three years ago and I am not sure how long it was in there before I bought the bike. Towards the end of this past winter it was beginning to have a difficult time turning over the bike. I pulled it out and cleaned the terminals and because it is not MF I refilled it with some electrolyte I had from about twenty years or more. I gave it a full overnight charge and it has been excellent ever since. If a regular battery can continue like that I would expect a Magna Extreme to be better. I am sure I am on borrowed time with this present battery and had looked at the Autozone choices before I reworked my battery so I am interested in any pros and cons others may have towards the options available. Thanks for your opinion here. I was always confused as to the short warranty period given for bike batteries but I guess it may have to do with the exposure to the elements and the weak charging systems on some bikes.

Thanks for the heads up. I am not questioning your abilities or knowledge in the least but do you think this is all due to the actual battery or there may be a bad connection causing a constant drain. I have had the same battery in my bike since I bought it about three years ago and I am not sure how long it was in there before I bought the bike. Towards the end of this past winter it was beginning to have a difficult time turning over the bike. I pulled it out and cleaned the terminals and because it is not MF I refilled it with some electrolyte I had from about twenty years or more. I gave it a full overnight charge and it has been excellent ever since. If a regular battery can continue like that I would expect a Magna Extreme to be better. I am sure I am on borrowed time with this present battery and had looked at the Autozone choices before I reworked my battery so I am interested in any pros and cons others may have towards the options available. Thanks for your opinion here. I was always confused as to the short warranty period given for bike batteries but I guess it may have to do with the exposure to the elements and the weak charging systems on some bikes.
Did you empty the battery of the old electrolyte and refill with all new electrolyte?
Or did you just add electrolyte (acid), instead of distilled water, to top the battery level up?

To the best of my knowledge, only distilled water should ever be added to a wet cell battery, never more electrolyte.
I`m glad it worked for you but would be apprehensive about recommending the practice to others. Just saying. :)

You are right Hoss. You don't want to change the water to acid ratio in the battery.

Hey friends! I know, long time since I've posted. Missed you all. Last ride, I noticed the bike starting to crank longer to fire and then the BANG backfire. A sure sign the battery isn't giving me enough juice to fire. So, just placed my order for the Big Crank ETX15L from BatteryMart. I remember when I put the first AGM battery in the bike what a difference it made. I expect no different with this one!

As always, I appreciate this forum and the ability to come here and get the best advice for my bike. Once again, you guys rock!!