I need a better battery

[exharley]

My current battery (stock) is insufficient. Doesn't seem to have enough cranking amps even when it was new.
I've heard a lot about gelbats and people who have them are satisfied with them. Does anyone have a recommendation on a really good battery , gel or otherwise with enough cranking amps to get this cold blooded booger starting good ? Also, where can I obtain one and what would be the part number ?
I have a 2005 1600 Nomad.
thanks
Jim

[gman47]

Try this site: http://www.batterymart.com/c-kawasaki-vn1600-a-vulcan-classic-battery.html

[Bud2rat]

I purchased a gel battery from AutoZone 3 years ago and have not had any problems. I believe it was called Extreme for $89. Ready to use out the box.

[Silent Sam]

..I'v found my 02 Nomad to be "reluctant" to start...when temps drop below aprox 55 (f)..tho I keep the bike on a battery tender jr...at all time when at home..(recent load testing shows my battery is "as good as new")...

I have a small ceramic bathroom heater...when placed at an 45 degree angle, upward, in front of the engine...after 5-10 minutes the bike starts on the first turn ! (the heater is small enough to haul...but would require a 115v power source..and I just dont ride in those temps..unless it promises to warm up PDQ !)

.Question for the forum...how cold...can your bike be, and still start up ? :hmm:

[Teachme]

I rode my 01 1500 this morning left the house at 37 degrees. Had warned up to 65 before reaching my destination. Started right up this am.

[exharley]

Thanks fellers, we have a few Auto Zones around here, think I'll go visit one tomorrow.
Jim

[MAS Tequila]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-lithium-power-sport-battery-lithium-iron-lfp-4-260-cca-lfp-4/10570098-P?navigationPath=L1*14920%7CL2*15000%7CL3*15602

I put one of these in mine and so far it's better than anything I've tried in the last 8 years that I've had this bike.

MT

[07vulc]

http://www.amazon.com/Yuasa-YUAM6220C-YTX20CH-BS-Battery/dp/B000WJX3R6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356961006&sr=8-1&keywords=kawasaki%20nomad%20battery&tag=vglnk-c1253-20

[nomad ryder]

do a voltage cranking test- you may have dirty/corroded start circuit connections

[Snake Ranch]

Or your starter is dragging. How many amps are you trying to pull from your battery when its cold? As said in the previous post it may not be your battery. When starters get old, the bearings and the shaft can wear, the brushes and the armature wear, connections become corroded causing high resistance. Check out the "system" before you shell out your cash. It could cost you more in the long run.:???::???:

[MAS Tequila]

A stock battery, if it's original, in an 05 has seen more years than most.

If it's nine years old, you got your moneys worth out of it.

Check out the lithium batteries, they are the future.

MT

[Scouser]

Snake RAnch: How do you check if the starter is dragging? I just replaced my 05 original with a new one from Battery Mart, Ocasionally it crancks then stops and the clock etc reset, which is the same reason I changed out my 9 year orignal.

[MAS Tequila]

When my starter went south it would never crank on the first push of the button. I had to push it at least twice before it would crank. It would make a half hearted attempt and spin maybe 1/10 of a revolution.

The replacement starter spins on the first bump every time.

MT

Snake RAnch: How do you check if the starter is dragging? I just replaced my 05 original with a new one from Battery Mart, Ocasionally it crancks then stops and the clock etc reset, which is the same reason I changed out my 9 year orignal.

[roadhawg]

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-lithium-power-sport-battery-lithium-iron-lfp-4-260-cca-lfp-4/10570098-P?navigationPath=L1*14920%7CL2*15000%7CL3*15602

I put one of these in mine and so far it's better than anything I've tried in the last 8 years that I've had this bike.

MT

That will be my next battery!

THat sounds good! A Lithium Battery for $149.!

Thats not much more than I paid for my AGM Battery!

[Snake Ranch]

Snake RAnch: How do you check if the starter is dragging? I just replaced my 05 original with a new one from Battery Mart, Ocasionally it crancks then stops and the clock etc reset, which is the same reason I changed out my 9 year orignal.

You need to disconnect the battery cable at the battery or starter and hook a meter "in line" that is capable of handling the amp draw the starter can pull to see what the starter is trying to pull from the battery. Some shops can do this. Another way to check is to open the starter up and check the condition of the brushes and bearings.

When you say the clock resets, that is an indication of low voltage. The battery should be load checked, and not by one of those dinky small hand held things. Use a real load tester. Those hand held things can give false readings. I've been down that road before.

Check the condition of the cables and connections. The best way is to remove the nuts and bolts and make sure there is no corrosion. Inspect the cables for swelling, that would indicate corrosion inside the cable insulation.

Check the positive side and the ground side, especially the ground points on the frame with bolts and nuts. They can corrode and you will not see it. You can use a meter and check resistance across the connection if you isolate it.

What you are looking for a place with corrosion that would cause "resistance" giving you a false indication of low voltage.

I hope this helps.:tup:

[Jllm02199]

My current battery (stock) is insufficient. Doesn't seem to have enough cranking amps even when it was new.
I've heard a lot about gelbats and people who have them are satisfied with them. Does anyone have a recommendation on a really good battery , gel or otherwise with enough cranking amps to get this cold blooded booger starting good ? Also, where can I obtain one and what would be the part number ?
I have a 2005 1600 Nomad.
thanks
Jim

A better battery will cost more. I too got tired of the new batteries every 2-3 years. Even new they were not strong enough to kick it over when hot.
I decided to go with Lithium ion.

Deltran that makes the battery tender makes a Lithium ion.
The one I bought was 229.00 480 cranking amps. I haven't needed a charger and it is 1 1/2 years old.. It sat for 3 weeks in June and it kicked right off.

I love it so far.

[Erilflynn]

Get a Yuasa from Amazon or tricity battery where you put the acid in yourself. Problem with Batterymart is you don't know when they put be acid in and charged it. $90

[exharley]

I should mention that the problem started a couple of months ago where I would go to start it and it would reset the trip meter and the clock. I has slowly gotten worse.
A friend of mine told me that something could be dragging the battery down so I removed the neg. cable and charged the battery fully. Then as I moved the cable back to the neg. post I looked for an arc and no arc so I don't reckon it has a partial ground.
I left the neg. cable off and about 2 hours after I fully charged it I restarted the charger and sure enough.....the battery had to recharge again.

[Boscoe]

[QUOTE=Silent Sam;605552

I have a small ceramic bathroom heater...when placed at an 45 degree angle, upward, in front of the engine...after 5-10 minutes the bike starts on the first turn ! (the heater is small enough to haul...but would require a 115v power source..and I just dont ride in those temps..unless it promises to warm up PDQ !)

:hmm:[/QUOTE]

Maybe you could get an inverter to carry with you to run the heater from? :yep:

[Silent Sam]

Actually I have one of those mini-inverters..aint checked to see if it could handle the load !

Then after warming the engine..the battery might be dead ! :wtf: :ohno: :D

[minst7877]

Try this site: http://www.batterymart.com/c-kawasaki-vn1600-a-vulcan-classic-battery.html

I put one of these in my 1500 and it is a great battery.

DC

[exharley]

I put one of these in my 1500 and it is a great battery.

DC









I can't find anything that tells what the cranking amps are on this battery. What are the cca

[Framer]

Here's the specs

Specifications: Features:
BM Part #: YTX20CH-BS
Voltage: 12 Volt
Capacity: 18 Ah
Cold Cranking Amps: 270 CCA
Type: AGM
Warranty: 1 Year
Shipping Weight: 15.00 Pounds
Length: 6"
Width: 3 7/16"
Height: 6 3/8"
Free Shipping!
Motocross Platinum; Made in the USA
Ships fully charged out of the box and ready to install.
Sealed, Maintenance-Free Design; Vibration Resistant, Leakproof, and Spillproof.
Environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable.
New bolts included in every package.
Replaces: 01-352, 33610-03G10, CYTX20CH-BS, M6220C, MOSM6220C, YT20CH-4, YTX16-BS, YTX20CH-BS.

[roadhawg]

I will say this from my own experience with weak batteries.......
If your clock is always resetting all the time most likely your battery is goin bad.

A bad battery will still sometimes turn/crank the starter, but without sufficient voltage bike will still not provide enuff spark to fire. I have had very good luck with my AGM battery from Advance Auto. Knock on wood!

[exharley]

Well, I just got around to doing a volt test on the thing....took it off the charger and had 12.5 volts, cranking it dropped down to 9 volts but idling it went to 14-1 volts. Whats that tell ya ? Bad battery is my guess.

[Framer]

I just replaced my battery last night. That last couple of times I cranked the bike it would startup just fine but the gauges would reset. When they tested it the cold cranking amps were down to 155 ( the battery was rated as a 220). I went with a AGM with a cca rating of 270.

[minst7877]

Well, I just got around to doing a volt test on the thing....took it off the charger and had 12.5 volts, cranking it dropped down to 9 volts but idling it went to 14-1 volts. Whats that tell ya ? Bad battery is my guess.


Yep a bad battery

DC