Negative battery lead

[yorkshire]

I find taking the battery out of the bike a real pain, the negative lead is always in the way, has anyone done anything different here? if so I would be interested to see what has been done

[Bros Steve]

I feel your pain. I have been working on both my bikes today and found by pushing the lead underneath the brake reservoir makes easy access for battery in and out then I fish it back with long nosed pliers. Fitted a new rubber cover to one which ripped straight away so I'm not going to bother on the negative side. As long as battery cover is in place I haven't experienced any problems.

[Bros Steve]

Obviously if anyone has come up with a cunning plan I'm all ears.

[ParcNHawk]

Lithium batteries are a smaller form factor and that can solve your problem.

[bk94si]

I've never really noticed this was a problem. The only problem I've had is just lifting the battery when there is nothing to hold onto and nothing to grip but the little battery terminals.

[6]

I never run the full sized battery. The bike can get buy with much smaller or lithium as Bob said. So it's not an issue I have.

[squirrelman]

for lifting, you can fasten a string under the battery terminals into a loop as a handle.

[ParcNHawk]

You can also put a strap under the battery before you put it in then lift it up by the strap.

Of course this solution requires the forethought to have done it before installing the battery so it won't help everyone.

[Maritime]

good tips, I'll be swapping the battery this weekend so a strap should go under incase I need to remove it again.

[6]

requires the forethought to have done it before installing the battery so it won't help everyone.

What you hunting at here??

We can't all live in the future you know....

[ParcNHawk]

Next time you take out the battery, put a strap inder it.

Living in the future is easy. You get there inevitably.

[scupula]

Hello all.
The battery on my Hawk has been dying since I got it. Hopefully my wife is going to start commuting to work in downtown Pittsburgh on it (about 40 miles round trip) and I wanted her to have a good battery.
I ordered a replacement lithium ion (NLP9) from NO.CO (I already have their battery tender. The battery seems to be a drag and drop replacement with slightly better specs.
The problem that I ran into is that it looked like the rear brake reservoir was in the way. I removed the bolt holding it on and while shimmying the old battery out, I knocked it loose. I toweled up the fluid, before installing the new battery, but the reservoir is not attached to the bike any longer. Is it fine to just reattach it and bleed the brakes, or should I rerun with new hoses and a new reservoir because it's a 30+ year old motorcycle and it knocked loose so easily. I haven't done either of those things on any vehicle before, but I feel fairly confident that I can do it with "adult supervision."
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Just for clarification, you guys are "adult supervision."
Thanks
Josh

[Tripleman]

I find taking the battery out of the bike a real pain, the negative lead is always in the way, has anyone done anything different here? if so I would be interested to see what has been done

I use a thin strap under the battery Ian, but have to force the terminal out of the way, as Bros Steve said. Never used a lithium battery.

[Ziggy]

You can do a reservior delete.
Install a piece of clear or opaque tubing, 7/16 ID IIRC, to act as a reservoir to replace the factory reservior and hose.
Use a cap that can be purchased at a hardware store and a hose clamp at either end to hold everything in place.
If you need a picture for reference I can provide one and if you can't locate the correct tubing contact me. I have some Tygon opaque yellow tubing somewhere in the garage that will work.

[Tripleman]

This is will do you scupula,give 6 credit for the photo.