Hi All
Well the battery in my BMW R75/5 tug went south so I decided to replace it with a car battery in the car’s boot. I got all I needed from Wal-Mart ; the battery(24 size), a marine battery box, 49” 6 gauge cables , and the terminal adaptors for the ring end cables. All this cost $90.00 a bit less than an acceptable bike battery.
Installation was not too much of a problem I mounted the cut down battery box to the floor of the car with 5/16” bolts and rubber isolated fender washers and cut a ¾” hole in the side of the car for the wires to pass through with a protecting grommet. Then I connected the wiring inside the tug by mounting a piece of 1x2 wood across the frame and used ¼” bolts and wing nuts to connect the wiring just as it had been at the original battery posts.
It’s running fine with good positive starts and I don’t worry about running my lights with the added capacity. Only problem was reduced space in the boot but I managed to get all my tools, jack, and emergency gear back in with minimal trouble.
Good rides,
King
That is thinking outside the battery box. :^) With my present side hack I'd have to remove the auxillary fuel tank from behind the seat to locate a car battery there. I need the extra fuel and added range it provides more than a larger battery. I use a battery tender through the winter and we usually carry a battery pack in the sidecar for emergencies.
For your situation it seems you have found a very good solution.
I've used a similar solution for years but I went for a smaller lawn tractor battery and used a piece of Plexiglas to support the connections. I don't think it matters. Don, a couple of guys I know have mounted a battery box between the bike and the hack. It does the same job with no trunk space lost. Be careful out there!
On the ATV winch would run battery down plowing snow. I put a car battery in the tool box problem solved.
Plan is to do one on the sidecar also. While the bike keeps up the charge you can tell it needs more. The m8 engine is harder to start in the cold. The heated seat and heated blanket in the sidecars is pushing the limits. Weak battery is a sure way to do long term damage to starters.
We just did a battery conversion on a Watsonian sidecar we first installed 8 or 9 years ago onto a Vulcan. On this bike we make a battery box that bolted to the side of the frame into existing holes and to keep it narrow we went with 2 6volt Optima batteries. He should, if need be, be able to run all day with no charging system. He mainly wanted the bike to be able to sit for months and not have the battery go dead or need replacment.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
I install group 51 battery in homemade box on the frame of Gl1500/ Friendsip 3 almost 10 years ago. 1st battery last 7 years. I am on 2 one now.
