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kody · 06-30-2010, 09:45 AM

My wife has an S50 and the owner's manual is really confusing about changing the battery. Any clear instructions available? Guidance?

seruzawa · 06-30-2010, 10:41 AM

Remove the ground (black) lead first and connect it last. Once the leads are disconnected just remove whatever clamp is holding the battery and pull it out. It can help to get some dielectric grease at Autozone and smear it on the terminals after the new battery is installed. Make sure the overflow tube is reconnected as well.

Don't cheap out on a battery. It's false economy. Buy a good one like with a 3 year warranty.

Kenneth_Moore · 06-30-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seruzawa

Make sure the overflow tube is reconnected as well.

Don't cheap out on a battery. It's false economy. Buy a good one like with a 3 year warranty.

I thought you were a battery expert. If he buys a decent battery it won't have an overflow tube, it will be sealed.

HAH!

seruzawa · 06-30-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

I thought you were a battery expert. If he buys a decent battery it won't have an overflow tube, it will be sealed.

HAH!

Curses!

But there are still batteries with good warranties that are old fashioned lead-acid so I'm only half-foiled.

kody · 07-01-2010, 01:48 PM

My problem is getting to the battery itself. The frame is blocking the battery and one book says go into the frame on the side to access it and another says remove the support from the bottom of the bike and the battery will essentially fall out. On the latter, I was advised to put the rear tire on a 2x4 to elevate it and give more room to work underneath.

I've never had difficulty simply accessing the battery before.

Thanks for the other comments. I am getting a good gel battery.

seruzawa · 07-01-2010, 02:10 PM

Unfortunately some bikes have the battery buried where it's a cast-iron bytch to remove it.

MOKE1K · 07-01-2010, 02:29 PM

Ok,... this battery is very hard to remove. The reason, is because you have to remove it from the bottom of the bike, underneath. There are two screws (10mm socket will be required) located on both sides of this battery box. It's located in line underneath her seat all the way to ground underneath the bike. Basically you'll have to get down on the ground to see them if you don't know where they are. Above the exhaust you'll notice the terminals covers.( if they are still there) One side is positive and the other negetive, obviously.

Just unable to recall which side is which.

The problem with changing this battery is that the regulator/rectifier is located (left side of bike while seated) very close to were you'll be unsrcewing- I belileve the negetive terminal. Which could present problems even with the bike turned off. You can arc the screw driver to the exhaust and burn something out.

Not to discourage you but hopefully you have a degree in mechanics cause its a beiotch. You will deffinately want a little longer than average length screw driver. The part you dont want to miss is taping up the shaft of the screw driver with duc tape, so as to not burn any component out if it were to touch the pipes. The other thing that you may want to consider is removing one screw from the regulator and spinning it out of your way. Its hard to get that screw back in so try it first without removing the reg/rec. screw.

Once you remove the tiny positive and negetive terminal cover screws, then remove the battery screws themselves unhooking the leads - then +. Then you can look for those ten mm head screws that hold the door shut. It will flap open like a door opening, Opening towards the front wheel.
It will swing backwards once open. Watch it cause the batteries weight will make it fall right out. Another problem with this superior design is sometimes the door to the battery box wont open due to lack of ground clearance. In this case have someone stand the bike up off its sidestand. Good luck I'll be here to help with any questions through the process.

MOKE1K · 07-01-2010, 02:34 PM

And if its any consolation Seru, this bike has a place for the battery breather hose.

MOKE1K · 07-01-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kody

My problem is getting to the battery itself. The frame is blocking the battery and one book says go into the frame on the side to access it and another says remove the support from the bottom of the bike and the battery will essentially fall out. On the latter, I was advised to put the rear tire on a 2x4 to elevate it and give more room to work underneath.

I've never had difficulty simply accessing the battery before.

Thanks for the other comments. I am getting a good gel battery.

Just imagine what a technician gets paided to do this above average battery swap.(nothing) Iv seen customers mess with it for an hour in the parking lot cause they didnt want to pay the money for it.

kody · 07-03-2010, 05:43 PM

Thanks for the details. Guess July 4 will be a good day to follow Moke1K's instructions. Hope I don't have any fireworks. Truly appreciate everyone's comments and help. If you hear a motorcycle fireworks display in Ohio, you know where it came from.
Best to all for a great 4th
Kody

06-30-2010, 09:45 AM	#1
kody Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6	Boulevard S50 -changing the battery My wife has an S50 and the owner's manual is really confusing about changing the battery. Any clear instructions available? Guidance?

06-30-2010, 10:41 AM	#2
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Remove the ground (black) lead first and connect it last. Once the leads are disconnected just remove whatever clamp is holding the battery and pull it out. It can help to get some dielectric grease at Autozone and smear it on the terminals after the new battery is installed. Make sure the overflow tube is reconnected as well. Don't cheap out on a battery. It's false economy. Buy a good one like with a 3 year warranty. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

07-01-2010, 01:48 PM	#5
kody Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6	thanks but ... My problem is getting to the battery itself. The frame is blocking the battery and one book says go into the frame on the side to access it and another says remove the support from the bottom of the bike and the battery will essentially fall out. On the latter, I was advised to put the rear tire on a 2x4 to elevate it and give more room to work underneath. I've never had difficulty simply accessing the battery before. Thanks for the other comments. I am getting a good gel battery.

07-01-2010, 02:10 PM	#6
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Unfortunately some bikes have the battery buried where it's a cast-iron bytch to remove it. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

07-01-2010, 02:29 PM	#7
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Ok,... this battery is very hard to remove. The reason, is because you have to remove it from the bottom of the bike, underneath. There are two screws (10mm socket will be required) located on both sides of this battery box. It's located in line underneath her seat all the way to ground underneath the bike. Basically you'll have to get down on the ground to see them if you don't know where they are. Above the exhaust you'll notice the terminals covers.( if they are still there) One side is positive and the other negetive, obviously. Just unable to recall which side is which. The problem with changing this battery is that the regulator/rectifier is located (left side of bike while seated) very close to were you'll be unsrcewing- I belileve the negetive terminal. Which could present problems even with the bike turned off. You can arc the screw driver to the exhaust and burn something out. Not to discourage you but hopefully you have a degree in mechanics cause its a beiotch. You will deffinately want a little longer than average length screw driver. The part you dont want to miss is taping up the shaft of the screw driver with duc tape, so as to not burn any component out if it were to touch the pipes. The other thing that you may want to consider is removing one screw from the regulator and spinning it out of your way. Its hard to get that screw back in so try it first without removing the reg/rec. screw. Once you remove the tiny positive and negetive terminal cover screws, then remove the battery screws themselves unhooking the leads - then +. Then you can look for those ten mm head screws that hold the door shut. It will flap open like a door opening, Opening towards the front wheel. It will swing backwards once open. Watch it cause the batteries weight will make it fall right out. Another problem with this superior design is sometimes the door to the battery box wont open due to lack of ground clearance. In this case have someone stand the bike up off its sidestand. Good luck I'll be here to help with any questions through the process. __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell Last edited by MOKE1K : 07-01-2010 at 08:49 PM.

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07-01-2010, 02:34 PM	#8
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	And if its any consolation Seru, this bike has a place for the battery breather hose. __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

07-03-2010, 05:43 PM	#10
kody Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6	Thanks for the details. Guess July 4 will be a good day to follow Moke1K's instructions. Hope I don't have any fireworks. Truly appreciate everyone's comments and help. If you hear a motorcycle fireworks display in Ohio, you know where it came from. Best to all for a great 4th Kody