check your battery cables

[coz]

while wiring my sound system last week i discovered that my battery cables were just about worked loose. neg. cable was little more than hand tight, pos cable was a little tighter than that, so i cranked em down MFT , few more rides and i was screwed. i know it's a p i a to pull panels, but it beats the hell out of a tow and a ruined day.:yikes::yikes::yikes: my bike was starting perfectly, but it was soon to fail. check them before it's too late.

 

[NancysToy]

Good advice. This is an item that should be checked at every oil change, if not more often.

 

[Lamonster]

That is good advice and I would not recommend pulling power right off the battery, use the lug for jumping your Spyder under the seat and the ground on the fuel tank on the left side for your ground. DO NOT use the lug on the right side for ground. :lecturef_smilie:

 

[coz]

battery

why is this a bad idea? i also installed a battery tender pigtail while i was in there.:dontknow::shocked: it's just an ordinary head unit, no external amp, two speakers

 

[Lamonster]

The more you add to the battery post the more chance you have of it loosening up on you. I use to do the same thing and smarter folks than I told me it was a bad idea and to hook it where I told you. I did notice that my connection would need snugging down over time going right to the battery.

I hook my ground to the bolt you see on the fuel tank


I pull power here

 

[coz]

battery cables

i think this is something i'm going to keep an eye on, regularly. after reading many threads on loose cables and subsequent problems. thanks Lamont:thumbup:

 

[MarkLawson]

When I had the rear section off my Spyder last year to install the CB/Intercom system, I decided I would remove that ground jumper under that saddle and cut threads in the hole and use a regular bolt with no nut. What I found was that the hole was already threaded. I then got a proper sized bolt (larger), replaced the ground connection attached to it for a larger connection & used some blue Locktite on it. I just checked and it is as tight as I made it last year. I'm glad it's doing well, but will be more attentive to check it in the future.