Africa Twin Adventure Sports

[Tonylancs76]

Evening all,

I’m ok at riding bikes but when it comes to anything technical I’m still learning and finding my way! So hopefully this isn’t a daft question

On my ATAS the battery is in the most stupid place I’ve ever seen on a bike, however I am trying to fit a battery trickle charger and also my lead for the heated gear I use in winter, but I can’t seem to get the terminal bolt back in when it’s got both leads on it.

So is it simply just to use a longer bolt or is that a no no?

Thanks

Tony

[garyboy]

Maybe jam something at the back of the little nut to bring it nearer the bolt. to start it off.

[Tonylancs76]

Ok thanks I’ll give that a try

Cheers

[v8mark]

I have seen blue tac used to push the nuts forward and hold them there

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Remember to connect the Earth ( – ) wire last

[garyboy]

It's weird .. I'm sure years ago it was earth wire first .. things are not the same, half a century on lol

[catcitrus]

The reason that its earth wire last is that if a positive is connected to the battery and a "live" positive extra lead touches the frame then there will be a short to earth.

[lancashirelad]

On one of my bikes I had to order longer bolts when I was connecting the Optimate lead, only place I could source them was China, by the time they arrived I’d sold the bike!!

[Magnusson]

I'd get a fuse box. Then you only have one set of connectors on the battery and the fuses more easily accessible. Some of the latest fuseboxes have outputs that you can turn on and off and fuses that you can reset all from your phone.

The main reason for connecting the negative last is if you're connecting the positive and your wrench touches the chassis nothing happens. Then when connecting the negative if your wrench touches the chassis nothing happens.
If you connect the negative first and your wrench touches the chassis nothing happens. Then when you're connecting the positive and your wrench touches the chassis you have what the professionals call a short. Worst case scenario is your bike catching fire, that spreads to your shed, and then your house, with you, your wife and kids inside. More likely nothing happens, or you only get a small black spot on your wrench. But the smart thing is to connect the negative last.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

It's weird .. I'm sure years ago it was earth wire first .. things are not the same, half a century on lol

Earth off first, on last...isolates the spanner from being a conductor.

Bear in mind that a vented battery gives off hydrogen when charging.