Another Battery Question... Help

PhiloMcGiffin · May 21, 2010

:?: When I bought my '74 Mk IIA - Non Electric Start, the P.O. did not use any battery hold down method... I'd like an "elegant solution" (functional and visually appealing). Does anyone have any suggestions? Bungie cords and duct tape do NOT qualify. I can't seem to find the proper OEM parts. I plan to use a WectCo Maintenance Free AGM battery as recommended in the other battery thread.

Your suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

swooshdave · May 21, 2010

PhiloMcGiffin said:
:?: When I bought my '74 Mk IIA - Non Electric Start, the P.O. did not use any battery hold down method... I'd like an "elegant solution" (functional and visually appealing). Does anyone have any suggestions? Bungie cords and duct tape do NOT qualify. I can't seem to find the proper OEM parts. I plan to use a WectCo Maintenance Free AGM battery as recommended in the other battery thread.

Your suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

The cross bar and straps are available from the regular dealers, are they not?

tpeever · May 21, 2010

PhiloMcGiffin said:
:?: When I bought my '74 Mk IIA - Non Electric Start, the P.O. did not use any battery hold down method... I'd like an "elegant solution" (functional and visually appealing). Does anyone have any suggestions? Bungie cords and duct tape do NOT qualify. I can't seem to find the proper OEM parts. I plan to use a WectCo Maintenance Free AGM battery as recommended in the other battery thread.

Your suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

I just use a couple of zip ties hooked together. Works great.

PhiloMcGiffin · May 22, 2010

SDave... I don't think so. I've tried several places (Old Britts, etc) and no luck. I don't mean to be rude; but zip ties do not qualify as "elegant"

Thoughts?

pete.v · May 22, 2010

PhiloMcGiffin said:
SDave... I don't think so. I've tried several places (Old Britts, etc) and no luck. I don't mean to be rude; but zip ties do not qualify as "elegant"

Thoughts?

Elegant? Really? Inovation may be the key word and you, Philo, should commission yourself to take the reines on this one. Please, let us know what elegant, yet functional, solution you come up with.
CommandoSpecialties has your straps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Norton-C ... 35a98b35ac

kommando · May 22, 2010

Those battery straps are for pre MK2A, the MK2A uses a single strap with a clip on one end and the strap wraps around a pin on the other. If you can track down the BSA unit single strap for 69/70 model year it can be made to fit.

For the genuine strap you need one of these

one of these

and a pin

I got mine from RGM.

B+Bogus · May 22, 2010

Kommando beat me to it!

Just to clarify the differences - the MKIIA has a plastic airbox and the battery is mounted across the frame. The other external clue is the Dzus fastener in the sidepanel...

The pin locates the strap at the bottom of the battery next to the oil tank, and the buckle locates in a similar manner at the opposite side.
Plenty of room for a PCV too

rgrigutis · May 22, 2010

Velcro works. Just don't get carried away w/ it. Or a 1/2" aluminum angle held down w/ 1/4" threaded rod thru the bottom of the battery tray.

Form follows function. Elegance happens when people refine the form of the function. I think I recognize elegance but know I don't always create it.

swooshdave · May 23, 2010

rgrigutis said:
Velcro works. Just don't get carried away w/ it. Or a 1/2" aluminum angle held down w/ 1/4" threaded rod thru the bottom of the battery tray.

Form follows function. Elegance happens when people refine the form of the function. I think I recognize elegance but know I don't always create it.

I'm really leaning towards velcro, especially since I already reused the stock strap holes for other things.

BrianK · May 23, 2010

If using elegant in its literal meaning, zip ties certainly qualify. Simple and effective. That's an elegant solution.

If by elegant you mean something else, perhaps not.

I use velcro and zipties with a half pound lithium ferrous battery. And yes, it's elegant!

batrider · May 24, 2010

Got tired of losing the expensive pieces every time a strap disintegrated. (Also the stock setup is the opposite of elegant.) I used a heavy rubber battery strap from a Harley. Something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RUBBER-B ... ccessories

It was $1.99 when I bought one. Made some ends out of 1/8" aluminum sheet scrap to adapt the metal ring of the strap to screw heads sticking out which fit inside the existing holes in the battery box used by the stock hold-down. This thing really holds the battery down too. If the rubber ever breaks I can re-use my ends on a new strap. (Not home right now to take a picture.)

pete.v · May 24, 2010

batrider said:
Got tired of losing the expensive pieces every time a strap disintegrated. (Also the stock setup is the opposite of elegant.) I used a heavy rubber battery strap from a Harley. Something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RUBBER-B ... ccessories

It was $1.99 when I bought one. Made some ends out of 1/8" aluminum sheet scrap to adapt the metal ring of the strap to screw heads sticking out which fit inside the existing holes in the battery box used by the stock hold-down. This thing really holds the battery down too. If the rubber ever breaks I can re-use my ends on a new strap. (Not home right now to take a picture.)

That's almost like a bungee cord, ain't it.

swooshdave · May 24, 2010

pvisseriii said:
batrider said:

Got tired of losing the expensive pieces every time a strap disintegrated. (Also the stock setup is the opposite of elegant.) I used a heavy rubber battery strap from a Harley. Something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RUBBER-B ... ccessories

It was $1.99 when I bought one. Made some ends out of 1/8" aluminum sheet scrap to adapt the metal ring of the strap to screw heads sticking out which fit inside the existing holes in the battery box used by the stock hold-down. This thing really holds the battery down too. If the rubber ever breaks I can re-use my ends on a new strap. (Not home right now to take a picture.)

Click to expand...

That's almost like a bungee cord, ain't it.

Almost.