Battery Holdown

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MexicoMike

MexicoMike

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Anybody have an elegant solution for the Commando battery holdown? A year or two ago I ordered a new AN hold down but one of the rubber straps broke on the first ride. I guess they don't make 'em like the used to! ;) At the moment I'm using a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe with a "quarter" cut out of it to lay along the upper edge of the batt, like the original metal piece, with wire ties attached from the PVC to the frame to secure it tightly. It works fine but it would be nice to have something that can be released/reattached like the original did and like the new version of the original is supposed to. What have others found that works well?
 
I don't know if this will work on yours, I have the central battery, not the side one. But I had some velcro cable wrap, I wrapped it around the battery in both directions, 2 pieces, and that holds it just fine in the carrier. Your mileage may vary.

Dave
69S
 
This is one area where I felt I had to abandon the stock setup which sucks royally. I bought a big rubber band used on Harleys and made some end pieces out of aluminum with small bolt heads that went into the holes where the Norton strap used to go. I can take some pix but it was pretty straightforward.

The Norton pieces are expensive and if one strap breaks you can easily lose the other bits on the road. The Harley strap was something like $1.29 on eBay. It really holds the battery down too.
 
I use a long (18" I think - your measurement may be different based on battery size) 1" wide heavy-duty buckling velcro strap from Mcmaster.com http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/116/1532/=9l48y0 running it over the top of the battery and down the backside of the battery tray, between tray and oil tank, and back up to buckle in front. Your battery will never bounce around again.
 
I like to use two old, right angle spokes which have been cut down and new threads rolled on. I either make a new metal angle from stainless, or reuse the old one with the slots drilled out to accept the spoke. I insert the spoke head into the existing holes in the battery box and use spoke nipples to anchor the angle.

If you don't have a spoke thread roller, you could probably use an appropriate size die and wing nuts.
 
some where along the line there was a rather expensive set up I saw.
It definitely was the answer.
I think Mic Hemmings was selling it? Help me out guys!!!!
It looked like the set up for a car.
Two side supports and a flat brace across the top.
Tightened up I could tell the battery was not moving.
I had considered it as you can leave all else stock in place.
I went with NOS hold downs in 2008. So far so good.
But like Russ said, if one gets away from you the rest of the pieces are left along the roadway.
My cross brace allowed the battery to slide back and forth.
I used some double faced tape on brace and battery top
Then cinched it down with NOS hold downs.
Sorry sounds like you got a bum hold down :cry:
Marshal
 
Bungee cord cut to length with ends bent to needed angle! Cheap and efficient!
Battery Holdown
 
My bike is a '73 so no e start, that setup.

First I spray painted some of that 3/8" high density foam carpet pad black. That stuff was then glued with contact cement to the front, back, bottom and rear of the battery box.

Then, my oil tank breather hose goes into a black plastic one quart oil bottle with the threaded part cut off - fits perfectly at the front of the battery/behind the air box plate. There's no fore/aft play between the bottle/battery/carpet pad - snug.

Third, I had one of those big "wash your car with it" pieces of sponge/foam - it's about 7" x 10" x 4" - I paspray painted it black too and It goes between the side panel and the battery/oil bottle catch can - it's a nice compression fit; I have to press the side panel in to make the Dzuz connnect.

When I want access to the battery, remove the side panel, the foam falls out, nothing to unhook or unscrew.
 
MarshalNorton said:
some where along the line there was a rather expensive set up I saw.
It definitely was the answer.
I think Mic Hemmings was selling it? Help me out guys!!!!
It looked like the set up for a car.
Two side supports and a flat brace across the top.
Tightened up I could tell the battery was not moving.
I had considered it as you can leave all else stock in place.
I went with NOS hold downs in 2008. So far so good.
But like Russ said, if one gets away from you the rest of the pieces are left along the roadway.
My cross brace allowed the battery to slide back and forth.
I used some double faced tape on brace and battery top
Then cinched it down with NOS hold downs.
Sorry sounds like you got a bum hold down :cry:
Marshal
Click to expand...

I remember the one you're talking about. Don't know where it is though. Prob some pics in another thread w/ search feature
 
MexicoMike said:
Anybody have an elegant solution for the Commando battery holdown? A year or two ago I ordered a new AN hold down but one of the rubber straps broke on the first ride. I guess they don't make 'em like the used to! ;) At the moment I'm using a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe with a "quarter" cut out of it to lay along the upper edge of the batt, like the original metal piece, with wire ties attached from the PVC to the frame to secure it tightly. It works fine but it would be nice to have something that can be released/reattached like the original did and like the new version of the original is supposed to. What have others found that works well?
Click to expand...

This can't be true. AN parts are all made to "original specifications".

My strap didn't survive the fitting. What a piece of crap.

I've got a couple of cable ties holding mine in with judiciously placed foam blocks. If the battery needs to come out then cable ties are cheap, unlike "made to original specification parts".
 
I did the old used spokes thing like what RonL was talking about. Just cut them to length and threaded them for some small stainless nylock nuts. I used a piece of 1/2x1/2 aluminum angle all polished up pretty. Solid so far. If I ever get around to downloading pictures from my phone I will start posting them. Glenn.
 
I use a 3cm wide band from an innertube (from automobile or truck) and two short metal hooks to attach that rubber band at both sides.

This way the band holds the battery both ways (from the top down and from front to back). Voilà, nice and simple!
 
The battery hold down from Norvil is very nice and does the job extremely well. It is worth the money.
 
Lot's of good stuff! That Norvil hold down looks like something they'd use on an M-1 Abrams! :)

But it might be just the thing for the La Carrera!
 
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