Battery Straps

Danno · Jan 11, 2017

I'm making some new battery hold-down straps for the flood bike. The bike didn't come with any, so I obtained 3 of the 4 strap buckles and made the 4th from scratch, but I'm not sure how long to make the straps. Just experimenting, I came up with 4 3/4-4 7/8" from the center of the hole in the battery tray to the center of the large hole in the upper buckle that clips over the retainer bar. Having trouble with the phone, so I can't post any pics until tomorrow. Does anyone have one laying around loose they can measure and give me a clue?

Torontonian · Jan 11, 2017

No , and I wouldn't much bother with authenticity here unless you intend to enter concours competitions. Velcro straps can't be beat.

cjandme · Jan 11, 2017

I must confess I used 550 cord, so no concours here but it holds it securely. But that doesn't answer your question, sorry I don't know the original length for that strap, hopefully someone else can come up with it for you.

Danno · Jan 12, 2017

Since I have the hardware, it was easy to cut the rubber in strips and make galvanized staples out of trim nails. It won't be "authentic" but it'll be the same as stock.

The strap I made for the SS clone's battery (using original hardware for the battery tray) has lasted many years.

DevonNorton · Jan 12, 2017

Hello there Danno
I have some spare straps from my 1972 Roadster, Part No. 06.1662.
These measure 5 inches exactly from centre of the circle in the bar-end buckle to the first bend in the hook that fits the hole in the battery tray.
This link shows 2 types depending on battery shape https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-drawing/186/batteries-battery-tray-direction-indicators.
As others have said I'd go for security over originality here particularly since batteries are now nearly all smaller than the original Lucas ones.
That's why I have unused spare straps!
I went for a fix drilling holes in the metal cross bar (06.1667) and using old wheel spokes to link to the holes in the battery box and tightening down. Oh and a velcro strap just in case.
There has been at least one example on this forum of the bar coming loose and falling down to tangle with the chain resulting in damage to primary cases.

Andy

Danno · Jan 12, 2017

Thanks, Andy. I was able to blow up an Ebay ad photo for a pair of straps ($25.77 shipped for the pair) and scale the straps, and that's exactly what I came up with. I may make them a bit shorter to accommodate the physically smaller battery I'm using. Certainly don't want that happening.

acadian · Jan 12, 2017

Fracturing battery straps are something I got tired of very quickly, a 12" rubber bungee with S hooks eliminated the problem for me

click · Jan 12, 2017

acadian said:
Fracturing battery straps are something I got tired of very quickly, a 12" rubber bungee with S hooks eliminated the problem for me

Same here, that's what I use, bungee with S hooks, never have to worry about it, fit & forget

Ron L · Jan 12, 2017

The rubber ones rot and lose elasticity too quickly for my taste. I zinc plated some old wheel spokes with 90 degree heads, cut them to length , rolled some threads, and used the spoke nipples to secure the bar. Holds the battery nice and snug. Quick, easy, and recycled the old spokes.

Danno · Jan 12, 2017

Ron L said:
The rubber ones rot and lose elasticity too quickly for my taste. I zinc plated some old wheel spokes with 90 degree heads, cut them to length , rolled some threads, and used the spoke nipples to secure the bar. Holds the battery nice and snug. Quick, easy, and recycled the old spokes.

That sounds very clever. The rubber I'm using is EDPM roofing material. Takes about 20 years of direct sunlight to start deteriorating. And I run gel batteries so there's no acid problems.

xbacksideslider · Jan 12, 2017

I use a big car washing sponge, cut to fit. Holds it beautifully. First I lined the sides and bottom of the tray with carpet pad sponge, contact cement holds it down, then spray painted the three pads black, then the big sponge, also spray painted black, compresses the battery in there when the side panel's Dzus fastener is locked down. Been that way for years and years.

jimbo · Jan 12, 2017

Danno said:
I'm making some new battery hold-down straps for the flood bike. The bike didn't come with any, so I obtained 3 of the 4 strap buckles and made the 4th from scratch, but I'm not sure how long to make the straps. Just experimenting, I came up with 4 3/4-4 7/8" from the center of the hole in the battery tray to the center of the large hole in the upper buckle that clips over the retainer bar. Having trouble with the phone, so I can't post any pics until tomorrow. Does anyone have one laying around loose they can measure and give me a clue?

I'll get you measurements, you might want to make them shorter than supplied stock as the only close sealed battery I could find was a little shorter so I had to stuff a thick rubber pad under it.

Nater_Potater · Jan 12, 2017

Ron L said:
The rubber ones rot and lose elasticity too quickly for my taste. I zinc plated some old wheel spokes with 90 degree heads, cut them to length , rolled some threads, and used the spoke nipples to secure the bar. Holds the battery nice and snug. Quick, easy, and recycled the old spokes.

Threaded some 1/4" rod, bent 100' hooks in the ends, drilled a rubber-lined aluminum channel, and added wing nuts and rubber-lined fender washers. That was back in '78, and it's still kicking.

Nathan

peculierboy · Jan 12, 2017

+1 on the Velcro straps. I got a long section from our hardware store that has a buckle style adjustment to tighten it up.

Danno · Jan 13, 2017

All great solutions. but I'm still going with stock-looking rubber straps.

jimbo · Jan 13, 2017

Danno said:
I'm making some new battery hold-down straps for the flood bike. The bike didn't come with any, so I obtained 3 of the 4 strap buckles and made the 4th from scratch, but I'm not sure how long to make the straps. Just experimenting, I came up with 4 3/4-4 7/8" from the center of the hole in the battery tray to the center of the large hole in the upper buckle that clips over the retainer bar. Having trouble with the phone, so I can't post any pics until tomorrow. Does anyone have one laying around loose they can measure and give me a clue?

looks like about 5 1/2" with the extra thick pad under the battery, from the battery tray hole to the center of the bar hold down hole, the battery you use will determine the length. I used this one, ,if you use the same you would need to shorten the straps.

Danno · Jan 13, 2017

Thanks, Jim. I mocked it up with a battery, rubber undertray and some foam on the backside of the box. Used two layers of rubber under the bar. I turned it upside down and it didn't budge.

Battery Straps

Danno

Torontonian

cjandme

Danno

DevonNorton

Danno

acadian

click

Ron L

Danno

xbacksideslider

jimbo

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Nater_Potater

peculierboy

Danno

jimbo

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Danno

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