MKIII battery tray
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caspermj said:
I know all the CNW rebuilds use older trays so I'd think it's probably a simple drop in replacement.
I am surious as to why older trays are more desireable? I know the older trays have the battery running front to back instead of sideways like in my MKIII.
Is this simply for more space? Better looks? I'm curious.
Good to know....I'm simply putting a pair of black roadster covers on my Interstate (silver tank) to go with the cafe look I'm after. Got to get it out of my system 
They're from the pre MKIII though so the battery cover has a tool box inside which interferes with the MKIII tray. I'd just as soon not hack the cover up if the tray swap is a bolt on/off event. Done a bit of searching and looking at pics but it's real hard for me to tell yet the difference in the tray. Keep the info coming!
They're from the pre MKIII though so the battery cover has a tool box inside which interferes with the MKIII tray. I'd just as soon not hack the cover up if the tray swap is a bolt on/off event. Done a bit of searching and looking at pics but it's real hard for me to tell yet the difference in the tray. Keep the info coming!
It's an easy swap in that no modifications are required but it does of course call for quite a lot of dismantling.
The main reason for doing it is that the Mk111 battery is partially retained by the black air filter box and few of us regard that as pleasing to the eye. If the box is simply removed then the battery will have the tendency to fall forwards. This can be countered by welding a plate on to the lip which holds the rubber battery mat.
Having done away with the air filter box, we now have to find a way of fixing the top sidecover mount. One option is to make up a bracket to fit to the Mk111 panel but if using an early side panel with built-in tool compartment (certainly in the case of the Roadster), it will foul the battery. Incidentally, that panel with tool compartment probably accounts for the scarcity of Commandos with original tool kits
If one decides to fit a pre-black box air filter (750 type) then the folded lip on the front edge of the later battery tray with the two captive nuts is slightly further back (IIRC) than the earlier type. Not insurmountable but all in all, the quickest and neatest way is to use an early tray.
The main reason for doing it is that the Mk111 battery is partially retained by the black air filter box and few of us regard that as pleasing to the eye. If the box is simply removed then the battery will have the tendency to fall forwards. This can be countered by welding a plate on to the lip which holds the rubber battery mat.
Having done away with the air filter box, we now have to find a way of fixing the top sidecover mount. One option is to make up a bracket to fit to the Mk111 panel but if using an early side panel with built-in tool compartment (certainly in the case of the Roadster), it will foul the battery. Incidentally, that panel with tool compartment probably accounts for the scarcity of Commandos with original tool kits
If one decides to fit a pre-black box air filter (750 type) then the folded lip on the front edge of the later battery tray with the two captive nuts is slightly further back (IIRC) than the earlier type. Not insurmountable but all in all, the quickest and neatest way is to use an early tray.
79x100 said:It's an easy swap in that no modifications are required but it does of course call for quite a lot of dismantling.
The main reason for doing it is that the Mk111 battery is partially retained by the black air filter box and few of us regard that as pleasing to the eye. If the box is simply removed then the battery will have the tendency to fall forwards. This can be countered by welding a plate on to the lip which holds the rubber battery mat.
Having done away with the air filter box, we now have to find a way of fixing the top sidecover mount. One option is to make up a bracket to fit to the Mk111 panel but if using an early side panel with built-in tool compartment (certainly in the case of the Roadster), it will foul the battery. Incidentally, that panel with tool compartment probably accounts for the scarcity of Commandos with original tool kits
If one decides to fit a pre-black box air filter (750 type) then the folded lip on the front edge of the later battery tray with the two captive nuts is slightly further back (IIRC) than the earlier type. Not insurmountable but all in all, the quickest and neatest way is to use an early tray.
Good to know. I am trying to find a suitable place to mount my Sparx ignition box and the previous boyer one was mounted on the fore part of the exposed battery tray. A mikuni conversion freed up space so that is where the previous owner had the black box stuck to some pitiful-looking blue foam. Not nice.
I think I am going to weld a plate in front of the battery to the folded lip to conceal it better from the elements and from the eye.
Old Brits makes a nice sdepanel mount but it is around $50 while Rocky Point Cycle make a nice one made from stainless stell that clamps around the back bone for around $20. Both would be more elegant than the bent aluminum and electrician's tape braket my MKIII came with.
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79x100 wrote;
I never had a problem with this when I fitted an earlier air box to my MK3 battery tray. In fact the air box has a slight tilt forward (about 1/4 or just less) on the bottom edge towards the front wheel, when viewed side ways on, top edge to the bottom edge......I hope that makes sense! This isn't noticeable at all.
The problems that it did create was having to re-drill the holes in the back plate of the air box, as I found that the two captive bolts are slightly further apart on the MK3 battery tray than on the earlier battery tray. I was perspiring a bit as I did it in case I was drilling in the wrong place, as it was a brand new stainless air box I was drilling. Also, the metal strip to lock the bolts has to be custom made for the same reasons.
I never had a problem with this when I fitted an earlier air box to my MK3 battery tray. In fact the air box has a slight tilt forward (about 1/4 or just less) on the bottom edge towards the front wheel, when viewed side ways on, top edge to the bottom edge......I hope that makes sense! This isn't noticeable at all.
The problems that it did create was having to re-drill the holes in the back plate of the air box, as I found that the two captive bolts are slightly further apart on the MK3 battery tray than on the earlier battery tray. I was perspiring a bit as I did it in case I was drilling in the wrong place, as it was a brand new stainless air box I was drilling. Also, the metal strip to lock the bolts has to be custom made for the same reasons.
My memory playing up. :?
The "750" tray measures 2" from the rear of the cross support to the front lip. The Mk111 is 2 5/16" so you are correct to say that the later type pushes the lower edge of the filter box forwards slightly.
It was enough to annoy me :roll:
The "750" tray measures 2" from the rear of the cross support to the front lip. The Mk111 is 2 5/16" so you are correct to say that the later type pushes the lower edge of the filter box forwards slightly.
It was enough to annoy me :roll:
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