2 Six volt batteries

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by Arctic Wolf

My 69 BSA motorcycle is positive "Earth"

As was my 1965 Matchless G15-CS.

[TimVWulp]

Originally Posted by llr

Good habit to do negative 1st, then there is no danger of wrench contacting ground, more revelent on cars with more metal around. Always be sure the wrench can't reach both terminals at the same time

2X be safe

[Paulie1138]

Negative first, unless positive grounded. No campers in at least 50 years in the US have been positive ground. Like other posters have said, neg first. if the wrench slips and shorts to the metal casing, no harm.

That said, just be extra careful not to get the wrench across the terminals!

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by checkmate99

For such a simple task, this is beginning to sound like rocket science!

Wow, now we all know that it is rocket science. And I thought you were all just being a bit negative.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by aircommuter

Actually positive ground was used up through the late sixties on British cars and US trucks White trucks for one.
Why were they pos. grd in the first place? Answer in the old days most insulation was cotton braid, and with moisture or fog same thing leakage would occur where wires passed close to metal and at that juncture corrosion would occur, positive ground prevented this. So what made the big switch to neg. grd. When transistors came along the electronics industry settled on the NPN transistor which required negative ground. With that invention and plastic insulation was available too. Sorry if you don’t care just thought you might be interested.
I also have been a auto tech for over fifty years and one of my hobbies is restoration of tube type radios and juke boxes. Some juke boxes are seen in my home shop picture on the mezzanine.

That's your home shop. Again WOW!!!. Now I am starting to fell inadequate.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by johnbryanpeters

As was my 1965 Matchless G15-CS.

Yes, +ve grnd but those bikes were built before transistors, probably before valves too.

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by Murbella7

Yes, +ve grnd but those bikes were built before transistors, probably before valves too.

But they were so good at leaking oil, vibrating parts off, and exhibiting metal fatigue, not to mention sucking sand through the air "filter" leaving one on a 750 cc bike with the throttle stuck wide open while groping for the fuel turnoff 'cause the kill switch wasn't working...

[Fiddler Dan]

Be sure and flip the battery disconnect switch off if you have one

[mlmay12]

Negative off First and on last for the stated reason of possibly arcing the wrench.

[andymil]

Holy crap!!! I am jealous. Not only of the shop, but of your ability to keep it so neat and clean.

I’ve got a 2 1/2 car garage. I can’t get a car in it and can barely walk through it.

[aircommuter]

Actually that is just one side of the shop, I don’t want to bore with other side.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by aircommuter

Actually that is just one side of the shop, I don’t want to bore with other side.

Now you're just bragging.

[aircommuter]

Actually I’m just proud. I worked for I built i myself and I didn’t inherit anything.
Sorry. My son was going to inherit it though, be he left this world in February.

[TimVWulp]

sorry for your loss. Very nice shop I have built several home on my own and understand the pride of accomplishment and ownership.

Tim

[Davidceder]

Hey Guys;

Thanks for the input and the humor. It is appreciated. Not really good with this electrical stuff. The DW and I did indeed wrestle those batteries out of the 5R yesterday. No easy feat, being that they each weigh 64 pounds. Just in a bad position to lift. In fact we could not lift them out with the purchased battery strap. Just bent over in an impossible position. I finally placed a web strap around the battery strap and was able to find a support bar, threw the web strap over the bar and hauled them up and out.

They are 4.5 years old and I am replacing them this week with Trojan T-105s. I have never removed them from the 5R in these many years. It is stored outside in a yard. I live at elevation in Arizona so winter nights are usually below freezing and summer days well into the low 90’s. I feel they have given me good service. I want to start removing them, especially during the winter so I will figure out a way to make this easier.

Here is my next question:

The Positive and negative battery cables are 6 guage. When my dealer changed from a single 12 Volt to dual six’s the jumper wire he used what looks to be about 12 guage to me. (no marking on the wire and cheap terminal lugs) One of the terminals is also corroded on that wire. So wouldn’t it be a good idea to get a 6 guage jumper wire?

Thank for all your help.

[llr]

It's not a bad idea to get a better jumper between the batteries, however it's not a big deal either. Battery guage to use depends mainly on voltage drop and heat disapation. Short wire will have very little drop and I assume it is in free air space between the batteries. This assumes it is large enough to not act as a fuse or getting hot to the touch

[Arctic Wolf]

I've always read that the jumper should be there same size as the cabling away from the batteries

[aircommuter]

This is one of those things where size does matter, I prefer the weak link to be a fuse or breaker. I would change it out .

[Arctic Wolf]

Originally Posted by aircommuter

This is one of those things where size does matter, I prefer the weak link to be a fuse or breaker. I would change it out .

I would have to agree with aircommuter on this

[Davidceder]

Well I don't know if it is hot to the touch, but these cables are cheap enough and it is a six foot run so I think I will just eliminate a possible future problem and order a new cable. I found a place on-line that looks to be an ok company that will build me a 72 inch 6 guage copper cable for $11.36. Cheap enough.

Thank again everyone. A Happy New Year to you all.