BSA Owners' Club Workshop Discussions

The BSA Workshop => Singles => Topic started by: Durham on 22 Jun, 2024, 14:33

Title: Modern battery's on older bikes
Post by: Durham on 22 Jun, 2024, 14:33
With officionados telling us everything has too be period original
What about these AGM and maintenance free battery
Sellers are recommending a 9 amp hour original equipment is 5
Amp hour and cca is double
Does anybody still run lead acid or original battery's or have they
Give way too modernity too and Thai levers and cable and Japanese filters there's a real shortage of good old used stock original parts
Even used nut and bolts are difficult too source 5 year no progress ?
I LL end up making my own I guess
Title: Re: Modern battery's on older bikes
Post by: Steve.S on 22 Jun, 2024, 15:19
Well, it depends on whether you have a self starter. I use my knee. I also use Westco AGM batteries from Paul Goff hidden in a fibreglass battery box. I doubt if passers by will notice, but if they do, I will ignore them. These batteries last a very long time.
However, you must not use AGM sealed batteries unless you have electronic voltage control. If you still have the original voltage control unit or a 3 brush dynamo, you will have to use a modern Taiwanese wet cell battery in a fibreglass case, but as you might imagine, they only last about 6 months because they only cost about £1.50 to make.
Title: Re: Modern battery's on older bikes
Post by: rhyatt on 22 Jun, 2024, 17:37
I feel that it may depend on the set up that you have.
Original wiring or modern components.
My 3 bantams have original wipac 6 v systems and I run wet lead acid batteri3s 6v 9ah on them , due to the fact that bsa used the bulk of the battery as a sort of regulation.
My c15 is converted to 12v with a modern reg/rec and a sealed lead acid 5 ah
Many systems don't tolerate agm batteries , so just be careful on the route you choose.
Title: Re: Modern battery's on older bikes
Post by: cdsdorset2 on 22 Jun, 2024, 22:15
You can use agm batteries with old style regulators . You just need to turn the reg charge rate down a bit. The problem with non wet batteries is if they overcharge they cannot " gas off" fast enough and it does damage.