Noob-Give me a step by step on how to install a new battery!

Message

Monkey · #1 Post by **Monkey** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:46 pm

Hey, Long break from the forum, but i was active a few months ago.
Anyway, I own a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 and my battery is dead from the winter and it was old anyway. I bought a new battery today, only to realize that I have no mechanical inclination whatsoever.
I did not knwo where the battery was, then i found it, but i cannot remove the "Nighthawk" cover and i do not know what to do once I figuire out how to remove it.

So, basically, if you were telling a 5th grader how to install a battery...what would you say?

paul246 · #2 Post by **paul246** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:14 am

Here is your answer right here;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Honda-CB-550and-650 ... 7C294%3A50

To get you started though, the plastic side cover (L or R?) will have to be pulled off. There are usually 2 or 3 plastic posts on the back of the cover that sit inside rubber grommets. The grommets are inside brackets that are part of the bike's frame.

Grasp the edges of the side cover with all your fingers in order to apply force as evenly as possible to prevent cracking the cover.

Pull the cover outward with a firm and steady pressure and a small amount of wiggle at the same time. The cover should suddenly pop off and will most likely fly out of your hands and quickly find the roughest surface possible to go skeetering across.

Now get a few simple tools and prepare to remove the battery from its home.

Note, I have never worked on your particular model of bike but it does look like the standard set-up.

Dragon on Wheels · #3 Post by **Dragon on Wheels** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:00 am

Try to get one of those manuals that tell you about all the parts for your bike...or a website that would have similar information.

As for the battery, make sure you keep the + and - parts separated. I'm not sure what kind of battery you have, but you might need to charge it before you put it in. You might also need to pour some kind of acid stuff into the battery first too (this should be explained on the papers that come with the battery). Then when you charge it, make sure you put the + side of the charger with the + side of the battery and the - side of the charger with the - side of the battery. (they're usually red and black...i think red is - and black is +) Then when it's charged, you put it in the bike and do the same thing with the wires (keeping + with + and - with -).

Gunslinger · #4 Post by **Gunslinger** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:05 am

Also make sure that you get the exact size battery. I bought one for my bike and the part number was off by one number but it looked close so I went for it. Went to install it and it was about a half inch too wide. Ever try to return a battery after you put the acid in it?

You could also try the library and see if they have a Clymer manual for that bike. I used to have a Nighthawk and the battery is really easy to swap out. Shoot me a PM if you get stuck and I'll help you out.

SHADOW1100T · #5 Post by **SHADOW1100T** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:26 pm

they're usually red and black...i think red is - and black is +)
===================================
RED is always plus (+) and BLACK is always ground (-), pull the right side off and do it like it was mentioned, firm steady pull NO jerking, the Phillips screwdriver and the 10mm wrench in your tool kit will do just fine takeing the bolt out of the retaining strap and the nut and bolts on the battery, it's always a good idea to charge the battery BUT you need a 1 or 2 amp charger to do it, don't put your car/truck charger on it because they have a 4, 6 or 10 amp output and will damage the battery.
Before yo put the side panel back on put a little grease in the rubber grommets that hold the side panel not only will it go on easier but it will come off a lot easier next time, give them a good bump when reinstalling the panel to make sure retainer is completely in the rubber grommet otherwise it could fall off and you really don't want to go there.
This is a easy job so approach it with confidence and it will come out all right.

Dragon on Wheels · #6 Post by **Dragon on Wheels** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:00 pm

Oops. Sorry. Thank you for correcting my error!

SHADOW1100T wrote:they're usually red and black...i think red is - and black is +)
===================================
RED is always plus (+) and BLACK is always ground (-), pull the right side off and do it like it was mentioned, firm steady pull NO jerking, the Phillips screwdriver and the 10mm wrench in your tool kit will do just fine takeing the bolt out of the retaining strap and the nut and bolts on the battery, it's always a good idea to charge the battery BUT you need a 1 or 2 amp charger to do it, don't put your car/truck charger on it because they have a 4, 6 or 10 amp output and will damage the battery.
Before yo put the side panel back on put a little grease in the rubber grommets that hold the side panel not only will it go on easier but it will come off a lot easier next time, give them a good bump when reinstalling the panel to make sure retainer is completely in the rubber grommet otherwise it could fall off and you really don't want to go there.
This is a easy job so approach it with confidence and it will come out all right.

Brackstone · #7 Post by **Brackstone** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:33 pm

Aww man everyone got to the post first!

I was going to say connect the red and black and then lick the cables at the same time to give it a jump!

Were you able to change the battery Monkey??? Let us know!

SHADOW1100T · #8 Post by **SHADOW1100T** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:17 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oops. Sorry. Thank you for correcting my error!
======================================

One thing about the + - mix up,,,you only do it once
POW SNAP