Battery charging
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- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Battery charging
Brand new rider, again (after 50 years). '97 Goldwing with Motor Trike Conversion. Question: how can I charge the battery onboard without removing seat? Thanx in advance.
- Andy Cote
- Posts: 1002
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:38 am
- Location: Windham, ME
- Motorcycle: 2015 Goldwing, basic black
Re: Battery charging
Do you have the owner's manual? Must have item if you don't. Service manual is close to a must have as well since most dealers won't work on a bike of this age (older than most of their mechanics).
The side covers should come off without removing the seat but there are some aftermarket seats that make it more difficult. Be careful pulling those covers. The covers have ABS plastic pins that push into rubber grommets. The grommets get dry/hard and hold on to those pins tightly. You may even find where a previous owner has broken one of the pins already. On the other hand, if not installed correctly or there is a broken pin, these covers are prone to fly off going down the highway.
IMHO, for your first time, I would pull the seat and carefully pull the covers. When you are ready to reassemble, install a remote cable for you charger/tender and route it to someplace protected but easy to get to. Then attach some apply a small amount of grease to the pins and perhaps some new grommets as well as tethers between the panels and the frame. Do the seat last with maybe a touch of grease on those bolts as well.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10997
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=55451
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9503
.
The side covers should come off without removing the seat but there are some aftermarket seats that make it more difficult. Be careful pulling those covers. The covers have ABS plastic pins that push into rubber grommets. The grommets get dry/hard and hold on to those pins tightly. You may even find where a previous owner has broken one of the pins already. On the other hand, if not installed correctly or there is a broken pin, these covers are prone to fly off going down the highway.
IMHO, for your first time, I would pull the seat and carefully pull the covers. When you are ready to reassemble, install a remote cable for you charger/tender and route it to someplace protected but easy to get to. Then attach some apply a small amount of grease to the pins and perhaps some new grommets as well as tethers between the panels and the frame. Do the seat last with maybe a touch of grease on those bolts as well.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10997
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=55451
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9503
.
2015 Goldwing, basic black
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
- newday777
- Posts: 2309
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Battery charging
The battery is behind the side cover and you do not have to remove the seat.
Just remove the right side cover(as you sit on the bike as reference) to access the battery.
Yes be careful of not breaking the pins.
Replace the grommets as they are the cause of lost side covers. Many battery covers have blown off from lack of replacing the cheap grommets. Spend the money on grommets so you don't loose the cover, the covers are rare to find original used and very costly new.
Just remove the right side cover(as you sit on the bike as reference) to access the battery.
Yes be careful of not breaking the pins.
Replace the grommets as they are the cause of lost side covers. Many battery covers have blown off from lack of replacing the cheap grommets. Spend the money on grommets so you don't loose the cover, the covers are rare to find original used and very costly new.
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- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
Thanx for all tips. Was hoping against seat et al removal at this moment, but looks like I will have to bite the bullet. Again, thanx
- newday777
- Posts: 2309
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Battery charging
This is the charger/maintainer I use and it comes with a pigtail plug to put on the battery that you can fish out through the gap in the front of the battery cover so you can plug in the charger/maintainer without removing the side cover each time.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-S ... rs&veh=sem
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-S ... rs&veh=sem
- newday777
- Posts: 2309
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
-
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
Seat removal?? I can see now other way to access battery posts. Relatively new battery but I left key in On and drained battery. Just need to trickle to get back up and running.
Thanx for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Thanx for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
- newday777
- Posts: 2309
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Battery charging
Are you trying to put huge clamps on the battery to charge it?
I've never had a problem getting to the battery posts, unless maybe you have an aftermarket seat that drops down lower on the sides than a stock seat does.
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- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
No to using large clamps. Small trickle charger. I think seat is OEM, it has ‘Wing insignia. Will try moving positive post cover enough to attach clamp.
Not really as stupid as I seem, just ignorant of ‘Wing cans and can’ts.
Not really as stupid as I seem, just ignorant of ‘Wing cans and can’ts.
- Andy Cote
- Posts: 1002
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:38 am
- Location: Windham, ME
- Motorcycle: 2015 Goldwing, basic black
Re: Battery charging
Ok, you have the side cover off but not the seat. Yes, the sides of the seat hang low and can make installation of the battery charger clips difficult. You probably know it already but if you can get the positive clip on securely you can attach the negative to the frame.
There is no need to be wary of removing (or perhaps more correctly reinstalling) the seat. I know, I swore at my 1500 a couple times trying to get the front hooked in and getting the screws lined up. But the more I did it, the less concerned I became. Check WingAdmim's post that I linked above. You can use a light to look in the handle/seat mounting holes to make sure they are aligned. I also have started the bolts without the handle and then removed one at a time to install the handles. It is certainly easier with a long hex driver attached to a ratchet but even with an Allen wrench it's not bad.
There is no need to be wary of removing (or perhaps more correctly reinstalling) the seat. I know, I swore at my 1500 a couple times trying to get the front hooked in and getting the screws lined up. But the more I did it, the less concerned I became. Check WingAdmim's post that I linked above. You can use a light to look in the handle/seat mounting holes to make sure they are aligned. I also have started the bolts without the handle and then removed one at a time to install the handles. It is certainly easier with a long hex driver attached to a ratchet but even with an Allen wrench it's not bad.
2015 Goldwing, basic black
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 2318
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
'80 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
'93 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
'83 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
'72 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
'78 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
'77 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Battery charging
You don't have to put your trickle charger directly on the battery posts. You can clamp the pos lead of the charger to one of the screws holding the 55 amp dogbone fuse and the neg lead to the arm of the brake pedal or any other convenient ground. It will charge the battery just fine that way.
A local inventor has figured a way to turn a sausage grinder backward to manufacture pigs.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
-
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
Thank you for the info. Is the dog bone highly visible to a rookie?
Also is a 500mAMP charger enough to get starting charge overnight?
Also is a 500mAMP charger enough to get starting charge overnight?
- newday777
- Posts: 2309
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles
Re: Battery charging
Golfr wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 4:57 pm Thank you for the info. Is the dog bone highly visible to a rookie?
To the right of the battery, it has a black plastic cover over the dogbone fuse. There should be a spare fuse inside the cover too.
Also is a 500mAMP charger enough to get starting charge overnight?
No. That is only a maintainer for one the battery is fully charged. Look at the link I posted above for the Schumacher charger maintainer.
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 2318
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
'80 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
'93 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
'83 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
'72 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
'78 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
'77 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Battery charging
"Main Fuse B' in the picture. Probably has a plastic cover you can open to get to the fuse and terminals. That charger should give enough charge overnight to start the bike, depending on how low the battery is.
A local inventor has figured a way to turn a sausage grinder backward to manufacture pigs.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
-
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
Thank you. Excellent info. Even I can undrrstand
- AZgl1800
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'02 GL1800 lives in Dawsonville, GA now.
My son is going to enjoy it for many years to come.
Re: Battery charging
a battery that is pretty fully discharged, is supposed to be charged at 2 amps for 10-12 hours.
the little Battery Tenders will "Eventually" bring it back to full charge, but it will take a week or more depending on temperatures.
I keep my bikes on Battery Tenders all the time, no matter if for a day or a month, or the winter.
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- Posts: 73
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:54 pm
- Location: Pollok,TX, USA
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Battery charging
Thank you. Will do the same.
- WingAdmin
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Re: Battery charging
Battery Tender is the one you want: Battery Tender Jr. Review
- AZgl1800
- Posts: 2932
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:46 pm
- Location: Lake Oologah Indian Territory USA
- Motorcycle: 2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc https://imgur.com/foGDjgv
'02 GL1800 lives in Dawsonville, GA now.
My son is going to enjoy it for many years to come.
Re: Battery charging
the temps are now dipping into the lower 30s here, and it has been raining for a week.
the sun is non-existent, so the Solar Charger on the Suburban's dashboard is not blinking its' little light as it should.
it has a current output of 125 milliAmps on a bright day.
so, I put a 1.25 amp Battery Tender Jr on the truck and it will stay there until spring and warm weather.
the sun is non-existent, so the Solar Charger on the Suburban's dashboard is not blinking its' little light as it should.
it has a current output of 125 milliAmps on a bright day.
so, I put a 1.25 amp Battery Tender Jr on the truck and it will stay there until spring and warm weather.