Battery Upgrade

[JRock]

It's not necessary to mod the battery holder to fit a 625. Simply cut off the fins 1 inch from the bottom with a utility knife, flush with the battery case. Sand off the remainder of the fins, spray it with silicone and it will slip right in. Alot easier than screwing with the holder bracket.

 

[Txclassic]

Dude you took the words right out of my mouth, I would love to hear a long term review of that battery and how it performs in the cold as well as under a load with accessories. Keep us informed once in a while.

I've had the 545MJ since June 2008. See original post:
http://www.r3owners.net/common-issues/3165-battery-woes-2.html#post37837

No problems whatsoever! I use a smart charger from West Marine (had it from my JetSki). Charge at 14 amps on the AGM setting. 3 weeks of no riding and it doesn't even need a top off. It went right into float mode after 10 seconds of charging and held 12.9 to 13.3 volts. It has proven itself so I don't worry about keeping it on the float charger all the time. If anyone has experience with the Odyssey charger, I'd like to know if it is much better than the standard smart chargers.

Always had a problem with the factory battery crapping out after 3-5 seconds of cranking whenever the temp was below 40F. Not so with the Odyssey. Sometimes it takes a good 5-7 seconds of cranking to get the beast lit up but the 545 takes it in stride.

I highly recommend the 545 MJ because no batt box mods are required, the toolkit stays, and it has survived longer than any of the Yuasa's. The metal jacket is essential to maintaining proper plate clearance when it gets hot. Good thing the 625's are so tight. They are basically getting the metal jacket from Triumph.

 

[HellFire]

Hey if its working for you I wouldn't change a thing. I have an Odyssey charger and the thing I don't like about it is that it runs all the time. Even when Its turned off but plugged it the fan still runs. When on its maintainer setting, it clicks to trickle charge every 5-10 min. It works fantastic, but it shure is a busy little bee.

 

[britman]

Hey if its working for you I wouldn't change a thing. I have an Odyssey charger and the thing I don't like about it is that it runs all the time. Even when Its turned off but plugged it the fan still runs. When on its maintainer setting, it clicks to trickle charge every 5-10 min. It works fantastic, but it shure is a busy little bee.

HF,

Thanks for the info, I was beginning to think mine was deffective. I look at it this way, with my diet and age I can always use an extra fan in the garage......

 

[albertaduke]

replaced the OEM battery with an odyssey 680 it is the same size as a 625 I filed the fins on the side and plopped it in the tray it is taller than OEM so I removed the tool tray

 

[Scorp]

My first cold day of winter here, any where from -2 to +3c, my 10 month old battery would not start the bike. I got a genuine triumph battery charger with the wiring harness so I didn't have to take the seat of, no help. I then got the next battery upgrade from ytx20l-bs to a ytx20hl-bs. Still the same issue, get home from work when it was warmer, start up, charge all day and night, show fully charged, first thing in the morning, a couple of engine turns, then nothing. I changed the oil, checked the wiring after reading all the threads here, still nothing, was getting so frustrated, depressed, angry, all of the above. Had a price for a new starter, eeeeeeeeeeeek, no option. Last effort, another battery after reading about the odyssey pc625. Here in Australia another option was given to me, a cheaper yet more powerful yet still American, the Deka range. I went big, the Deka AGM ETX16, had to do a few mods, but, WOW, and WOW. Fastest I have ever heard the starter turn the motor. Highly reccommend it. There is a smaller one which fits straight in without mods but I was so pissed off with the other batteries I thought what the heck, cut the top rear of the battery metal strap, put a slight riser in the base so the battery wouldn't sit on the lip of metal since it is wider, it is secure with the rubber strap, it has pure grunt and staying power. Highly recommended after months of uncertainly of cold starts. hope this helps all who have suffered with my same issue. Cheers.

 

[Power-Tripp]

Deka batteries are made by East Penn Manufacturing - a USA company. I am not completely sure their entire battery line is still made in the USA. Even Interstate is having many AGM bike batteries made in China today.


I have had good results from several AGM YTX20HL-BS (and relates cross over part numbers) with 310-320 CCA. Even the Chinese Scorpions and Xtremes seem to work well.

 

[Scorp]

I know it says 310 cca for the ytx20hl-bc yet without it starting mine when the charger shows fully charged and having it tested at the shop under load with the new battery only 3 weeks old before I got pissed with it, the deka is a good 2kg heavier, larger and spins that starter where the ytx would not, the deka says 275cca. Not sure how they do their tests but after many months of frustration, I know what is starting mine now and its not the 310cca ytx.

 

[budman]

..I replaced my battery with the odessy 625..still won't start when the temps drop down to 40....I have accepted the fact that this bike is not an all around all year dependable rider...it is a novelty bike...but what fun when it's 70* outside...

 

[saboteur]

Budman, everyone says you need to get an Odyssey charger along with the battery. You're the first one here to complain that the 625 will not start the bike.