battery Box retainer

[kevin2306]

Morning All

Just working through my new (to me) 1983 r65LS.
The battery is wedged in fairly tight into the batter box but there are no retainers holding it in so m assuming there are the usual pain in the ass bit missing from when the batttery has been off for charging.
Has anyone got a picture of what retains the battery into the box so i can look about and order the bits.

Kev

[marcmax]

Kevin, part number 8 in the diagram is what you need. It is a rubber strap with metal pins in the end. They are no longer available from BMW but a lot of different bikes use the same method and it is possible to find one from a different make that will fit.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=0363&mospid=51897&btnr=61_0203&hg=61&fg=21

[kevin2306]

ah cheers, makes sense of the various hooks on the holder now!
I will have a ring round as i need the battery cover too by the looks of it.

many thanks

kev

[Tony Smith]

I'm pretty sure motobins have the straps - I can't check at present as they have their server down for maintenance, but I bought two straps from them last year which ultimately went on the wife's bike as the gel-cell battery I fitted is sufficiently smaller than standard so as to render the rubber straps ineffective (now using Panduit straps - cable ties with a release button)

[montmil]

The rubber battery hold down straps -#8- are available from Bob's BMW here in the Colonies. You'll need two of BMW # 61 21 1243562 at $11.72USD. http://www.bobsbmw.com/

I would recommend confirming the plastic battery cover -#7- will fit your battery before springing another $11.65USBucks. My two R65s do not need caps as they are sealed AGM batteries and have no vented filler caps nor do they require topping up with distilled water.

I also made my own battery hold down by using some small diameter bungee cording purchased at the local hardware store. Couldn't justify the OEM prices plus shipping.

[montmil]

I'm pretty sure motobins have the straps - I can't check at present as they have their server down for maintenance...

Maintenance, ya say?

I recently read an article concerning Motorrad's efforts to cut off non-BMW dealers buying and re-selling OEM BMW parts at discounted prices. I tried the Motobins website this morning and all they have on offer is non-BMW parts, ie: Magura levers and such. Motobins posts a note at each R-series parts group listings that states they are adding new products... blah blah blah... something to that order.

I hope you are correct, Tony. I've bought quite a bit of Beemer bits from 'bins.

[Tony Smith]

I recently read an article concerning Motorrad's efforts to cut off non-BMW dealers buying and re-selling OEM BMW parts at discounted prices. I tried the Motobins website this morning and all they have on offer is non-BMW parts, ie: Magura levers and such. Motobins posts a note at each R-series parts group listings that states they are adding new products... blah blah blah... something to that order.

I hope you are correct, Tony. I've bought quite a bit of Beemer bits from 'bins.

Well, motobins are back up, the battery strap is P/N Part No.79701 and they are GBP6.50 each.

I had a cold chill at the thought of having to buy some parts from a (gasp) dealer.......
 
I suspect that BMW would like the airhead to die as it has somewhat outlived its intended tenure. Airheads may eventually become like VW beetles and support a bespoke industry making nearly all parts.
 
In the course of assembly of the very last VW 1600 engine I put together I suddenly realized that the only genuine VW parts in it were the wire bales that held the rocker covers on. I quickly fitted a bolt-on set of EMPI covers that I had been saving for a rainy day....

[Barry]

I had a cold chill at the thought of having to buy some parts from a (gasp) dealer.......
 

I have similar sentiments about my nearest but not very near BMW dealer in the UK.  It's a glass palace show room that might as well be selling HD's.  

[arvo92]

My bike has never seen a battery retainer. To be fair, the battery is pretty solidly squeesed in there and I never had any problem until the MOT started to whine about the battery being "not safe".

My opinion - you can use leather strap, make couple of holes on each end and it will hold it nicely. I used a thin black rubber band and it works very well. I will upgrade to cowhide next time.  

[Luca]

I got mine from the local dealer about two years ago, and they had to special order one of them.

My bike has never seen a battery retainer. To be fair, the battery is pretty solidly squeesed in there and I never had any problem until the MOT started to whine about the battery being "not safe".  

Though the R65 does hold the battery pretty well on it's own, it could get pretty bad if the positive terminal shorted to ground!  Having the battery held down also lessens the fatigue on the leads and their terminals  [smiley=thumbup.gif]