Battery Replacement: R65 vs R100S

[montmil]

Mother of Pearl... arrr! Mild rant on short final.

A new battery for my R100S is on the way. Couple days. So...

Thought I'd just pull the old battery, do any clean up required prior to dropping in the new one and then enjoy a frosty beverage. No need to get all sweaty.

How hard could it be? Let's compare between these two bikes, shall we?

R65:
1. Detach battery cables,
2. Release rubber straps,
3. Lift out battery.

Grabbed the Clymer to check the R100 procedure and I'll git 'er done pronto. No sweat, right? Dream on!

R100S:
1.  Remove both side covers,
2.  Remove fuel tank, twin petcocks mean I gas "gassy" twice
3.  Remove engine top cover, What?
4.  Loosen and lift off crankcase breather housing,
5.  Remove both air intake tubes, that's six clamps, lads  
6.  Remove left-hand air filter housing.
7.  Remove air filter,
8.  Remove the nut securing the right-hand filter housing and detach same,
9.  Detach battery cables,
10. Remove two knurled knobs and the battery's hold down plate,
11. Remove the nuts and washers securing the battery case to the frame,
12. Remove the top nuts securing the rear sub-frame to the main frame,
13. Back out but do not remove the rear sub-frame bolts,
14. Tilt both battery case and battery rearward and lift out battery,
15. Install new battery by reversing the above steps. If I remember all of it

I now clearly see why my friend, and the bike's PO, did not regularly service nor replace the old battery. Steve was a bigger tightwad than me.

I can highly endorse Snowbum's article on the best procedures for filling and preparing a flooded battery prior to its installation in the bike. His tips can add years to a battery's life span.

But what a chore this was! The best thing I can say is that I had a new air filter in stock so that service item is also taken care of.

 

     

[Barry]

What a performance.  Can most of that be averted if a smaller battery is used ?

The new battery being a wet cell, hopefully you can top up in situ.

[montmil]

What a performance.  Can most of that be averted if a smaller battery is used ?

The new battery being a wet cell, hopefully you can top up in situ.

Considered a smaller battery, but... Guess I listened to Bengt Phorqs good counsel.

The R100S is spec'd for a 24-25AH. It's a big mutha -7.25" x 4.937" x 6.688" and weighting in about 22 lbs wet. A smaller battery would require a jury-rigged install plus I have some doubts about cranking the hi-comp "S" in cold weather.

Found a few other batteries of different dimensions -AGM and the pricey lithium- but the vendors are awfully proud of 'em. The BMW OEM 12V-25AH goes for $170.55US plus tax. No thanks.

Yes, the battery hold down permits easy top up, thank goodness. For some reason, the PO had managed to destroy four of the six filler caps and had sealed them off... permanently.? Tops of the plates were exposed so it was only a matter of time until I was stranded.

That thought entered my mind as I rode the "S" north across the Big Red and into Oklahoma IT for a BMW Tech Day.

"Hey, darlin'... grab your passport, the ramp, tie downs and gas up the truck. Bring beer."

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Monte, I shoulda been here to help walk you through this instead of enjoying myself immensely on the ride to Salem.  I've never had to do more than loosen the battery holder fasteners and tipping it backwards a bit to slide the battery out.  This was on both my R100GS and R90.  But it sounds like you now have it sorted out and will be back in business soon.  

But a 22 pound battery?  We're talking avoirdupois?  I have to see this big boy.