'Cut the ride short... 'Good thing as one of our planned routes back has been damaged by flooding and is going to be closed for a few days..
This was how it looked Wednesday morning..
Video from my buddy's dashcam
Last edited by Hack on Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:01 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Hack wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 8:35 pm
'Cut the ride short... 'Good thing as one of our planned routes back has been damaged by flooding and is going to be closed for a few days..
This was how it looked Wednesday morning...
Video pulled from my buddy's dashcam.
Actually a couple of days ago but a little back story first. When I stored the bike for the winter, had to jump her to get it started. Haven't put many miles on dealing with my health issues. So I was thinking since I had replaced the battery with a cheapie after market I would replace it. Only paid 50 bucks for it and it's been 5 years so I really can't complain about that. So around dinner time put the order into Battery Mart for a new after market replacement, which is now 65 bucks. Still not bad if I get another 5 years out of it. So I'm thinking about a week or so and I should have it. Low and behold it's delivered the next morning. Now I'm anxious to put it in to make sure it fits. I go out to the bike to get started and the sun is beating down and it's brutally hot out. I begin the process and as you all know it can be a battle to get that sucker out. Especially now with the Neuropathy and Arthritis in my hands. After struggling for awhile sun and heat getting worse dripping with sweat I finally get it out. I set the two batteries side by side to verify the fit and looks good same size. I start to reinstall the cables and battery tender leads. Sun and heat continues to beat down I'm still dripping, have to take breaks every few minutes. I cut some pieces of a foam ear plug to shove into the terminal to keep the little square nut pressed up so I can thread the bolt that holds the cables and leads. I thread the bolt in, tighten it up bingo one done one to go. I need to drink some water I'm really frazzled from the heat. Ok I start to do the second terminal. I slip the foam in no problem. I go to slip the nut in and ahhhhhh! I drop it. I'm looking all over and I spot it, I pick it up and go for it and again I drop it. I'm looking all over again but this time it's in the black hole with all the 10mm sockets. Ok get my wife to come out and look incase I missed it trying to look though the sweat dripping in my eyes. Still nothing. Of course the old battery and the new one have different size hardware so no help there. What to do??
I decided to take a run to Auto Zone to see if I can get another nut. I grab the old battery and take it with me to get it tested while I'm at it. Ok one worker tells me they don't have anything like that I pick up a little pack of regular nuts of the correct size thinking maybe I can get them somehow to work. As I'm waiting at the counter another worker asked me if I need help. I explain to him that I need the square nuts for the battery terminal and I ask if they can test the battery for me. He takes a look and says let me check. He comes back in a minute with a packet with the nuts and bolts I need and the battery tests 100% good. I shoot back home and drop the new nut two more times before I finally get it all buttoned up. Hit the starter and she fires right up. Guess I'll keep the old battery for a spare.
Tip, do the earplug and nut thing when the battery is out of the bike. I've never had them come out during installation and it's easier to do it there with fewer black holes. Sounds like a miserable afternoon, you should go for a ride.
El Toro Joe loved this
YouTube Channel | My Blog Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
