ATV Batteries

Doc

Doc

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I bought a Honda 450ES in 1999 (ES stands for Electric Shift). It has run flawlessly. I have over 3000 miles on it and around 1400 hours. For the first 5 years I had it the battery worked every time I was ready to use the ATV. Once the 1st battery died I've had constant problems keeping any battery good for more than one year. It's driving me bonkers. I needed the ATV today and of course it was dead. I pull started it, no problem (synthetic oil made that task very easy :thumb:). Got 10 feet from the pole barn and it died. I had ran it for a few minutes, but still when it died in gear the battery didn't even have enough juice to let me switch gears back to neutral. First time that has ever happened. But what a pain. It started sleeting rain and I had to get the tools to get at the battery and put my charger/starter on it so I could simply change to neutral. I got soaked and so did the ATV.
I have a battery tender. so I'm figuring I need to make up a quick attach hook up for it so I can charge the ATV battery easier.
Any other ideas on GREAT batteries or something else to try?
 
Doc, I bought a battery booster pack or 'power pack', you charge it up and it has the leads to connect to a battery, same idea as a boost from another vehicle. I picked it up at an auto store for about $40. It works great, hook it up and you're on your way.

Harvey
 
good thought Harvey. I have one of those and used it so that I could switch back to neutral and get the ATV started. However, my battery booster power pack had set a couple months and was not up to full charge. So it would only give enough power to switch to neutral. I still had to pull start it.

Part of the overall issue is the battery on the 4wheeler is harder than heck to get to . Take off the seat and then two 10mm screws that hold a wide metal protection plate over the battery. I want to set up easy to access leads so I can charge the battery without so much hassle.

Thinking about it the 4 wheeler is not used near as regularly or often as it was in the 1st 5 years we had it. I'm sure that has something to do with my battery issues. So, if I charge it more often, I'd guess the batteries will last mucho longer.
 
Doc said:
I have a battery tender. so I'm figuring I need to make up a quick attach hook up for it so I can charge the ATV battery easier.
Click to expand...

Is the tender just a trickle charger or is it a smart charger that shuts down to a maintenance level? I have one of the smart ones for the RTV and we've never had a problem with it. Mine plugs into the cig lighter socket. I've used 2 pin trailer connectors on the RTV and tractor for a place to connect the pump mower on the sprayer. you could use one of those for the charger too.

Jim

This one is 18 gauge. I've seen them in 14 gauge at auto parts stores.
All Electronics 2 pin connector
 
It is the 'Battery Tender' brand and it is a smart one that shuts off automatically. The connectors you showed are exactly what I had in mine. I'm thinking of connnecting directly to the battery as I don't have a cig lighter plug on the ATV (I thought I did, but found out that it was for service only. :pat:)
 
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