A tale of three Westco batteries. All early Ks
Our K bikes can use two different batteries. An 18-20 amp/hour and a larger 30 amp/hour. The battery carrier will accommodate either. In 1995 I installed the smaller Westco in my 85K100. In about 2008 I removed it from my bike and installed it in my sons 73 750/5. It was suppose to be a stop gap measure but he was in a frugal time in his life so he would swap it back and forth between his /5 and his Kawasaki Concours. It died a unremarkable death in 2010 about the same time the regulator on the /5 failed.
Westco battery #2. 2006 I purchased a 1985K100/EML sidecar rig. It has a large Westco of unknown age that is still in it.
Westco battery #3. 2007 I purchased a salvage K75. It had a large Westco of unknown age. That battery was installed in the K100 and it died an interesting death just last month. It had not been ridden for a couple weeks and when I tried to start it there was the dreaded click and the lights on the dash went out. I turned the key off and measured voltage. 12.4 volts. There must be a starter problem. I turned the key back on and the voltage dropped to 2.X volts. Turned the key off and the voltage went back to 12.X volts. Maybe it just needs charging. The battery tender says it doesn?t need charging. I have heard of battery?s producing volts with no amps but these is the first I have seen.
Here Is The Punch Line! When my son could finally battery up both his bikes he went to WalMart and bought a battery for his Kawasaki Concours. Now logic says if that battery fits Connie It fits /5 and it is also the small battery for our early K bikes. Well that is almost true. I went to WalMart and of course their book doesn't list for the K bike. I also had trouble finding the correct battery for the Connie but I came home with a WalMart AMG battery ES20LBS for about $85. It comes dry with acid furnished and instructions for filling and charging. It doesn?t quite fit in the pocket in the battery tray for the small battery so I cut paint stir sticks to length and leveled it off. I think it will use the stock battery bolt because I had to shorten the ones I used for the Wesco.
I need to say that I am very pleased with the longevity of the Westcos but WalMart put me back on the road in a day for about $50 less
Our K bikes can use two different batteries. An 18-20 amp/hour and a larger 30 amp/hour. The battery carrier will accommodate either. In 1995 I installed the smaller Westco in my 85K100. In about 2008 I removed it from my bike and installed it in my sons 73 750/5. It was suppose to be a stop gap measure but he was in a frugal time in his life so he would swap it back and forth between his /5 and his Kawasaki Concours. It died a unremarkable death in 2010 about the same time the regulator on the /5 failed.
Westco battery #2. 2006 I purchased a 1985K100/EML sidecar rig. It has a large Westco of unknown age that is still in it.
Westco battery #3. 2007 I purchased a salvage K75. It had a large Westco of unknown age. That battery was installed in the K100 and it died an interesting death just last month. It had not been ridden for a couple weeks and when I tried to start it there was the dreaded click and the lights on the dash went out. I turned the key off and measured voltage. 12.4 volts. There must be a starter problem. I turned the key back on and the voltage dropped to 2.X volts. Turned the key off and the voltage went back to 12.X volts. Maybe it just needs charging. The battery tender says it doesn?t need charging. I have heard of battery?s producing volts with no amps but these is the first I have seen.
Here Is The Punch Line! When my son could finally battery up both his bikes he went to WalMart and bought a battery for his Kawasaki Concours. Now logic says if that battery fits Connie It fits /5 and it is also the small battery for our early K bikes. Well that is almost true. I went to WalMart and of course their book doesn't list for the K bike. I also had trouble finding the correct battery for the Connie but I came home with a WalMart AMG battery ES20LBS for about $85. It comes dry with acid furnished and instructions for filling and charging. It doesn?t quite fit in the pocket in the battery tray for the small battery so I cut paint stir sticks to length and leveled it off. I think it will use the stock battery bolt because I had to shorten the ones I used for the Wesco.
I need to say that I am very pleased with the longevity of the Westcos but WalMart put me back on the road in a day for about $50 less