Negative battery post screw problem

AlabamaNomadRider · 10-16-2009, 11:46 PM

When I attached the Schumacher Battery Charger last night I noticed since the Cobra FI2000R is attached to the negative post and the battery charger also hooks to the negative it seems that the screw is just barely long enough to catch in the nut below. Has anyone else had this problem and if you did what did you do? Did you replace the original screw with a longer screw? Just curious if anyone else had this problem when you hooked up more than one thing to the negative side.

cactusjack · 10-16-2009, 11:49 PM

Follow your instincts - just replace the battery post screw with a slightly longer screw.

AlabamaNomadRider · 10-17-2009, 12:07 AM

CJ, is there any particular material the screw needs to be? Can you use stainless steel or does it require another type material? Thanks.

skeeter · 10-17-2009, 12:27 AM

any ole screw will do

doesn't have to be stainless or copper or brass or...

just has to clamp the contacts together. wouldn't hurt to apply a dab of grease or a spray on protectant over the assembled connection to slow down corrosion.

AlabamaNomadRider · 10-17-2009, 12:31 AM

Thanks Skeeter, what brings you out so late? Good to hear from you again.

skeeter · 10-17-2009, 12:32 AM

night owl

morning comes way too soon

superduty · 10-17-2009, 05:52 AM

On mine, I put a plastic wire tie around the battery post below the square nut to hold it up so that the screw will catch it.

dkdixie · 10-17-2009, 06:45 AM

Just take the stock screw into Ace and match up the tread. I can't remember the size. Might as well get an extra. One day you may need it for the positive side.
There are other places under the seat to put ground wires. Like the rear fender bolts, battery hold down nuts.

redjay · 10-17-2009, 07:51 AM

The bolt size is 6mm. The stock length is about 12mm from memory. I have had the problem you are talking about. Make sure you dont get a bolt that is too long and bottoms out on the battery case. You will think its tight but it wont be clamping the terminal.

macmac · 10-17-2009, 06:45 PM

I use the 2 acorm nuts for grounds that hold the battery hold down cross. Any nut on the frame is the same as the (-) post on the battery.

The only add on on my battery terminals is the pig tail to the charger.

The neg cable goes to the engine and the frame. The entire engine case and frame are a big ground wire.

Doing this I am able to stuff the pig tail for the charger thru thr red and black plastic shields.

blowndodge · 10-17-2009, 07:29 PM

ANR I struggled with the same thing and Todd of all people asked me why I was doing what your doing..... He suggested to just loosen the negative ground bolt and since I have the TFI hooked to it and told me to just use wire cutters and clip the negative ground wire donut just wide enough so I could slide it in on the top of the bolt and not have to struggle with what your doing and trying to grab the bolt underneath with a short bolt!!

I'm not telling him he was right!!!

Nufff said and I felt like a fool that he was right

macmac · 10-18-2009, 06:34 PM

IMO, the only other sharing connector on the battery should be the pig tail for the chargers if used.

If you have enough addons a bus terminal should be added with a fuse box, so still only one other connector is on the battery.

10-16-2009, 11:46 PM	#1
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Negative battery post screw problem When I attached the Schumacher Battery Charger last night I noticed since the Cobra FI2000R is attached to the negative post and the battery charger also hooks to the negative it seems that the screw is just barely long enough to catch in the nut below. Has anyone else had this problem and if you did what did you do? Did you replace the original screw with a longer screw? Just curious if anyone else had this problem when you hooked up more than one thing to the negative side. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-16-2009, 11:49 PM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Negative battery post screw problem Follow your instincts - just replace the battery post screw with a slightly longer screw. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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10-17-2009, 12:07 AM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Negative battery post screw problem CJ, is there any particular material the screw needs to be? Can you use stainless steel or does it require another type material? Thanks. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

10-17-2009, 12:27 AM	#4
skeeter Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kerrville Tx Posts: 1,713	Negative battery post screw problem any ole screw will do doesn't have to be stainless or copper or brass or... just has to clamp the contacts together. wouldn't hurt to apply a dab of grease or a spray on protectant over the assembled connection to slow down corrosion. __________________ Robert(skeeter)Dozier 07 Red&Titanium Nomad 81 Suzuki 850GL KawaNow pre#
	0

10-17-2009, 12:31 AM	#5
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Negative battery post screw problem Thanks Skeeter, what brings you out so late? Good to hear from you again. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-17-2009, 12:32 AM	#6
skeeter Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kerrville Tx Posts: 1,713	Negative battery post screw problem night owl morning comes way too soon __________________ Robert(skeeter)Dozier 07 Red&Titanium Nomad 81 Suzuki 850GL KawaNow pre#
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10-17-2009, 05:52 AM	#7
superduty Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 259	Negative battery post screw problem On mine, I put a plastic wire tie around the battery post below the square nut to hold it up so that the screw will catch it.
	0

10-17-2009, 06:45 AM	#8
dkdixie Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Blairsville in N. GA mountains Posts: 1,625	Negative battery post screw problem Just take the stock screw into Ace and match up the tread. I can't remember the size. Might as well get an extra. One day you may need it for the positive side. There are other places under the seat to put ground wires. Like the rear fender bolts, battery hold down nuts. __________________ Dick Campbell Blairsville, GA 2008 Red & Black Nomad 1600 (retired) 2009 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner (retired) 2013 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner 2018 CanAm RT Limited Spyder (Sold) 2014 Goldwing Roadsmith Red Trike (Sold) 2019 Goldwing DCT Roadsmith Copper & Black Trike VBA #243 Darkside #115 Patriot Guard Rider American Legion Rider
	0

10-17-2009, 07:51 AM	#9
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	Negative battery post screw problem The bolt size is 6mm. The stock length is about 12mm from memory. I have had the problem you are talking about. Make sure you dont get a bolt that is too long and bottoms out on the battery case. You will think its tight but it wont be clamping the terminal.
	0

10-17-2009, 06:45 PM	#10
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Negative battery post screw problem I use the 2 acorm nuts for grounds that hold the battery hold down cross. Any nut on the frame is the same as the (-) post on the battery. The only add on on my battery terminals is the pig tail to the charger. The neg cable goes to the engine and the frame. The entire engine case and frame are a big ground wire. Doing this I am able to stuff the pig tail for the charger thru thr red and black plastic shields. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

10-17-2009, 07:29 PM	#11
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Negative battery post screw problem ANR I struggled with the same thing and Todd of all people asked me why I was doing what your doing..... He suggested to just loosen the negative ground bolt and since I have the TFI hooked to it and told me to just use wire cutters and clip the negative ground wire donut just wide enough so I could slide it in on the top of the bolt and not have to struggle with what your doing and trying to grab the bolt underneath with a short bolt!! I'm not telling him he was right!!! Nufff said and I felt like a fool that he was right __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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10-18-2009, 06:34 PM	#12
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Negative battery post screw problem IMO, the only other sharing connector on the battery should be the pig tail for the chargers if used. If you have enough addons a bus terminal should be added with a fuse box, so still only one other connector is on the battery. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

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