Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

westCo Batterys

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • westCo Batterys

    My XJ has been set up for almost a month while rebuilding the rear air shocks and putting progressive fork springs in. Except for when it was in the way, a battery tender was connected to my WestCo battery that 3 years old. It's also connected 90% of the time I'm not riding.

    Well, Friday eve. I had the suspension all back together and tried to start the bike and it wouldn't crank over (the battery tender indicator light showed the bat was fully charged). I put a volt meter on the bat and had a reading of 12.84 volts and when I turned the key on it was 8.4v, so I think 'short'. I tear the complete wiring harness apart, check every component, and find nothing wrong!!!!! One of my boys has a 700 Virago that hasn't run in over two years and the battery hasn't been charged in over a year and has cranked the Virago over since then. I thought I'd put the two batteries in parallel and see what would happen, nothing. Then I put just the Virago battery (not recharged) on and it cranks! Not real fast, but enough that if the gas would have been hooked up it would have started.

    Researching batteries online, I run across 2 different WestCo batteries for the XJ with different part #'s, one on eBay and the other at WestCo's site. I called WestCo to see what the different #'s meant and was told the one on eBay was an out of production one. They then asked me what my problem was and I told them my battery would not charge up to more than 12.84 volts, (no matter what charger I used, and I even tried a roll around floor model that will put out up to 35 amps but I only used 10 amps), but showed fully charged with the battery tender indicator I told them the battery was about 3 years old (came with a one year warranty). To my surprise, she said they were sending me out a replacement free of charge!



    Louis
    "There is no mechanical problem so difficult that it cannot be overcome by
    brute strength and ignorance" And possibly some Mouse Milk!
    '82 XJ1100J
    LED Dir and running lights
    LED Tail/Brake lights (4) one flashing
    Modulated H/L
    PIAA Driving lights
    YICS Eliminated
    750 FD

    Yamaha Factory X-1 Fairing and Luggage

  • #2
    "Oh, you sweet-talker!"

    Let's see if I've got this straight...
    All I have to do is call WestCo and say...
    "Listen Lady... There's sumptin' wrong with the battery I bought from youse guys. I haven't ridden the bike in five years, and now I find the battery's dead and it won't take a charge. What gives with you people? Gimme a new one!"

    That was nice of them, Louis.
    Good customer relations... helps to ensure future purchases.
    (usual motorcycle battery life is about three years, like yours was)
    "Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor, not a mechanic!' ('Bones' McCoy)

    Comment


    • #3
      Good story. I put a WestCo battery in my XJ in the spring of 2002, 5+ years later it is still cranking over very well, almost like new. It has been one of the best batteries I have ever had, and no maintenance to worry about. (I used to carry distilled water with me on long trips just for battery maintenance.)

      I was told the same battery was used in Gold Wings and other large cruisers. One drawback in the XJ application...this battery has no fluid level sensor, so you need to do the 'sensor bypass' trick to keep the warning light from showing up on the XJ instrument pod.
      Jerry Fields
      '82 XJ 'Sojourn'
      '06 Concours
      My Galleries Page.
      My Blog Page.
      "... life is just a honky-tonk show." Cherry Poppin' Daddy Strut

      Comment


      • #4
        WestCo Batteries

        The WestCo battery in my XS1100 went bad after the warranty period had just expired. They sent me a new battery also without any hassle. The new battery is American made. Great company to deal with.
        John in El Paso
        1980 Yamaha XS1100G
        2002 Honda Goldwing
        1977 Yamaha TY250
        1973 Yamaha TX750 (future project)

        Comment


        • #5
          I need a battery but I was taken back at the price. $104.
          I guess I'm out of touch...
          "If A equals success, then the formula is: A = X + Y + Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut." - Albert Einstein

          "Illegitimi non carborundum"-Joseph W. "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell



          1980 LG
          1981 LH

          Comment


          • #6
            Must have gone up since I bought mine, but it was still around $90.00 (including shipping) when I bought it.

            In other battery threads some folks have gone with the Interstate maintenance-free battery as a less-expensive alternative, also report good performance.
            Jerry Fields
            '82 XJ 'Sojourn'
            '06 Concours
            My Galleries Page.
            My Blog Page.
            "... life is just a honky-tonk show." Cherry Poppin' Daddy Strut

            Comment

            Working...
            X