Battery Upgrade

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GRUP

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What would be the best type of modern battery for a 75 3C ?  It will not be raced.  It will have ( eventually, hopefully ) a loooooong USA pilgrimage ahead.  I do have a "smart" charger. 
 
G'day GRUP, and welcome to the forum.

Any of the AGM batteries (Odyssey, Deka, Motobatt, etc.) are better than wet electrolyte type. Smaller in size and weight, stronger cranking, can be mounted in any orientation and don't leak. Your smart charger should work OK with them. My favoured battery at present is Motobatt. They're cheaper than the competitors and seem to be just as good (or better). They also have two positive and two negative terminals to give you more mounting/orientation options.

There was a battery comparison thread about a month ago. Here: http://www.laverdaforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=86640.0

Cheers,
Cam
 
Thanks for the info.  Is there any technical reason I would have any problem with this unit for long highway riding with the attendant long hours of uninterrupted vibration ?    Prices seem good. 
 
Well, in theory, an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery should be better able to stand up to vibration than the old wet type. The plates in an AGM battery are packed in a lot tighter, with fibreglass mat layered in between them which provides support. They have no room to rattle around.

In some 15 odd years of using AGM batteries on all sorts of bikes including laverda triples, I've never had a failure due to vibration. I've only had them die of old age.

Cam
 
It has been commented on in the forum that the charging system on an early triple such as the 3C is not compatible with AGM or gel batteries (voltage not high enough or stable enough?)
Saying that I have fitted them to several 180 triples.
The later series 2 180s and all 120s should be ok though as they have a superior charging system.
 
No problems with AGM here either.

Running a 14Ah el cheapo AGM in the 3C for almost 6 years now, still going strong.  The one before that only lasted 3 years, still an improvement over the old lead/acid type, they barely managed one season!

Got the crudest of all charging systems, alternator/rectifier/battery, no regulator to speak of.  Mandatory daytime lights here, so no chance of frying the battery, but need to switch to pilot lights when the revs are down for some time, ie, town riding, in order to keep some current in the battery.

piet
 
Grant said:
It has been commented on in the forum that the charging system on an early triple such as the 3C is not compatible with AGM or gel batteries (voltage not high enough or stable enough?)
Saying that I have fitted them to several 180 triples.
The later series 2 180s and all 120s should be ok though as they have a superior charging system.
Click to expand...

Grant, do you happen to know what dates/forum titles I need to find for the early 3C probs ?  I am not sure if the previous owner made any charging system modifications. 

Thanx to all who made suggestions and supplied the benefit of experience.

I suspect the learning curve is going to be a looooooot taller than I expected !!
 
GRUP said:
Grant said:
It has been commented on in the forum that the charging system on an early triple such as the 3C is not compatible with AGM or gel batteries (voltage not high enough or stable enough?)
Saying that I have fitted them to several 180 triples.
The later series 2 180s and all 120s should be ok though as they have a superior charging system.
Click to expand...

Grant, do you happen to know what dates/forum titles I need to find for the early 3C probs ?  I am not sure if the previous owner made any charging system modifications. 

Thanx to all who made suggestions and supplied the benefit of experience.

I suspect the learning curve is going to be a looooooot taller than I expected !!
Click to expand...

Try the search function top right of your screen when logged in, it is very powerful - just need the right key words.
Type something like ' series 1 alternator upgrade'. 'battery charging woes', 'reds alternator kit', you get the drift.
 
"... but need to switch to pilot lights when the revs are down for some time, ie, town riding, in order to keep some current in the battery."
I'm a self-confessed electrical dunce, but I'd somehow come to believe that the system actually reduces charging when the headlamp is not on.  If that be true, then running with just the parking light would be futile.
 
lawrence said:
"... but need to switch to pilot lights when the revs are down for some time, ie, town riding, in order to keep some current in the battery."

I'm a self-confessed electrical dunce, but I'd somehow come to believe that the system actually reduces charging when the headlamp is not on.  If that be true, then running with just the parking light would be futile.
Click to expand...

Can't see why charging would be reduced when lights are off - surely that is what a regulator is for?

No, the 3C doesn't reduce charge when lights are off (be hard to really - given they are 100w or 123w only). The only mechanism on a 3C that reduces charge is the motor - when revs drop, so does the charge.

If running a 3C with the lights on you need either an upgraded alternator or a bloody great battery - although you need to be aware that, without charging, a 30ah battery will only last about 3 1/2 hours when using lights, brake light & indicators - assuming no losses (the old loom will probably reduce that by 1 hour due to losses). Ignition is not an issue, as it's on a separate coil.

Pete

Pete
 
GRUP, It sounds as though you're not too familiar with your 3C's electrical system. I'm guessing you've not owned it very long. Long-time owners tend to know their bikes intimately.

The original electrical system on the 3C was rubbish by today's standards. The alternator has quite a low output that will barely maintain battery charge when the lights are on. The ignition is a very early electronic type that's prone to failure, and even if it's working properly it's not particularly good for a number of reasons that I won't bother going into here.

If it's still running the original (nearly 40 year-old) charging system and ignition then an upgrade would be a good idea, especially if you're about to embark on a trip across USA on it. The Redax/Sachse alternator and ignition upgrade comes highly recommended. I just installed one on my bike. The quality is very impressive and it comes with detailed instructions, so installation is quite easy even if you're not particularly savvy with electrical stuff. Here's a bit of info http://www.laverdaforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=84425.msg196992#msg196992

Cheers,
Cam
 
Dellortoman said:
GRUP, It sounds as though you're not too familiar with your 3C's electrical system. I'm guessing you've not owned it very long. Long-time owners tend to know their bikes intimately.

The original electrical system on the 3C was rubbish by today's standards. The alternator has quite a low output that will barely maintain battery charge when the lights are on. The ignition is a very early electronic type that's prone to failure, and even if it's working properly it's not particularly good for a number of reasons that I won't bother going into here.

If it's still running the original (nearly 40 year-old) charging system and ignition then an upgrade would be a good idea, especially if you're about to embark on a trip across USA on it. The Redax/Sachse alternator and ignition upgrade comes highly recommended. I just installed one on my bike. The quality is very impressive and it comes with detailed instructions, so installation is quite easy even if you're not particularly savvy with electrical stuff. Here's a bit of info http://www.laverdaforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=84425.msg196992#msg196992

Cheers,
Cam
Click to expand...
  Well, Cam, I'm guilty as charged, know almost nothing about Laverdas.  I'm now reading all the info folks have linked to here.  Looks like I will have to make a decision on how "original" I want to keep things.  I think you've nailed it on the need for upgrades, particularly for long trips and night riding.  Thanx for the info.
 
GRUP,

Thought I might pass on my experience. I bought a 76 3C earlier this year with the idea of using it as an every day bike. I found out about the Redax/Sachse alternator ignition upgrade through the forum and contacted Red and quickly decided to install it. Long story short I shipped the bike to Red and he went over it for me and we made some sensible upgrades in addition to the alternator/ignition: rebuilt the clutch and extended the actuating lever, emulators in the forks (allows them to mimic the action of modern forks), new shocks and Mikunis. He also checked all the bearings etc. and replaced things as needed.

So, Red is in Brisbane and I live in Perth. This gave me the opportunity for a long road test :D. I had the bike shipped to Darwin when Red was finished and rode it down to Perth, about 4,500 kms. Took me 8 days or so and the bike never missed a beat. I think the alternator/ignition upgrade is most important, followed by suspension if you're going to ride far, as it makes the bike much more comfortable. Carbs optional but nice.

I've attached a couple of photos, one before the mods (red shocks) and one after. Kept all the old parts so can revert to original-ish if I choose.


good luck

Mike




 

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Gidday Mike, that`s not Dennis B`s old bike is it? If it is that bike I`ve got some old photos of it from 1983 around here somewhere.
 
Perth is a damn sight closer than Walpole. When are we going for a ride?
 
OK confession - 3C is sick v.low compression on No.3 cylinder.  :( But I've talked to Red about fixing it up :D

I've also got an old 750S, but it needs some fettling - be in touch once that's done.

Mike
 
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