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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Well I was a bit suprised to have my stock battery already begin to give me a hard time but I guess the 30 degrees I have been riding in are finally taking its toll. Just for the batts history sake, its on a 2011 I just bought in October 2012 that was produced in lat 2010 then sat on the dealers floor until I bought it last year. It has always seemed slower turning over than my 04TC but I figured differnt starter. Last few days, bike wound up outside over night and barley started. Back in the garage it went pulling it out for my morning commutes. Since then, with temps in the mid 40s going home, if I try to restart shortly after shutting it off she really struggles. I am attributing this to riding 70 on the highway for 45 minutes or so and it cooling the batt back down eatting up its cranking amps. Does the wind flowing right into the broad side of the VV battery possibly reduce the temp that much???
With all this said and having reviewed several battery threads I was about to push the button on the Odyssey PC545 for 112.00 with free shipping. THEN I read the specs.. I became a little concerned because amist all the rave reviews, no one stated the CCA were 150 (180 on other web). Here are the rest of the specs. I have no issue spending good money on a good battery but just got skiddish so thought I would get some input. Thanks!!!!
Odyssey PC5454 Specifications:
Pulse (5-second) Hot Cranking Amps (PHCA) 460
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) 150
20Hr Nominal Capacity (Ah) 13
Reserve Capacity Minutes 18
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | IMO - do not get the Odyssey battery... it is a piece of crap.... we have (on the Triumph Rocket 3 forum) vetted the battery out and it does not perform well. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | I tried an Odyssey battery on my dual sport, not just once, but twice AND I even bought the special charger. It just didn't work and I even had the battery kinda do a melt down! At first I thought it was an "old" battery that just wasn't good. That is why I purchased a 2nd. After spending just under $300 for two batteries and the charger I gave up and went back to a lead acid battery that has not failed me. BTW on my Vision, I have two years on it and zero issues. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Thanks for the feedback so far, while I know there are other threads out there I was interested in getting more recent input. The design of it looked promising and price was not much more. I do believe my CCA is where the problem is at and simple math says (just like the other threads) CCA of 300+ for the cold weather riders. Not much keeps me off it short of ICE or the day following melt with near freezing with water on the pavement and I think the last couple thousand at low temps put a strain on an old battery. I will probably stick with YUASA, free shipping at 87.00. Any other inputs are of course welcome! Thanks again! Tim |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Tim...? Sounds like you want to buy it; no matter what. Our vetting of that battery is from last year. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | willtill - 2013-03-05 8:06 PM
Tim...? Sounds like you want to buy it; no matter what. Our vetting of that battery is from last year.
No, on the contrary. Was willing to give it a shot if there was anyone with some really strong points about cold starts and at a sale price of 112 with free shipping since mine is on the way out it appears and wanted some current feedback maybe how it performs in the cold. I was skeptical it will perform well in the cold with only a CCA of 150 which is my current problem anyway so, looking at the current feedback I am going to play it safe I believe with the Yuasa. At the moment I swapped my 04's battery over to the VV so I am good until it gets here. We all know how the free shipping goes...
I do appreciate the feedback Will
Thanks! Tim |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 35
Virginia Beach, VA | well you know I don't know crap...but I am trying to learn. You know I had issues with my battery, was 10 months old, rode home from DC in the pouring rain and 50 degree temps and that was all it took. I bought an everstart I think it is from Wal-Mart and haven't had any problems at all. YET. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
Lusby, MD | I understand that Vic did improvements over my 08 and the electrical system, but, I had some issues last year early in the riding season with my electrical system. So, hopefully some of this will help, maybe not. The bulk of my issues was just loosened connection points on the electrical system with the battery and such. I bought the bike used, and on our first long ride it shut down on its own twice, and I also noticed that it cranked longer than my '02 did.
I did a bunch of research on here and other Vic sites, and ended up getting comfy on the floor, removing the battery, undoing ALL electrical connections down in the battery area. I wire brushed all the connections, cleaned them with a rubbing alcohol cloth, and reassembled them all. If you do this, be careful on the 'circuit breaker' (that's the totally enclosed in rubber two wire connector that interrupts the power on an overload condition) there have been posts stating the connection was easy to break with wrenching.
Ever since I did this, the bike started and electrically ran much better. So, maybe the battery is not ready for the landfill, but, maybe the electrical connections could use some attention.
Good luck. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | theogre1969 - 2013-03-06 12:02 AM
well you know I don't know crap...but I am trying to learn. You know I had issues with my battery, was 10 months old, rode home from DC in the pouring rain and 50 degree temps and that was all it took. I bought an everstart I think it is from Wal-Mart and haven't had any problems at all. YET.
Yea, I remember yours and thought it was surely just a fluke but now I am thinking they may have been at the end of the shelf life before the first charge lol... Not that its that cold here but I definatley seen a struggle trying to restart after just getting off the highway. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | daveinmaryland - 2013-03-06 3:25 AM
I understand that Vic did improvements over my 08 and the electrical system, but, I had some issues last year early in the riding season with my electrical system. So, hopefully some of this will help, maybe not. The bulk of my issues was just loosened connection points on the electrical system with the battery and such. I bought the bike used, and on our first long ride it shut down on its own twice, and I also noticed that it cranked longer than my '02 did.
I did a bunch of research on here and other Vic sites, and ended up getting comfy on the floor, removing the battery, undoing ALL electrical connections down in the battery area. I wire brushed all the connections, cleaned them with a rubbing alcohol cloth, and reassembled them all. If you do this, be careful on the 'circuit breaker' (that's the totally enclosed in rubber two wire connector that interrupts the power on an overload condition) there have been posts stating the connection was easy to break with wrenching.
Ever since I did this, the bike started and electrically ran much better. So, maybe the battery is not ready for the landfill, but, maybe the electrical connections could use some attention.
Good luck.
Good point Dave and I would have never thought the bike would be so finiky about battery power and what you mentioned above. Did the above on my 04 TC when it started acting up and was quickly back in the hunt. As seveal riders noted the star washers reduce the battery bolts loosening. I did clean the terminal connectors and ensured a solid connection through to the starter. Battery is holding find in temps mid 40s up, it is primarily during a restart coming off the highway in low 30's high 20's OR when MaMa blocked the garage and I parked next to her and just tarped it over night. 27 degree's tried to start and she NOPE. Came back home after lunch, 45 and turned over fairly well.
Thanks for the post!! Safe ridin
Tim |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I had a good run with an Odyssey PC545MJ-same as the PC545 just has a metal jacket, in my '99 V92C. Lasted for 8 years and cranked the bike with high compression pistons and never let me down. I replaced it & gave it to a neighbor who used it in his bike a couple more seasons. I've been using AGM batteries from http://www.batterymart.com/c-motorcycle-batteries.html
Big Crank & Westco and there doing just fine and a lot less than the Odyssey |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 33
South Carolina | I used one in a custom due to the 3.0 thickness. It started a 124 w/ releases for about 3 years but then fell off on voltage. I don't think you can get any better battery than a Deka. Tristate battery is a good place for them with free shipping. |
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Thoughts on Odyssey Battery PC545 CCA
