BigJ12
Expert Class
Posts: 107
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posted February 01, 2002 10:42 AM
Jumper cable question
The ZX-12 comes with a built in jumper cable, but the manual says "Do not run with the jump starting cable left connected to the battery (+) terminal for a long time."
Why Not? I have made jumper leads on all of the Bikes I have owned, I find it alot easier to charge or jump without having to take off the seat or any thing else for that matter! I have never had a problem in the past and those were home made connectors, what gives? Is it a matter of wear, that would lead to a short down the road? If thats the case then I'm sure I can come up with some sort of insulation that will prevent that. Who knows about this "jump starting cable"
BigJ12
  
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted February 01, 2002 10:56 AM
Re: cable...
I think you've guessed it.  -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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BigJ12
Expert Class
Posts: 107
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posted February 01, 2002 11:04 AM
That's what I think too ZXtra, I think I will take a good look at what could rub on the cable and insulate it. This way all I have to do is leave the top bolt off of the battery cover and I can get to my battery cable to jump or charge whatever the case may be.
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redelk
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posted February 01, 2002 12:57 PM
Mine's been sticking out...
... ever since we put the bike together. That was over 28K miles ago. The outer plastic wire cover shows no signs of rubbing. Beats the hell outta havin' to unbolt the cover. Especially if you "forgot" to leave the top bolt out.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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BigJ12
Expert Class
Posts: 107
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posted February 01, 2002 02:07 PM
Thanks, Red
I knew It wouldn't be long till someone who has it connected spoke up. I haven't looked close so forgive me for these questions. Is there room for the cable between the cover & the frame? If not how are you running the cable as to not have it pinched by the cover?
BigJ12
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redelk
Moderator
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posted February 01, 2002 04:11 PM
jumper cable routing
I run the cable out through the opening at the top right of the battery cover. The red covered end is kinda wedged under the plastic tank cover. it does slightly bow the cover away from the bike, but if you notice it... your TOO DAMN CLOSE to my bike!
Since my scoot is in pieces right now, I take a few pics and e-mail them to you tomorrow.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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DaveInDaytona
Pro
Posts: 1696
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posted February 01, 2002 04:19 PM
Red you've had it sticking out for 28,000 miles and it shows no sign of rubbing ? You DO have self control !
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DaytonaSportbikes Forum
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redelk
Moderator
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posted February 01, 2002 05:10 PM
Naaaaaaaaaaw.....
It only sticks out a lil' bit. Nuttin' anybody would notice.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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BigJ12
Expert Class
Posts: 107
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posted February 02, 2002 09:57 PM
Thanks Red
Jumpers are the way to go, you never know when a battery will let you down. But you can be sure it's never the right time or place. That happened to me once, after that I have always had some sort of jumper cable so I could charge or jump and not have to take my bike apart.
BigJ12
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Wildman
Expert Class
I only look confused
Posts: 318
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posted February 03, 2002 05:38 AM
quote:
It only sticks out a lil' bit. Nuttin' anybody would notice.
Sorry for your luck... 
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If you build something Idiot Proof, The world will build a better Idiot.
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted February 03, 2002 06:20 AM
Jokes aside, is not the battery cover supposed to be a "stressed member" part of the frame? I remember reading that someplace...
I to, wanted to leave the top bolt out. The above kept me from doing that...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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redelk
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posted February 03, 2002 09:39 AM
 Edited By: redelk on 3 Feb 2002 09:43
EBD, this is why I leave mine attached...
Imagine this...
You and your buddies stop fo a bit to eat. For some reason, when ya'll come out and you try to start your bike... the battery's dead. It could have been you accidently left some add-on accessory turned or or just simply, your battery got run down. The point is, unexpected dark clouds start rolling in and small droplets of water start to apear on yor fairing. You going to need a jump and your going to need it fast!
If your riding buddies are anything like mine, none of them will have any kind of jumper cables and even if you usually carry a set for bikes, you forgot to put them back after you last cleaned your bike. So your buddies track down some kind person who both has cables and is willing to give you a jump.
All this time they asking folks for a jump, your rummaging through your tool bag for that 8mm socket "thing" that uses the screwdriver shaft. Of course, your already tried the 8mm wrench and realized that it won't work, The droplets are getting bigger.
The kind person pulls up next to your bike, pops their hood and starts hooking up their cables. You got the front cover off and your left with a choice. You can attach their cable the hot wire bolt on the end of box and try it from there. Knowing that the positive termnal is on the other side of the battery, you give it a shot. It doesn't work (I DO NOT know this for a fact, but this IS an "imagined" story).
Now, you realize that you'll have to pull the battery tray out and hook that cable up. Off come the two tray bolts and the hot wire bolt, then you slide the tray out. DAMN! You realize that you have to unplug the two harnesses on the end of the tray, first. The tray comes out and now you got to hook that cable up.
By the time, the kind person has gone to sit in their car, since it has actually started to rain. Frustrating start to mount, on everybody's part. You get everything hooked up and FINALLY... you get your bike started. Yo thank the kind person and they drive off... shaking their head over the hassles of owning one of "them sportbikes". The rain starts coming down harder and you still have to put the cover back on and put your tools (which are now scattered all around you) back.
Wet and pissed off at KHI for making such a STUPID design, you and your buddies (the ones that stuck around with you) finally take off for the miserable ride home. How long do you think all that would take. Even if you were lucky enough to jump it from the hot wire bolt, you'd still have to remove the cover and then put it back. Hell, imagine what it would be like if you DIDN'T have the top bolt out.
Is this scenerio, likely to happen? Probably not. In most cases, dead batteries are discovered in one's own garage. Yet this story isn't totally impossible.
Now, let's turn the tables and say you and I are riding together and it's MY battery that's dead. Since my cable is already attached, I'll be ready to jump my bike before that kind person even gets there car next to my bike. They hand me their cables, I attach the positive to my cable, the negitive to my brake pedal (as recommended by KHI) start my bike, thank the kind person... and were off to try and outrun the coming storm. The only thing I took off is one of my gloves.
More realistically, I've only had to use mine once. Having not started my bike in a month and with the temps averaging in the 30's and 40's (teens and 20's at night), my battery had lost some of it's charge and didn't have enough juice to turn over my bike. I broke out my 2/10/50A charger/jump starter and just simple hooked it up. After a short charge, I was able to fire the bike right up. No covers to remove, no trays to pull out and no cables to attach to the battery. I didn't even have to open a drawer on my tool box.
Though the battery cover is attached to the frame, IMHO, I doubt if it has much of any affect on the frame's overall rigidity or plays any part as a "stress member". Being cheap "pot metal", I'd at least HOPE it doesn't. The choice of how you want to set it up is up to you. Still, if you set it up in any other way besides having the cable attached and sticking out... if I was with you, I'd probably be one of those "fair weather friends" that leaves you as soon as the kind person with the cables showed up.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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