Seat removal - how?

[900triple]

I know its a stupid question...but how do I remove the front seat on my 2002 1150gs? I need to charge the battery and dont want to wreck the seat trying.

ps I phoned the local BMW garage today and spoke to the sales guy - he didnt know either (makes me feel a little less useless).

 

[Timolgra]

Unlock rear seat with key and remove, unlock front and remove

BUT you can charge the battery through the 12v accessory socket with the right adapter, eg Optimate

 

[Steptoe]

turn the key,and pull the front seat rearwards. And it'll pop off

 

[Timolgra]

What, the key?

 

[Steptoe]

What, the key?

No, your finger, as it gets stuck under the rear rack

 

[900triple]

Thanks - I had tried that before but all it needed was a little additional persuation.

Now the seats off, the battery's not easily to get at. Can I charge the battery in situ. Do I need to disconnect somehow the +ve or -ve lead?

 

[Manni]

Thanks - I had tried that before but all it needed was a little additional persuation.

Now the seats off, the battery's not easily to get at. Can I charge the battery in situ. Do I need to disconnect somehow the +ve or -ve lead?

No need to disconnect. If it's a one off with generic jump start cables, you can clip the negative cable anywhere on the frame (I use the metallic part of the left driver's footrest) and the positive one on a screwdriver which is firmly pushed against the positive plug of the battery (be careful not to touch any other part with it, including the tank!). Make sure the car engine (if any on the other end) is NOT running. This is easier to do if you're alone than trying to connect both cables direct to the battery.

Best thing to do if you're using a charger like an optimate is to install the optimate permanent special lead to the battery, and use it to connect the optimate. Good luck!

 

[Dabba]

You can and you don't need to disconnect anything - I'd recommend though that you get an adaptor to replace those unsightly crocodile clips with a plug that goes straight into the power socket, no more need to remove the seat!

Dave

 

[cookie]

Make sure the car engine (if any on the other end) is NOT running

i was wondering why?

 

[900triple]

Thanks for the info. Where do I get a conversion plug to go into the bike with the other end to a standard battery charger? I don't have an Optimate.

 

[Gecko]

Please.....buy a Honda ....

 

[Mick O'Malley]

Plug info here .

Regards, Mick

 

[Steptoe]

) and the positive one on a screwdriver which is firmly pushed against the positive plug of the battery (be careful not to touch any other part with it, including the tank!).!

Just take the starter motor cover off ( one bolt), put the positive lead onto the big copper nut on the starter motor, and the earth on the footrest hanger or wherever etc - good for jumpstarting, and you can charge the battery. without touching the tank, and fart arseing around with screwdrivers onto the battery , for fecks sake, keep it simple.

 

[Manni]

i was wondering why?

Some manufacturers recommend switching the engine of the "good" vehicule off before jump starting the "bad" one in order to protect its charging system. This is usually what I do (as I don't want to ask the minicab driver to check in his owner's manual if we should keep his engine on or off ). I just want to start the bike, then I disconnect the cables almost immediately, to let the bike's alternator charge my battery (provided the problem is not the bike's alternator of course).
If you need the car (or other bike) to remain connected for 5 minutes or more in order to charge your battery, then obviously you want the car engine to be running so that the good battery doesn't get flat, but in that case I'd try to make sure there is no risk to kill/damage either charging system...

In any case, it's always a good idea to make sure the car's battery is well charged before jump starting!

All this comes from this excellent FAQ about batteries (someone from this board kindly referred me to it when I had my last battery problem! ). This is a "jump starting bible", always useful, I should have referred to it in my first reply (see section 6.7 for the "switch the engine off" advice).

http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden//carfaq6.htm

 

[Manni]

Just take the starter motor cover off ( one bolt), put the positive lead onto the big copper nut on the starter motor, and the earth on the footrest hanger or wherever etc - good for jumpstarting, and you can charge the battery. without touching the tank, and fart arseing around with screwdrivers onto the battery , for fecks sake, keep it simple.

Great trick, I'd love to do that next time, but I have no idea what the starter motor cover is (or even what it looks like! ). Any picture? Or indication of where the thingy lies? I think the screwdriver trick comes from my RT, it was handy then, as it was much harder to get to the battery... I now have a quick disconnect for the optimate...

 

[John Armstrong]

Great trick, I'd love to do that next time, but I have no idea what the starter motor cover is (or even what it looks like! ). Any picture? Or indication of where the thingy lies? I think the screwdriver trick comes from my RT, it was handy then, as it was much harder to get to the battery... I now have a quick disconnect for the optimate...

Yours might have an easy jump start, or have a look at the pic

 

[Manni]

Steptoe / John Armstrong - The pursuit of knowledge is about asking questions... Cheers