Going Batteryless

[Hans]

So I saw a guy selling battery eliminator kits for motorcycles for $50 on eBay, though he did have an auction going.  I put a cheap bid in, lost when it went to $22.  I then got a second chance notification from eBay to purchase the unit for the $22.  My spidey senses went off, so I investigated further.  The unit he was selling was a one dollar capacitor in a 5 dollar case.  That was it.  So, I thought, I can do this also.  Did a bit more research and found that having a larger capacitor is a much better idea.  I bought a $9 capacitor from Mecca, a $5 case from Radio Shack and a bit of wire.  Bike started on the first kick, lights are bright and the horn works. 

So, this is usable on a bike with a permanent magnet alternator, and of course a kick start.  If the bike is off, there is no power.  Anybody interested, let me know.

One word of warning, the capacitor I used can store enough power to seriously injure or kill you if you let it shock you. So don't.

[Rusty Bucket]

I am interested for the DR350 - which not only has a battery that isn't much use, it carries it in kind of a precarious position. The caveat is, I'd be willing to give a big capacitor a try after having enough experience with the stock battery set-up to be able to recognize what was normal or abnormal behaviour.  The bike has a miserable reputation as a hard starter, so I'd want to have that wrinkle worked out before deviating from stock.

[fast1]

    Having owned a B.S.A. with a capacitor discharge system might I suggest since their cheap and easy to build that you make and carry a spare?  Also for what it's worth the brit ones mounted in a spiral spring, one would assume to isolate it from vibration. CHEERS.

[british bulldog]

fast1 ----If you don't mind me asking? What year, model and displacement was your BSA that you owned?

British Bulldog

[british bulldog]

Hans do you change when your brake light is on when the engine is idling, with just the capacitor you are using?

British Bulldog

[Theo]

So, this is usable on a bike with a permanent magnet alternator, and of course a kick start.  If the bike is off, there is no power.  Anybody interested, let me know.

Q: How many capacitors are you using (sounds like only 1 since you used the singular "capacitor")?  What is their Voltage rating and Capacitance?

Theo

[Hans]

It is a 35 volt capacitor and 18000uF. Bulldog, lights and signals all work at idle, same with the horn.

[british bulldog]

That is awesome Hans. Sounds like a good score.

British Bulldog

[fast1]

   My one and only British bike I owned for a couple years in my late teens. 1968 650 lighting. Traded it for a 1970 Mercury Montego MX. 351 4v Cleveland, bucket seats, console shift, sidepipes and fat tires. Red with white scallops. Between the tires and the engine I couldnt afford the gas so made a deal with a friend of my parents. He had the bike at Hans Gayer's for repair though since  no money had come forth no work had been done, he was happy just to get it out his way and offered some of his time and advise as to what might be wrong. I was staying at my aunt's at the time and she lived on langer cr., behind the Eagles hall on Dagg road. Hans was somewhere between the fire hall and the high school on Kelly rd. and having no way to move it I pushed. Turned out to be the basis for our whole relationship. I did however get to ride it coasting down the hill to the shopping center. It was bastardised severely. 1 gallon peanut tank, skinny little prostate pounding cobra seat, bicycle style sissy bar and 6-8 over forks with no extra rake. This made it very tall and as most of you are aware i'm not! My friend Eugene Fetterly measured my bike and made a set of rear struts. This made it so I could touch the ground but amplified the geometry problem--want to see a Beezer wheelie and handle badly? Turns out my first meeting with Hans was to be the first of many knowledge sharing encounters. For those who don't know Hans Gayer is a local legend and guru. 1 zener diode and new capacitor (conversion) and it would run. Carb problems and I pushed. Another capacitor--pushed and learned to carry a spare. Then I put a girl on the back. We hit a bump and something feels different. Then the bike slows down and I can smell rubber. Turns out whoever mounted the sissy bar had cut the rear loop off to fit the gooffy sissybar. Now the fender was sitting on the tire. Pulled it back up got her to skooch forward and...30 feet. We walked, I pushed. Come to think of it that bike kept me in shape. Sissybar in the bush, fender supports and back on the road. Then the zener again. I PUSHED. For sale or trade.....CHEERS.

[british bulldog]

Cool Fast1 The good old days. I know Hans G its to bad he moved. I just about bought bought a 71 Beezer from him. Hans G did my 1968 BSA A65 Firebird's bottom end in 1980. Small world.

British Bulldog

[Admin]

I dont understand - most brit bikes of the pre electric start era were considered battery -less heck you only needed a battery cos them coppers wanted you to put on parking lights when the bike was on the street so that fool car drivers could actually see your bike parked before he ran over it. A good run and bump and we were off again.

[Theo]

Further to my remarks on this topic at the last club meeting, I spoke of a bank of 5 farad capacitors.  That should have been 500 farad capacitors.  I believe that would be more than enough to replace a standard lead-acid battery even for electric starting purposes on most motorcycles.

[Hans]

Update on the capacitor.  I'm calling it a failed experiment.  Gone through 2 headlight bulbs, so I'm thinking that is a sign.  Back to the battery.

[Rusty Bucket]

The voltage is varying too much?  Wouldn't you normally think think the bulb's death might indicate a regulator problem rather than a 'battery' problem?  Where do you think the trouble lies?

[Hans]

Possibly.  The cap will hold way more voltage than a battery, so if the charging system is providing 15 or 16 volts, it'll charge up to that much.  If the regulator is goofing up and providing more voltage, it'll take that and then provide that without a buffer. A battery will at least absorb the power and heat up and boil itself.