How to Change the Battery on a Yamaha
by Samuel HamiltonChanging the battery on your Yamaha motorcycle is a job that you may have to tackle at some point. Whether you're replacing the battery on a Yamaha cruiser or street bike, it is important to handle the battery with care to avoid shocking yourself or damaging your bike. Changing the battery on a Yamaha motorcycle, no matter the model, is a straightforward job that can be done fairly quickly with one simple tool.
Cruiser
Step 1
Remove the seat from your motorcycle. Turn the key to the "On" position and hold it there as you lift up on the seat to unlock it.
Step 2
Put on the gloves and the safety glasses. Remove the plastic cover on the battery compartment.
Step 3
Detach the cables connected to the terminals on the top of the battery. You can pull the cables off by hand. Remove the negative (black) cable first, then the positive (red) cable. Cover the negative battery terminal with black electrical tape.
Step 4
Lift the battery out of the compartment. Be sure not to touch the terminals to any metal components of the frame or the seat.
Step 5
Position the new battery. Connect the positive cable to the battery first, then the negative cable.
Step 6
Reattach the seat.
Street Bike
Step 1
Lift or remove the seat on your bike. Use the ignition key to unlock the mechanism holding the seat in place. Depending on the model, tilt the seat back or lift it completely off the bike.
Step 2
Locate the two anchor bolts on either side of the gas tank. Unscrew the bolts using an Allen wrench. Hold on to both the bolts and the bushings on the underside of the bolts. The bushings prevent your gas tank from rattling during operation.
Step 3
Tilt your gas tank up to reveal the battery compartment. It is necessary to prop up the gas tank or have a helper hold it for you as you work on the battery.
Step 4
Detach the cables connected to the battery terminals. Remove the negative (black) cable first, then the positive (red) cable. Cover the negative battery terminal with black electrical tape.
Step 5
Lift the battery out of the bike, being careful not to touch the terminals to any part of the motorcycle or your skin.
Step 6
Position the new battery in the bike. Connect the positive cable to the battery first, then the negative cable.
Step 7
Reposition the gas tank and secure it by tightening the bolts.
Step 8
Close or reattach the seat.
References
- "Yamaha XV (Virago) V-Twins, 1981-2003 (Haynes Manuals)"; Chilton; 2003
- "Yamaha XVS650 and 1100 (Drag Star, V-Star) 1997 to 2005 (Haynes Service and Repair Manual)"; Phil Mather; 2007
- "Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat, FZS600 Fazer: 1996 to 2003 (Haynes Service and Repair Manual)"; Matthew Coombs; 2006
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Black electrical tape
- Allen wrench
Writer Bio
Samuel Hamilton has been writing since 2002. His work has appeared in “The Penn,” “The Antithesis,” “New Growth Arts Review" and “Deek” magazine. Hamilton holds a Master of Arts in English education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Arts in composition from the University of Florida.
