7 Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 I am looking to replace the standard battery on my seven with a race or bike battery to reduce weight. Can anyone suggest what I should look for? It needs to crank a Crossflow. Will a 12v bike battery be sufficient? Any other useful tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beelzebub Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Tryhere orhere 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 My Redtop 15 has been great. Never had any probs spinnning the 2.0lts over. I was able to mount it lying flat in the chassis tubes way under the through the bonnet exhaust for extra low C of G. Weights: Battery (Banner wet lead acid Caterham supplied 300Ah cranking, 30Ah) 8 KGS Battery holder for Banner battery in Stainless steel inc bolts 0.3 KGS Battery (Hawker 25Ahr batt weight according to Raceparts) 9 KGS Battery (Retop15) 400Ah cranking, 13Ah) 4.75 KGS Battery bracket Redtop (homemade) 0.05 KGS Since fitting EFI (Jenveys) I just hit the button and it starts first time every time. However I did knock the ECU plug out once (long story) and cranked quite a few times before thinking about it and checking the plug, this was at a club meet... There was still enough to left in the Redtop to start her. I would be sceptical to batts not designed for cranking car engines - A friend of mine has experience of one not working. Hants (North) and Berkshire Area club site here My racing info site here Edited by - stevefoster on 6 Dec 2003 22:21:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strongy Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 The cold weather has recently highlighted the need for me to renew the battery on my 1700 xflow as well. ☹️ Have any other xflow owners tried the oddessey range and if so which one? Do they fit under the carbs without the need to remove the carbs and manifold? Or has anyone used this as an opportunity to re-site the battery? Mine is dry -sumped so I have no space on the passenger-side bulkhead. Cheers Strongy - I think its getting louder again 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 I use a PC680 with a 1700 Twin Cam fitted with a geared Hi-Torque Starter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Strongy when my original Xflow battery died I switched to a standard banner and resited it on the scuttle, it's been fine since then. I'd recommend moving it to somewhere else in the engine bay as it's a real pain being under carbs! Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted December 8, 2003 Leadership Team Share Posted December 8, 2003 Steve, What did you use to make the homemade bracket? I'd imagine just some bent metal strip? As I don't easily have the facilities to cut a strip out of sheet metal, is this available in strips off the shelf? Thanks - Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normans_Ghost Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Rob, The reason it's better sited under the carbs is to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. I fitted a Red Top and it's small enough (and can be turned on it's side) to get into place from underneath. My "bracket" is the original Caterham strap re-shaped and tied with a cable tie across the top. I went through 3 small exide's all off which failed after 12 months. I suspect the reason was by tipping the battery on it's side, the battery acid in the front cells was running back into the end cells, then, after time the front cells failed. norman verona 1989 BDR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GasMan Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Does your Crossflow have an electric fuel pump? Earlier cars used mechanical pump. I wrecked two batteries on old crossie then changed to Zetec 2ltr with lecky pump and BMW motorcycle battery. Fitted the original battery box and has worked perfectly for 8 years! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Hawker SBS15 - mounted where the heater was (on its side). Turns 11:1 Xflow over no probs. Philip. D. Owen Membership No. 3976 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Glass Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 On my '95 classic with Xflow I have used Odyssey PC680MJ, rated at 680 cranking amps-5 sec, for over a year with no problems, about 1/2 width of battery that came with car so I just put a block of wood in holder to take up space, situated on R (passenger side) of shelf at back of engine bay, Jay Glass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Michael - the easiest way to cut strips of metal is with tinsnips in a vice or at a push a Workmate. If too heavy then use an angle grinder. None of these items is expensive, other than the vice and these are available s/h. Bending up the corners will need a vice, or if you don't have this opposing bits of angle iron in our friend the Workmate again. If you have a garage then there's no excuse for not building a bench with a vice on it, you'll use it all the time. (Breakfast, TV suppers...). If you don't then you'll have to make do with a Workmate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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