Putting the battery on top of the swinging arm

[jaybar6]

I thought about Putting the battery on top of the swinging arm. One could weld a tray on the swinging arm, right where the pivot is, there won't be much un-sprung weight because of its position. it will only move about half an inch. and it would strengthen the swing arm, too.

 

[Jan_P]

Cant see the Picture
NO welding is a shit method Inducing Heat affected zone and defects inclusions cracks reducing strength
Dangerous

 

[bazz]

I thought about Putting the battery on top of the swinging arm. One could weld a tray on the swinging arm, right where the pivot is, there won't be much un-sprung weight because of its position. it will only move about half an inch. and it would strengthen the swing arm, too. View attachment 335264

The only reason I'd have for not mounting to the swinging arm is it may shorten the batteries life
Especially if it's lead acid as scale shakes off the plates and slowly kills the battery as it builds up in the bottom of the battery shell
Have you thought about mounting the battery under the swinging arm
I did this once on a pre diversion xj900 and it worked well

 

[bazz]

Cant see the Picture
NO welding is a shit method Inducing Heat affected zone and defects inclusions cracks reducing strength
Dangerous

I've lengthened , shortened and braced many swinging arms over the years without issues
I'm curious about what ones you have seen break?

 

[JOHNDADDY]

The only reason I'd have for not mounting to the swinging arm is it may shorten the batteries life
Especially if it's lead acid as scale shakes off the plates and slowly kills the battery as it builds up in the bottom of the battery shell
Have you thought about mounting the battery under the swinging arm
I did this once on a pre diversion xj900 and it worked well

I was thinking the same thing, sloshing around but then it's not very different from a hardtail. ???

 

[bazz]

I was thinking the same thing, sloshing around but then it's not very different from a hardtail. ???

No not much difference to a hardtail

 

[DogBunny]

I thought about Putting the battery on top of the swinging arm. One could weld a tray on the swinging arm, right where the pivot is, there won't be much un-sprung weight because of its position. it will only move about half an inch. and it would strengthen the swing arm, too. View attachment 335264

I did this a long time ago. I think I bolted the tray. The space was very tight, but otherwise it worked well. Had to eliminate the plastic inner fender.
I would use a lithium battery. You also want to use ultra-flexible cables, like the ones at West Marine.
If I was to do it again, I would use one of the smaller Shorai batteries, like the LFX09L2-BS12. Shorai used to spec that battery for the XS650. It is plenty powerful enough. Then, you'd have plenty of room.
More info here:
https://www.xs650.com/threads/any-o...-my-battery-on-my-swingarm.20620/#post-200872

 

[JJames]

. Not sure about battery placement but that chain looks awful thirsty. Have fun.

 

[jaybar6]

The only reason I'd have for not mounting to the swinging arm is it may shorten the batteries life
Especially if it's lead acid as scale shakes off the plates and slowly kills the battery as it builds up in the bottom of the battery shell
Have you thought about mounting the battery under the swinging arm
I did this once on a pre diversion xj900 and it worked well

Yes bazz, I have. I watch a video of: Brick House Builds
on youtube. cool guy, who has done some interesting things! this one where he puts a battery under the swinging arm on a xs400:

 

[jaybar6]

I did this a long time ago. I think I bolted the tray. The space was very tight, but otherwise it worked well. Had to eliminate the plastic inner fender.
I would use a lithium battery. You also want to use ultra-flexible cables, like the ones at West Marine.
If I was to do it again, I would use one of the smaller Shorai batteries, like the LFX09L2-BS12. Shorai used to spec that battery for the XS650. It is plenty powerful enough. Then, you'd have plenty of room.
More info here:
https://www.xs650.com/threads/any-o...-my-battery-on-my-swingarm.20620/#post-200872

thanks for the information, dogsbunny. I'll watch the video.

 

[jaybar6]

I was thinking the same thing, sloshing around but then it's not very different from a hardtail. ???

yeah, have you see the battery when you have lifted the seat, while the engine is running. it is jumping around like a Mexican bean!

 

[JOHNDADDY]

Never had a hardtail.
Someday I hope. But by then my back probably wont be able to take it.

 

[bazz]

Never had a hardtail.
Someday I hope. But by then my back probably wont be able to take it.

I've been riding hardtails for over 40 years
Mind you these days I always use a sprung and damped seat
I can't take a rigid seat on a hardtail anymore my back can take it but my neck can't

 

[Jan_P]

I've lengthened , shortened and braced many swinging arms over the years without issues
I'm curious about what ones you have seen break?

I have not seen any break . don't think I have seen any welded on
It is inherent in the Welding as Method.
It has the advantage being quick and simple .But depending on skills and materials it generally speaking reduces strength
Especially fatigue strength. If I recall right to almost half

In pressure vessels and piping Welding is used Specifically competent people with perfect preparations Many years expertise
but welds are still X -- rayed and Pressure tested before the Authorities sing
off
It is not allowed to take these into service before these precautions have taken place.

I have worked with Excavators ,Those having less requirement weld class .. Allowing more imperfections
Mosty the materials have good strength but the Heat from welding can destroy it ( Strength ) close to the Weld
And the Cracks also start in or close to the Weld seam and propagates to the other material or more common parallel to the weld
It depends on the load Case

 

[bazz]

I have not seen any break . don't think I have seen any welded on
It is inherent in the Welding as Method.
It has the advantage being quick and simple .But depending on skills and materials it generally speaking reduces strength
Especially fatigue strength. If I recall right to almost half

In pressure vessels and piping Welding is used Specifically competent people with perfect preparations Many years expertise
but welds are still X -- rayed and Pressure tested before the Authorities sing
off
It is not allowed to take these into service before these precautions have taken place.

I have worked with Excavators ,Those having less requirement weld class .. Allowing more imperfections
Mosty the materials have good strength but the Heat from welding can destroy it ( Strength ) close to the Weld
And the Cracks also start in or close to the Weld seam and propagates to the other material or more common parallel to the weld
It depends on the load Case

Sounds like you have more experience than me
I've been modifying frames and swinging arms since 1980 I'm a fabrication/welder by trade
I'm only coded in mig and arc
It's quite rare to have any of our work X-rayed
But everything we do is MPI tested

 

[gggGary]

Is it a just an odd angle, or is the ground strap bolted to the SWING ARM!!!

 

[JJames]

Is it a just an odd angle, or is the ground strap bolted to the SWING ARM!!!

Looks like someone took advantage of the hole for the chain guard bolt. Hmm.

 

[gggGary]

Maybe it's some sort of custom chain guard bracket?
I hope so.

 

[Max Midnight]

I thought about Putting the battery on top of the swinging arm. One could weld a tray on the swinging arm, right where the pivot is, there won't be much un-sprung weight because of its position. it will only move about half an inch. and it would strengthen the swing arm, too.

It would be better mounted under the s/a as this would lower the C of G.
The only downside I can think of is that the electricery would have to go uphill.................................

 

[jaybar6]

It would be better mounted under the s/a as this would lower the C of G.
The only downside I can think of is that the electricery would have to go uphill.................................

that's true, but they come back down again to the neg terminal.