2008 Buell XB9SX - Battery

[Olandy]

Greetings Fellows Buell Owners,

Please advise what is the original battery that Buell installs or recommend for the Lighting XB9SX.
Some sites advise Yuasa YTX14H-BS, while on Yuasa website is stated that YTX14H-FA should be used for this bike.

Thank you in advance.
Olandy

[vladshap]

I'm curious as well.

[Internet Annoyance]

I researched this and try a google search for Buell XB and batterys, a lot of threads and some good info on here (they show up easier on a google search) and Badweather bikers. as well as some harley forums. LOTS of info on batterys.

The deka batterys are by far one of the best choices. EX14 or something like that. most HD dealers stock them but dont say its a Buell, they stock them for the Vrods, I found a website for those batterys for $79 with free shipping, and the HD dealer charges $98 but thats fair considering overhead and their ship costs. my local dealer had 2 in stock a week ago, I cant answer off the top of my head on your Yuasa specific issue,, but do your research, Some of the Yuasas are good,. but make sure its a AGM, not a leaky traditional lead acid with drip/vent tube. What you want is the max Cold cranking amps you can get, Min is 220, more is better but what i found is physical battery size limits your choices. if you want to modify your bike,,, no problem, also look carefully at cable orientation, Red is left, Black is right on my bike.

[Olandy]

Thank you.

I've ordered already Yuasa YTX14H-BS that has the right size and delivers 240 CCA. I'll revert after installation.

Regards,
Olandy

[Internet Annoyance]

Good luck on it, 240 cca is pretty good. I dont know about your bike, but each of my Buells and all of my sportys have had battery cable issues. I have melted 2 batterys and my fault. I know better. But the cable connections are CRITICAL, if they get loose, it gets worse and worse and the connections cause massive heat, which accelerates the problem, I had the terminal posts (lead) melt on 2 batterys. One i fixed by using a large copper house wiring terminal, and shaped it to fit and the lead terminal, and made a new tight connection and use it still, the other got loose on a ride, I Knew i had issues and shouldnt have made any more stops, But i was hungry, and stopped at Taco Bell, went to restart,, and BIG pause,,,,,,,,, then it started but smoke started coming up between my legs, the shroud and heat shrink and rubber pad around the cable and battery caught fire.

Very exciting. people in the parking lot and resturant got even more excited.

I stock my finger in there with my heavy leather gauntlet gloves and put it out, But had to call a tow truck, the whole thing melted.(this was a 86 Sportster,, stupid battery arrangement and access,)

NEVER let your cables get loose and clean your connections. My XB has the ground cable getting hot when my battery was dying before i replaced it, Im swapping to a better grade of cables and adding extra grounds.

Just my experience,, but batterys on these things seem to be a big problem for many people.

[Olandy]

Thank you. How do you check the cables? Is only a visual check or you run a megger test, or other kind of test?