6v or 12v

All things K & Sportster

6v or 12v

Postby Onslow » Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:38 pm

OK... the 55 KH is 6v.
Should we convert to 12v?
Do we get better sparks?
Is it easier to get parts and maintain?
Bruce d.b.a.: Onslow
Onslow
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:44 pm

Re: 6v or 12v

Postby GaryM2 » Fri Feb 24, 2023 2:05 pm

From personal experience, if you ever have it judged, you will take a big hit on the points. I converted my 57 Sportster back to 6 volt and have had no problems at all.

We posted some good battery box information if you do stay with the 6 volt system, by using AGM batteries inside the replica boxes.
User avatar
GaryM2
 
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2016 9:41 am
Location: WI

Re: 6v or 12v

Postby wz507 » Fri Feb 24, 2023 2:56 pm

IMHO I personally wouldn’t change it from 6V. Any well-prepared engine should be a 1-kick starter with the stock points/coil ignition system. The 6V generator puts out 10A power which is more than adequate to run modern bright LED headlights, so difficult to see why somebody would convert to 12V.
User avatar
wz507
 
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:13 pm

Re: 6v or 12v

Postby hennesse » Fri Feb 24, 2023 4:21 pm

DMH_014985-72-720x576.jpg
DMH_014985-72-720x576.jpg (137.63 KiB) Viewed 16044 times

My 1954 KH is 6 volt, and I have no problems.

I use a YUASA 6N6-3B conventional battery, in a battery box from Taylor Classic Cycles. This battery is a tight fit in the box. You can squish it in, but the walls of the box are thick, and a little work with a file will enlarge it enough to fit comfortably. I have not tried Battery Box Guy boxes.

V-Twin used to sell a replica "Made In Imported" H3 battery. Many people said that they would only last one season, and the price was pretty high. Maybe they still sell them. Maybe they've improved. I don't know.

The YUASA 6N6-3B is a quality battery available on Amazon. I bought the one in my bike in 2015, but it sat on the shelf DRY for a few years. So it's only got about 5 years on it in 2023. I bought another one last year, and stuck it on the shelf DRY for future needs.

Amazon also sells an off-brand VOLTZ 6N6-3B for about half-price. I wouldn't take the chance. When you're stuck on the side of the road on a dark and stormy night, you'll wish you had forked over the extra $20 for a known-good top quality battery.

Gary mentioned AGM batteries in an earlier post. I don't have any source for them (Gary?) Years ago, the Harley Hummer Club recommended using one or two Power-Sonic PS-640F1 battery. These are sealed, but I'm not sure whether they are AGM or not. I have used two of them (in parallel) in my Henderson, so they do work well.

Regulators are a problem. The 1952-1954 K and KH used the Delco 1118307 smaller-sized regulator, which are very difficult to find used, and I'd say, impossible to find NOS. Same for the outwardly identical, and performance-identical, but slightly cheaper internal construction 1118283. In 1955, they switched to the 11183794 (superceded by 1118995), both of which are larger than the '307. The '995 can sometimes be found on eBay - I found a NOS one there a few years ago.

There's a repro regulator that has been available for a long time. I THINK it is this one. I am have been running one of those since when I started using the YUASA battery, 'cause I just don't wanna put that NOS '995 into service quite yet. They're only NOS once!

So that's my experience. What's yours?
User avatar
hennesse
Site Admin
 
Posts: 668
Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:28 pm
Location: Warrenton, Virginia

Re: 6v or 12v

Postby wz507 » Fri Feb 24, 2023 5:02 pm

The sealed 6V AGM battery is a Duracell SLA6-5F, that is a 5AH battery.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productde ... p-EALw_wcB

I used The Battery Box Guy battery case, which had to be enlarged slightly to fit 2 of these batteries in it. With these 2 batteries wired in parallel, the original 10 AH battery capacity is obtained. I employ a modern 6V solid state regulator set at a maximum output of 6.8V and have enjoyed trouble free operation with no issues whatsoever over thousands of miles and 3 years use. I have never put a charger or tender on the battery and every spring when I check the charge it sits right at 6.40V. I checked the battery moments ago and found it to be at 6.39V.

There is also room in the battery box to fit either a fuse or circuit breaker if desired.
LR fused battery.jpg
LR fused battery.jpg (106.03 KiB) Viewed 16034 times

LR circuit breaker.jpg
LR circuit breaker.jpg (161.8 KiB) Viewed 16034 times
User avatar
wz507
 
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:13 pm

Re: 6v or 12v

Postby Onslow » Mon Feb 27, 2023 5:54 pm

You guys are the best. now i need to get this information to the other part of the Onslow team.
Bruce
Onslow
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:44 pm


Return to General K / Sportster Discussions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests