Battery Choices

[Richard Williams]

I'm about to buy a new battery for my 1970 R4 I notice that the original battery compartment is designed to take a 6 Volt battery sideways on ( with the clamp running along the long side. With the 12volt battery it seems to have to be rotated through 90 degrees to get it in and the clamp put across the middle . Has anyone found a 12volt battery that will fit and be secured in the proper fashion? I don't even know if this was converted privately or whether this one was sold new as 12volt. There seems to be some disagreement as to when the first 12volt versions were sold.

 

[Richard Williams]

to illustrate

Here are one or two photots to show the problem

 

[angel]

You are putting the battery clamp incorrectly. Take a look at the gallery where I have a photo of my '75 engine to see how the battery is fastened. The clamp is positioned diagonally up to the front edge of the battery.The battery clamp is the original (as yours).
Both 6 and 12V battery trays are the same, and 6V batteries were mounted lengthwise, too. Any 12V battery should fit. Note that you should ideally fit a 45Ah "square" battery, not the "rectangular" fitted to later R4s, or a larger one. I have fitted all of them in an emergency, though.
All R4s built after August 1970 have 12V electrical system.

 

[Richard Williams]

Cured

Thanks Angle , pretty obvious really I had thought that the battery clamp would short out on the terminal at the front of the battery but actually its the -ve terminal anyway! Thanks I look much smarter now....just got to unsieze the engine and I'll be happy.... Angle any further suggestions? see the thread

 

[carlosvandango]

Hi mate can you help, im in the process of putting back my r4 f6 after a head gasket change but need to know
1 the torque down for head and roker cover?
2 tappett measure ment or gap and the sequence

can you advise ?

Cheers Carl in Spain