Stagea Battery

[Sydneykid]

When I first got our Stagea I was a bit concerned at the slow cranking. I had asked the compliance worksop to fit a new battery to it, but they had it checked and it was pretty new and in good condition. I had our autoelec guru check it out and he said the same, battery perfect and alternator AOK. But it still cranked a bit slow for my liking. I didn't fancy having to push a 1650kg waggon to 40kph to get it started, especially with the trailer and race car behind it.

So I popped down to my local battery shop and tried to get a bigger battery, one with a bit more than 380 CCA (cold cranking amps). Bad news, because of the small posts that was as big as I could get. OK, so I have to change the terminals on the wiring harness, and fit a larger bracket.

Armed with 600 CCA battery (that's a bit more like it), new terminals and a new plastic bracket, I heeded off home to fit it up. It was actually a pretty easy job. I simply cut off the round bits of the standard terminals and bolted the exposed metal bit to the new terminals. The Stagea comes std with 2 holes for the battery bracket on the inner guard, I used the one for the larger battery. The standard front threaded rod (with the hook at bottom) needed to be shortened with the hack saw so the bonnet didn't hit it when closed. The standard rear threaded rod (with the hook at bottom) was OK and needed no mods.

The only real trick was the standard extra wiring on the positive terminal. I simply bolted the bracket onto the side of the new terminal and trimmed the new red cover to suite. The picture shows it better than words can.

Tools needed, 10 mm ring spanner, snips, 10 mm socket and a hack saw.

Here is a picture of the new terminals, and the new covers (black and red)

Here is a picture of the batery in place with the new plastic bracket.

Hope that is of some help:cheers:

[Duncan]

it is of some help BTW approx how much for 600CCA battery?

I was reading an interesting article on 240v car inverters on Autospeed today that seems relevent

[Sydneykid]

it is of some help  BTW approx how much for 600CCA battery?

I was reading an interesting article on 240v car inverters on Autospeed today that seems relevent

We buy all the race car, computer, timing equipment, phone and 2way batteries from the same guy, so I think he looked after me a bit. It was around $100 from memory, plus GST of course. It is one of the no maintenance, hi sulphur (or is it low sulphur), super duper, heavy duty things.

[GTRgeoff]

The big question of course is....does it give you that good feeling when it's cranking at a million rpm? (Just having a mental image of SK doing an great big battery conversion, taking photos and then racing to the 'puter to post without trying the crank test )

Good price on the 600 CCA and DAMN that is a clean engine bay!

[Sydneykid]

The big question of course is....does it give you that good feeling when it's cranking at a million rpm? (Just having a mental image of SK doing an great big battery conversion, taking photos and then racing to the 'puter to post without trying the crank test )

 

Good price on the 600 CCA and DAMN that is a clean engine bay!

Yes, I did try the cranking test, the new battery has raised the rev limit from 300 rpm to 500 rpm. Now if I can only remember the number of teeth on the ring gear I can work out how many rpm that is at the starter motor. I know it's here somewhere......................

:whip:

PS; the real reason for the big battery wasn't cranking, the small one didn't have enough grunt to keep the JB & Cola tinnies cool in the esky/fridge. :elaugh:

[mcnamg]

hahahahahahaha