Replacing the Battery myself
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Its a hand crank kind of thing,
http://picssr.com/tags/gveze
Also note that there is a bumper on the bottom of the nose, so you store the plane with the front landing gear up, so the bumper holds the plane in place better instead.
http://picssr.com/tags/gveze
Also note that there is a bumper on the bottom of the nose, so you store the plane with the front landing gear up, so the bumper holds the plane in place better instead.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
From: Webster NY
I recently purchased a red top Optima as well. Do you use battery tender for your Optima?
Advanced Auto Parts said the battery tender for this particular battery was $224. That seems very high for a tender. ( or is he trying to sell me a battery charger)
Thanks
QUOTE=Boomer111;1597443454]Say what you will but I have experienced excellent results running the Optima Gel Batteries.
Both the Red Top and Yellow Top.
The C6 has one in for 7 years and my 4 Runner has been 9 years. Prior the 4 Runner was 12 years with the Optima and I changed out just thinking it was in long enough. Both in the 4 Runner have had additional 60 amp draw for a CB amp.
Other batteries over the years usually last 4 years max.[/QUOTE]
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 657
Likes: 114
From: Picton NSW
It’s pointless checking the water in your battery if you don’t have a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte.
When you do remove the battery in your c6 it’s a good idea to hook up a trickle charger through the cigarette lighter to maintain the car memory,
‘Also helps to prevent the car putting its self in anti theft mode.
i use a red top great battery , I change it at 4 years regardless.
When you do remove the battery in your c6 it’s a good idea to hook up a trickle charger through the cigarette lighter to maintain the car memory,
‘Also helps to prevent the car putting its self in anti theft mode.
i use a red top great battery , I change it at 4 years regardless.
Last edited by bfit; Jul 4, 2018 at 08:03 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 105
From: Boulder, CO
Dan invited me to a 10 hour "class" covering Corvette maintenance last Wednesday. I had already replaced the battery without difficulty, and with no problems. I didn't even need to Index the windows, even though I did touch the POS and NEG cables together once the old battery was removed. The old battery did not have any apparent problems, but there was no install date and it was obviously not a new battery. Dan showed me how to perform a complete Brake System Preventative Maintenance Job, including getting the rotors turned, replacing the pads, adjusting the E-brake shoes and flushing, re-filling and bleeding the brake fluid. He also cleaned the Induction System and the Main Electrical box under the hood.
The Rutan VariEze fiberglass homebuilt is only balanced correctly when there is the weight of a pilot in the front seat (minimum 170 lbs). So if it is parked with the nose wheel extended, it will tip over backwards and break the prop and the wheelpants. Ballast must be added to an area in the nose for a lighter pilot. As Dan explained, there is a small Crank Handle inside which must be turned 11 times to extend, or retract, the nosewheel. The procedure for going flying in this airplane which has no Gyros, no lights inside or out, no Oil Filter, no Oil Cooler, no alternator Belt, no Fuel Pumps and no Starter, is very different compared to a Cessna. I have the passenger board and connect their Harness, Set the Mixture, Throttle and Dual Ignitions, go around to the rear, flip the Prop until the engine starts to Idle, walk back around to the Nose, Lift the plane by the Canard Wing, reach in and crank the Nosewheel down, and then climb into the plane myself. The aircraft usually starts rolling ahead while I am climbing in. This whole procedure is always very much enjoyed by Folks at Fly-Ins and airshows. The plane gets 27 mpg at 175 mph, and the fastest I have ever had it was 235 mph indicated, coming out of the bottom of a Roll.
The Rutan VariEze fiberglass homebuilt is only balanced correctly when there is the weight of a pilot in the front seat (minimum 170 lbs). So if it is parked with the nose wheel extended, it will tip over backwards and break the prop and the wheelpants. Ballast must be added to an area in the nose for a lighter pilot. As Dan explained, there is a small Crank Handle inside which must be turned 11 times to extend, or retract, the nosewheel. The procedure for going flying in this airplane which has no Gyros, no lights inside or out, no Oil Filter, no Oil Cooler, no alternator Belt, no Fuel Pumps and no Starter, is very different compared to a Cessna. I have the passenger board and connect their Harness, Set the Mixture, Throttle and Dual Ignitions, go around to the rear, flip the Prop until the engine starts to Idle, walk back around to the Nose, Lift the plane by the Canard Wing, reach in and crank the Nosewheel down, and then climb into the plane myself. The aircraft usually starts rolling ahead while I am climbing in. This whole procedure is always very much enjoyed by Folks at Fly-Ins and airshows. The plane gets 27 mpg at 175 mph, and the fastest I have ever had it was 235 mph indicated, coming out of the bottom of a Roll.
Last edited by vezePilot; Jul 4, 2018 at 11:27 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 252
Likes: 21
From: Meridian Idaho
Doent know any place that charges the battery before sale, they may check your charging system for you, if you ask.
So the conclusion is; dont go about your monthly business right after installation for the battery isnt fully charged n will not take multiple starts, my neighbor had this very thing happen to him after the AAA installed a new battery on the fwy, had to call them again before he got home.
So the conclusion is; dont go about your monthly business right after installation for the battery isnt fully charged n will not take multiple starts, my neighbor had this very thing happen to him after the AAA installed a new battery on the fwy, had to call them again before he got home.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 105
From: Boulder, CO
O'Reilly auto parts (every store I've visited) keeps a wall of batteries charged and ready to go. It seems these displays of charged batteries cover just about every need that people might have. Regardless, it always just so happens that when I bring a new battery home, I immediately put it on a tender for at least one night. I don't know if this is necessary or not, but I did it for my truck, and for my Corvette. No problems for either. But then again, these are Chevy's ... 'nuff said.
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