I have a 2011 Suzuki Boulevard S40 that I bought new in May 2011. The original, wet-cell battery is no longer able to retain a charge, so I need to replace it.
Several weeks ago, I was able to remove both the positive and negative terminal cables to slide out the battery for charging. I put the battery back in the bike after it was fully charged and rode on extended rides several times a week for two weeks before the battery finally would no longer start the bike nor hold a charge. So I need to replace it with a new one.
The bike has been sitting for 6 weeks due to my fight with pneumonia. I was able to remove the positive battery cable just fine, but the negative one is being stubborn. The positive terminal was clean, but the negative one was caked with battery acid dust. I scraped that away and attempted to unscrew the 10 mm bolt holding the negative battery cable to the terminal, but it just turns and turns. The bolt is attached to a hex nut, which simply turns in tandem with the bolt.
Ideally, I'd put a wrench on the hex nut to hold it while turning the bolt with a 10 mm socket wrench. But there isn't enough room for one. There is a small (about 1/8") opening where the cable itself attaches to the lead that bolts to the terminal. I've tried jamming a thin screwdriver in there to hold the nut while I try to unscrew the bolt, but the nut keeps turning.
Any ideas short of cutting the negative battery cable? And if I do have to cut the cable --
1. Is that a single cable that I can remove and replace?
2. How long is that cable?
3. Where does its other end attach to?
Thanks, all, very much for your advice. You guys are extremely helpful and save everyone a lot of headaches and unnecessary expense. I just want to get the bike running again because I miss the open road with it. I never even sat on a bike much less rode one until I was 52 -- and I absolutely LOVE it!
Merry Christmas,
Steve