Testing Battery Cables

A common problem when you have a slow cranking speed on an older set of battery cables is sometimes due to resistance in the cables themselves.

If you have a meter (DVOM), connect the leads on to both ends of the cables one cable at a time while they are still attached to the terminals and set the meter on 1K ohms resistance. Crank the bike with these meter leads attached and see if the meter registers anything. It should barely register. If it does register any significant amount, there's resistance in that cable and it should be replaced.

If you have a slow crank when starting, you can also crank the engine when it turns over slowly until it starts. Shut it off then as soon as it starts and feel for a hot terminal or cable to see if there is resistance in any of the cables/connections. If there is you located the possible source of the problem.

When removing battery cables, always remove the negative cable first and install it last. This eliminates the possibility of shorting out the wrench to ground when removing the positive cable which can happen real easy. Shorting the positive cable could cause a battery explosion.

Replacing battery cables is no place to be cheap . Some make their own cables out of welding cables and solder on the end terminals for a good connection finished off with some shrink sleeves over the terminal to cable to seal things up.

Here's a good source for an outstanding set of battery cables that are superior to any others on the market.

thunderslide@hotmail.com <email for Richard Weihert that makes the cables.

Cold Riders Yooper Page.

OR email directly to yoopercables@hotmail.com

This above tip is also available in PDF version.
Testing Battery Cables PDF version.

CatWoman · Nov 2nd, 2009, 02:43 PM

I have sent several emails with no response and tried to call only to find the number was no longer any good. Could Yooper's Cables be out of business like many of the other small business, due to the state of our economy?

Any thoughts on how to get ahold of them? How about ideas on another source for battery cables as I need to replace mine. I would rather support a small business than a large corporate one.

Thanks,
CatWoman

glider · Nov 2nd, 2009, 03:47 PM

Try an email to this email address. The business was sold not too long ago but this was the email of the original owner. If I remember his name was Karl.

kneesinbreeze@hotmail.com

Let us know if you contact him.

CatWoman · Nov 2nd, 2009, 04:04 PM

Thank you Glider, I will try this and everything else I can think of...the name on the Yooper Cables web site was Richard Weihert of Waunakee WI but this may have been the previous business owner.

I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks again!!

CatWoman

CatWoman · Nov 17th, 2009, 12:51 PM

Update:
Richard Weihert of Yooper cables (yoopercables@hotmail.com) did eventually email me back - he had been on vacation. He is the newer owner of the business. The email address (kneesinbreeze...) belongs to the previous owner, Carl.

Unfortunately, I was unable to use the services of Yooper cables. I did, however, go to a Stereo install business (locally owned) and they made me cables of similar quality. They also recommended a shorter route for placing the negative, which I followed. If using this route for cables, make sure they use a solid copper cable as similar wire exists for stereo installation that has a nylon cord through the center wrapped with copper.

Thank you for your (as always

) prompt, expert assistance, Glider!

CatWoman

glider · Nov 17th, 2009, 01:41 PM

Thanks CatWoman, the top post has been updated now.

Thanks for the update.

Nov 2nd, 2009, 02:43 PM	#1
CatWoman Contributor$ Ride: 1989 FLHTC Ultra Classic Join Date: Aug 13th, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 174 My Mood:	Re: Testing Battery Cables I have sent several emails with no response and tried to call only to find the number was no longer any good. Could Yooper's Cables be out of business like many of the other small business, due to the state of our economy? Any thoughts on how to get ahold of them? How about ideas on another source for battery cables as I need to replace mine. I would rather support a small business than a large corporate one. Thanks, CatWoman Last edited by CatWoman; Nov 2nd, 2009 at 02:44 PM. Reason: Added last comment

Nov 2nd, 2009, 03:47 PM	#2
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 21,053 My Mood:	Re: Testing Battery Cables Try an email to this email address. The business was sold not too long ago but this was the email of the original owner. If I remember his name was Karl. kneesinbreeze@hotmail.com Let us know if you contact him.

Nov 2nd, 2009, 04:04 PM	#3
CatWoman Contributor$ Ride: 1989 FLHTC Ultra Classic Join Date: Aug 13th, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 174 My Mood:	Re: Testing Battery Cables Thank you Glider, I will try this and everything else I can think of...the name on the Yooper Cables web site was Richard Weihert of Waunakee WI but this may have been the previous business owner. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks again!! CatWoman

Nov 17th, 2009, 12:51 PM	#4
CatWoman Contributor$ Ride: 1989 FLHTC Ultra Classic Join Date: Aug 13th, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 174 My Mood:	Re: Testing Battery Cables Update: Richard Weihert of Yooper cables (yoopercables@hotmail.com) did eventually email me back - he had been on vacation. He is the newer owner of the business. The email address (kneesinbreeze...) belongs to the previous owner, Carl. Unfortunately, I was unable to use the services of Yooper cables. I did, however, go to a Stereo install business (locally owned) and they made me cables of similar quality. They also recommended a shorter route for placing the negative, which I followed. If using this route for cables, make sure they use a solid copper cable as similar wire exists for stereo installation that has a nylon cord through the center wrapped with copper. Thank you for your (as always ) prompt, expert assistance, Glider! CatWoman

Nov 17th, 2009, 01:41 PM	#5
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 21,053 My Mood:	Re: Testing Battery Cables Thanks CatWoman, the top post has been updated now. Thanks for the update.

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Testing Battery Cables

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