The 1959 B33 I just got came with no battery. There are also no battery cables, or at least what I'm used to thinking of as cables. The two disconnected wires under the seat are no more than about 14 gauge and they end in female spade connectors. Is this normal? If yes, how would the wires ordinarily be connected to the battery posts?
Thanks,
New owner (obviously)

They were probably using one of those little sealed 6 volt batteries. I use them, about ten dollars at the electrical supply house. And there is no need for any kind of heavy gauge wire there.

Like this here:

http://www.batterysharks.com/Univer...JLXr_Opt6VpwVtB0mZZ71-3o5DCdYaAkrH8P8HAQ

Aha, thanks. That helps.

Leon,
Do you disconnect the charging system with those little batteries and just run lights off the alternator or generator? Are they just for the spark on starting?

Mr Mike

Mike: I've only had about 3 or 4 6 volt bikes here, I used those batteries just as I would a normal battery. I don't know if they would be prone to charging problems or anything like that; those bikes went back to owners who never ride them.

I always have a couple of the 12 volt ones around so I can always get any bike started. Never take very long rides so haven't had problems. On a long ride I might be worried about frying one, but with lights on maybe not.

Used to use my cordless drill batteries, but I think I DID ruin one of them. They cost a lot more.

i got a GS portalac battery at a garage sale for next to nothing. Says px12072 valve regulated lead-acid nonspillable 12v 7.2ah. While it appears unused, it has a sticker that states "topcharge date 03/18/10". Knowing next to nothing about this subject I'm reluctant to assume this is a usable candidate to replace my aging yuasa acid leaker. A - is it AGM? B - is it too old? C -how would I go about charging or testing it? From what I'm reading, I've been too picky about the wrong things and we should all be using the batteries out of our kids electric cars. Leon

I found a web site that describes this portalac as an agm and another website that advises to charge an agm at no more than half its amp hour rating. After charging, it is tested by putting a load on the battery while watching if the battery's voltage drops. I'll keep doing research, but this sounds rather like a conventional test. These batteries are cheap even new. Leon

browsing through battery sharks website I dont see anything that has the dimensions of a 12n74a yuasa. I thought that size was THE most common bike battery. Am I missing something? Looks like my new/old portalac won't hold a charge so I guess I got my moneys worth. Leon