I recently had to find a suitable battery for my Series 1 FHC. Having been a long time advocate for a traditional battery made by Lincon in Essex - posting first about this battery back in 2008, I finally now accept this form of battery - although looking the part - has limitations and long term failings after my third Lincon in nearly 20 years finally bit the dust this month. A search for a simple replacement began.
I use the SNG Barratt metal top mount and lower plastic tray. These internally measure 250mm long by 170mm wide, so despite what some battery suppliers may state, I found in reality the batteries measured differently, so armed with the mounts I visited several local motor factors to actually check the fitment.
Halfords recommend two batteries - their own HB072 and a Yuasa HSB072. From the dimensions on the Halfords website at 261mm long, by 175mm wide, by 220mm deep - which if correct would clearly not fit my mountings. The HB072 is a 68AH 550CCA battery, but I think the reason Halfords recommended it was that the terminals were in the “correct” positions with the Negative post on the left looking directly at it, but positioned at the back edge of the battery.
It will come as no surprise to some on here that the solution was the Halfords HB030 which at nearly £20 cheaper at £80,(June 2021), was identical in the 68AH 550CCA specification, but with the terminals located on the front edge of the battery. Interestingly the Halfords website dimensions for the HB030 were 258mm long, by 173mm wide, by 225 deep, but were actually 255mm long, by 170mm wide, by 200 deep - and important gain in having a lower height under the metal heater motor casing.
The other gain is the overall dimensions are for the the top “collar”, so my top mount fits easily over the top of the battery above this collar.
When mounting, I prefer the terminals on the outside side of the battery as I have had a few fraught moments lifting the metal top mount over the terminals when on the rear of the battery. As the terminals on the HB030 are getting close to the rubber insulation on the top mount, I used “Battery Terminal Adapters” to give clearance, plus doubled up on the Positive cables as I use a hefty tractor Earth lead. On the Earth terminal, to ensure that the mounting nut doesn’t turn on the rubber insulation on the top mount - not an electrical issue, more a cosmetic matter - I use an Allen screw head, so there is no direct contact with rubber.
Some photos of the comparison to the Lincon, the cracking of the Lincon over time and the final installation, cleared of any modern labels.
Cheers,
Dave
