'82 Superglide battery cover won't fit, help!

I had a Harley-Davidson 65991-82B AGM battery go bad, so I looked, and found, a better deal on an aftermarket AGM "equivalent", http://www.bigtimebattery.com/store/replacement_ytx20-bs-hd_battery.html
the price was right, it was supposed to fit, but it's just a little too wide to fit my stock 1982 FXE cover. The battery fits the stock tray, but the chrome cover is not quite wide enough to fit the battery, and the terminals are not recessed, so if I put the top cover on it hits the positive post and shorts out. Right now I have a piece of cardboard placed under the battery in the tray, and the strap holding it down. This works, but I really don't like the looks of it. I was wondering if a cover and top cover from a later model Dyna Superglide might work. Anyone here ever made a swap like that?
I know I could return this battery, but I'd have to pay the shipping and pay a restocking fee and I really don't want to do this, it's a good battery, besides, my battery b!ox and cover are a bit "tired" anyway, and it gives me a good excuse to update it, if I can find something that might fit, or something close, even if it takes a little "alteration"
Thanks for any help!
Snyde

My thought is if you talked to a salesperson and they recomended the battery for your ride then the physical differences are THERE problem and they should be responsable for the return and shipping. Riding down the road and the cardboard wears through = possible killing your ignition and charging system or melted wiring = OH FUDGE. At least use a piece of rubber floor mat on the positive end.

Thanks for the reply. I emailed them, and I'm gonna see if they'll "eat" the shipping and restocking fee, in which case I'll send it back, but I'm not holding my breath! Now days, customer service sucks, and usually when they get your money, game over. We'll see how honest these guys are. It is a nice battery, better than the Harley one it replaced, I just have to make it fit. The cardboard is UNDER the battery, taking up the space the top cover,(I removed it), used to take. I've got it in the tray with the strap holding it down. If nothing else I'll try to get a used top cover from eBay, and take my dremel tool and remove the metal from it where the terminals touch, or possibly buy a Dyna Superglide top cover, the metal is already removed on that. That's what got me wondering if I couldn't replace what I have with a Dyna setup. I don't want to spend those $$$$ without knowing first though.

you ain't kidding about customer service.

Although I have to say recently I had a greate experience. I needed to take the tonneau cover off my truck this dead of winter and busted about 12-14 snaps doing so. I called the company looking for just a new cover and they said not to, we'll send you new snaps and a tool to replace the broken ones. I was like SOB!! Awsome. Extang tonneau covers in case you're ever looking a tonneau cover with great customer service. Sure enough today I received my free snaps and the tool to fix them. Beats having to pay for a new tonneau cover.

http://tonneaucoversworld.com/extan...ource=Bing&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Brands

Regarding your battery and cover dilema..personally if the battery is not the correct size i'd return it for the right size. If I remember correctly the battery is on the side of the bike and sets on a little platform and the cover is held on my a hinged strap that goes over the cover? In an emergency is one thing but long term stock use is another. Its worth putting the right everything so everything fits into place. Eventually you keep cutting corners you'll end up with a rat bike and reliability issues and then its just not fun anymore,lol.

Thanks for the reply! The battery is so close to fitting, it fits the battery tray, and the top cover. I almost think one from a Dyna Superglide might fit, but I'm not gonna spend "large dollars" for a Dyna setup until I know. That's why I'm here, to see if anyone else has done this. My old battery tray, cover, and top cover are rusted and I want to replace them anyway. This battery is $65. vs. Harley's $130., this battery has a 3 year warranty vs Harley's 1 year. Also, if I send it back, I'll have to pay shipping,(and this is heavy!), and pay a restocking fee. Weighing all of this it seems the best, cheapest thing to do is to find another battery tray and covers. I'd much rather spend my money on parts than shipping and restocking fees!

Email robsusedharleyparts.com - they may be able to advise you as to whether the Dyna Superglide cover will work - plus they will very likely have a nice used one you can buy.

Did you measure your old battery and new one?? If the dimensions on the link for battery you posted are accurate it should fit...At 3.437" it shouldn't be too wide...Same dimensions for the battery in your FX as a 2009 FXD(Dyna)...and a lot of other models and years....

I'm also with bambidee,use a dense rubber to insulate the battery posts from the covers instead of cardboard....
Sometimes the side cover can be a bitchh to get on...it's a 3 sided cover right?? if the length and height fits...width shouldn't be a problem....

When I said "width" I was talking. about what they call "length". The 3.437" measurement that they call "width" I call "thickness". I should have used their terms I guess. As you're looking at the battery in the battery tray, their battery is too "long",(what I call wide), by just a millimeter, if that. The measurement they call "width" is fine, in fact it's "thinner" than the stock battery. As far as the cardboard goes, I was using it on the UNDERSIDE of the battery to lift the battery up to take up the room that the top cover used to take. I can't use that cover with this battery. Cardboard is what I had "on hand" and it works just fine UNDER the battery.
Yesterday I put the stock battery back in, I just didn't like how the new one looked. I'm going to call them Monday and see about a refund. If they insist on charging me for return shipping and restocking I'm going to call my credit card company and see if they can put some pressure on them. The more I thought about it, the more it angers me. They advertise the battery as fitting my bike, yet it won't, why should I have to "eat" the return shipping and restocking fees? Had they had PayPal as a payment option, I would have used that and filed a grievance stating it didn't fit as advertised and probably got a 100% refund. Hopefully I'll have the same luck with my CC company.

1mm too long??....that's only 1/64th"...I think you may have a hard time convincing someone the battery is too long....
Maybe try a little sandpaper on the inside of the cover on both ends...maybe a couple of rubs on the battery itself,definitely not gonna thin the battery case too much....shouldn't take much to make up 1 milimeter on both ends...

Convincing anyone? You think I'm lying? Maybe it's more than 1mm, but the damn thing won't fit, and there's more material that needs to be taken off than what you could do with sandpaper or grinder and not affecting the structural integrity of the cover and/or battery! I'm telling ya, the battery is too long, believe me or not I don't really give a crap what you think!

I really don't think he us calling you a liar. I think what he meant was that you will have a hard time convincing the people you bought the battery from to "eat" the cost of the restocking fee based on such a little amount. Just saying. Next option is for you to "eat" the restocking fee and just buy an HD battery that will work the first time. No Muss, No Fuss. I realize that they are expensive but it pays for itself in the savings of having to buy Advil for headaches like the one you have now. Just saying.

No offense meant. Folks here give honest thoughts,factory in the key boards lack of emotions no harm meant. I hope you stick around long enough,you'll get to get a jest of people and us you and you'll see we are all part of the same 2 wheeled bruda hood.

Not calling you a liar...I believe you said it fits in the tray and the top cover fits,it's just 1mm too long,if that...

I think the seller may balk at waving the return shipping and restocking fee because it's approximately 1mm too long...He could say that maybe your side cover is deformed a bit or there may be a slight casting ridge on the battery and shaving 1/128" off both corners of the battery will allow the side cover to fit...and won't harm structural integrity of the battery...

If I was calling you a liar,you would have seen it spelled out in my response...but thanks for the kind words....Good luck,let us know if the company takes the battery back on them for that minute of a discrepancy....I didn't think battery specs were that tight....

ask for advice then cop an attitude when you get it! You've got years of experience available to you here at NO CHARGE. Unlike the battery you got stuck with.


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Often when you switch brands on parts, batteries included, the sizes may vary somewhat. I would say especially if the parts are manufactured overseas. I've run into that many times during the course of my shovelhead build and have had to either modify the part or buy one that does fit.

In your case, you might have to go with an original Harley battery, or as I suggested earlier, contact Rob White (robsusedharleyparts,com) and see if he can help you choose a cover that will fit.

I understand your frustration with something not fitting like it should, but don't take it out on one of us for trying to help you.

Snidely...take a deep breath, broadshoulders, don't be another cranky old guy and comeback and reload. No worries. The www forum world is chocker block full of unreasonable heavy handed admins and shatty posters. This place thus far has been different. I've been kicked off 5-6 forums for less than your display and on the grand scale of things is no big deal.

Keep us posted what the outcome was/is.

Hey guys,
Sorry I was an ass before, please accept my apology, guys! Bad day, too many days up here in Western N.Y. without a putt, off my medication, etc. I'm usually much more civil
The more I get into this, checking other battery sources, etc. All the manufacturers list the replacement battery for this bike, a 1982 FXE , with the same measurements, 6.875 or 6.88. I'm beginning to wonder if this is the correct battery tray, cover, and top cover for this bike! The battery measures 6 7/8" "long" and the inside of the cover measures 6 3/4" long. I bought this bike used a few years ago, it was a parts bike, and I'm wondering if possibly the whole setup was taken from either an earlier FXE and they changed battery size and hardware by just a little, or maybe it came off a Sportster or something.
Would anyone know if that might be the case, and what I might have here?
Thanks guys,
Snyde

P.S. Sorry I was such an ass before!

It's all good snydley. No worries..good on you

Accepted!


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