Odyssey PC1700MJT battery install

[DMX84]

Odyssey PC1700 MJT battery install

When I installed my JD lamps the other day I had to remove the battery. I noticed some corrosion under the plastic battery tray. After cleaning up the mess and re-painting the bare metal, I decided to get rid of my wet cell battery. (As it turned out, it was starting to fail anyway.)

After searching here through all the information about batteries, I decided to go with the Odyssey PC1700MJT (like some of you).
I wanted the posts in the original position for ease of installation & wanted something with larger reserve.

After the battery arrived I knew I was going to need a spacer underneath to compensate for the height & allow the hold-down work properly. After studying the new battery I noticed the factory hold-down wouldn’t “grip” like it did on the original battery. See photo. Also, in the picture the hold-down would put pressure on the weak plastic center portion of the battery and wouldn’t hold it very tight (IMO).

I made the spacers out of 3/4 delrin, the bottom (13.5x7.5) and two top spacers (3.9x1.5) to fit in the notches on the top. See photo.
The overall height is near perfect to the original & holds the battery very solid with the pressure being applied evenly on the strong portion of the battery.

I’m sure any 3/4 material can be used; I just wanted a clean look & delrin machines nicely!
Oh yea, if your hold-down is corroded like mine was, now’s the time to sandblast it and have it powder coated.
DMX

 

[100 TD]

Nice Clean Install!!

 

[100 TD]

Actually you may be able to sell a few of those machined pieces to other members for cash or beers as I expect some may want them now or down the track for a future install. Good Job.

 

[DMX84]

Thanks! Not sure if there’s much of a need, but maybe.
DMX

 

[spressomon]

Nice job Dean. I too used Delrin to distribute the load and take up the height difference on my Orbitals. It not only machines easily as you stated but is, as you know, it is non-conductive too. I will be interested in hearing your report/experiences with the Odyssey.

 

[DMX84]

Nice job Dean. I too used Delrin to distribute the load and take up the height difference on my Orbitals. It not only machines easily as you stated but is, as you know, it is non-conductive too. I will be interested in hearing your report/experiences with the Odyssey.

I was considering the orbital and probably would have used it if the posts were like the original (not that changing the cable is a big deal, just didn’t want to mess with it).
This battery has allot to live up to, I have used optima’s with good results, plus the wet cell I removed was installed by the PO in 01…probably a $50 battery.
This battery better last!
DMX

 

[Dandon]

plus the wet cell I removed was installed by the PO in 01…probably a $50 battery.
This battery better last!
DMX

Well, if it cost $50 and has lasted at least 5 years (which is far longer than the average OEM battery does), it definitely has a good bang-to-buck ratio.
Lest's see if the Odyssey can say the same

Nice setup, BTW.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Battery life depends on the environment. Heat will destroy a battery much faster due to faster discharge. Here in So. AZ, most batteries last 1.5 yrs. I got 3 AZ summers out of my Japanese-made OEM Yuasa Honda battery (plus 2 yrs in benign So. CA), 3 AZ summers out of my Optima blue top (plus 1 yr in So. CA). LX OEM panasonic battery just finished its 4th summer in AZ, still going strong.

 

[Alacrity]

Ive got an interest - and I'd pay money rather than B&P - if you care to sell a set just PM me

 

[Landpimp]

love my Odysseys, got a 1700 in the 100 and a pair of 1200's in my fj40, never an issue.

nice install!

 

[NMuzj100]

Dean - Looks great and a lot more elegant than 3/4' plywood.

Are you going to screw something into the tops of the posts? Sources for Odyssey and Delrin ?

My 98 is still on the original battery after over 8 years in New Mexico and 97k miles. Should I be anticipating problems?

 

[DMX84]

Matthew, I intended to screw the supplied bolts in but hadn’t at press time.
I got the battery from Odyssey directly.
The delrin is from a local shop. But can be found almost anywhere.
My next choice would have been aluminum, but I wanted it to be insulated from the cold.
IMO, the extreme heat or cold kills batteries. In Colorado you will have some colder temps then here. Just listen for slow starts.
Dean

 

[dfmorse]

Here's a couple of tiny Odesseys installed.

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/BattProj2/page1.html

...

 

[NMuzj100]

I have one of these desufination pulse units to install on my battery in an attempt to make it the longest lived OEM battery in the annals of MUD. But I have delayed my installation to try and run some sort of before/after battery tests.

More info on the Canadus Battery Energizer

I still haven't decided on a test design? My biggest problem has been to find a battery testing plan that would give me detailed performance data and then be repeatable after 40 or 100 hours of run time with the unit installed.

 

[dfmorse]

N M;
I'm using the " so called correct" charging algarithms for the Odes. series of Batteries. Quit frankly, one needs to do this because these batteries are not the standard lead-acid type. I keep a battery on charge at all times and switch them out about every 6 months. Acorrding to specs these batteries should last 10 years or more if properly cared for; i.e., pulse charge technology.
See my link in post #13. These are 800 amp units [that i am using now] have been in service since 2001.

My web site explains problems and will not be re-iterated here. At -10 degree F, one battery will crank the engine 6-8 times and start like a champ.

It is expensive to go with the Odes. series battery, but u will love the long term results. The US military uses these batteries for a reason.

...

 

[Landpimp]

must have jinked myself, had one of the 1200MJT's in my fj40 crap out on me today, seems to have decent voltage but just no amps to crank the 40 up, really wierd, less than 3 years old. Even when on the charger it doesn't want to crank the 40, switch to the other 1200 and it starts right up. The dual battery system is all good(checked it out) ground is good.........got no clue. Threw it on the charger to see what happens overnight....

now if I could possibly find my reciept I could just take it to town and get it swaped out........but the chance of that happening is slim to none. But did find a place in town that sells them and will match the internet price and they said they would even deleiver to me. But will take it in and let them check it out.

Kinda bummed and I had high hoped for these batteries.

 

[SALEH]

my Dual battry bracket

i just made it now waiting for the relay (ACR).

 

[1loudLX]

Well, if it cost $50 and has lasted at least 5 years (which is far longer than the average OEM battery does), it definitely has a good bang-to-buck ratio.
Lest's see if the Odyssey can say the same

Nice setup, BTW.

my OEM lexus battery, the panasonic ran from December '99 when the truck was made to september of '05. It died on me while i was on vacation and came home to the airport to find a dead battery. Wasnt the batteries fault however, my strobelight power supply had been drawing 330mA over a 2 and a half week period. I would assume i could have recharged the battery and been off with it but i decided to go back to lexus and snag a new battery. Should last me until '10 ied assume, since i now have an aftermarket audio system which puts a little more strain on the system.