Jumper Cables

[Len Todd]

This is my 6th year with a Yamaha 4-stroke

I thought the first ones came out in 2002. Could be wrong, I guess.

BTW, does anyone carry a Emergency Starter Rope? I have never used mine on the RX-1. Kinda hooks into the clutch. I never intend to use it. But, ... I still carry it. Carried one for 30+ years. Only used one once. But, it saved my neck in -20 temps.

Back to the topic. Don't happen to carry Optimate's Jumper Cables, even though I have them. Got a Jump Box in the truck though.

 

[Sled Dog]

How about this guys......... If you need a jump does it need to be from a sled???? Or would a truck / car jump be OK... I'm not to sure that a big amp battery would be to good for it.. :ORC P.S. I too carry a set of cables.. MM.

Jumping from a big amp battery will not hurt a thing. The big battery simply supplies what the sled asks period.

 

[BigFoot]

Wow! Has this thing ever taken off! First of all, the Optimate comes with 2 sets of leads, one with clips, and the other with ring terminals. Both of them plug into the charger unit. The set with the clips doesn't connect to the one with the rings! It's a male/female connector thing, I don't wanna have to explain that!! Besides, the Optimate cable isn't heavy enough for the current draw required to start a vehicle.
Secondly, there are times when I have done backpack or saddlebag trips, and sometimes we stay over at cabins, etc, that don't have electricity. I just like the peace of mind of having something for "just in case". I keep a set of jumper cables in my truck, but have yet to use them to jump my vehicle. Someday, my OEM battery will not start the truck, and if I'm in a remote location, or away from home when it happens, I like having the option of getting it started and getting to my destination.
I truly appreciate all the input, and don't want to come off as biting the hands that feeds, so to speak. I was just looking for options.

 

[thunder219]

I had a battery get a dead short in when I stopped to smoke a couple of years ago on my RX 1. Out of all the people that passed there was not one that had cables or even thought about having them on a sled. We ended up using a 10' tie strap and wrapping the clutch to start it. It sucked because on the way back to the cabin my buddies coil took a crap and while we were on the side of the trail I didnt want to shut mine off and while working on his mine overheated and shut off. So after that day I made a nice set of cables that I forgot to get out of the front compartment of the rx 1 when I sold it so now I need to make another set.
I hope to never use them for myself again but you will never catch me without them.

 

[MR.HAPPY]

Battery Tender cables is what I have on hand!!!

BR

 

[**sj**]

I bought a set of 10 guage mini's on ebay...for .55 cents and 8.00 inflated shipping...will fit nicely in the seat of the attak in a soft bag..

 

[Black 1000]

I'm with Coldone

 

[craze1cars]

A note regarding the suggestions for Battery tender cables, clips through headlamps, and other such small guage wires...

Be aware that none of them have anywhere near enough capacity to jump start a dead battery. The amperage required can't possibly pass through the small guage wire. If your battery was merely a bit low, and still able to accept a charge, and you had enough time to plug such a thing in and let the other sled run for an hour or so while the low battery was trickle charged...after all that it MIGHT eventually charge the low battery enough to start the sled.

But if your battery simply died on the trail because a plate cut loose, or it shorted, or overheated, or froze, or lost its water, or whatever...and was unable to accept a charge, then these small cables would be fully useless. And unfortunately this is the far more likely scenario with a sudden trailside no-start condition.

I just don't want anyone to be lured into a false sense of security when they're carrying these small compact coils of thin guage wire. Jumper cables are fat/heavy guage and NOT very compact for very good reason...they need to be in order to serve their purpose.

IMO the old rope wrapped around the clutch thing will be far more likely to succeed if you have a real strong pull...but on some Yamaha 4 strokes that method needs a bit of voltage to charge the fuel and ignition systems too....so maybe the small cables in conjunction with an emergency start rope and a lucky rabbit's foot while uttering a quick prayer to the great allah?