Citabria battery change

[darrell whitley]

I know that it's mentioned before but is there any tricks to replacing my battery??? It lives in the area behind the baggage compartment. Remove the back seat? BTW I have a Concord battery on order...

 

[Bob Turner]

I am 82 and still able to get back there. You fold the rear seat back forward, then get in facing aft, walk around the seat, then sit on it. Take required wrenches when you go.

Getting out is slightly harder. I think I turn around and face forward somewhere in the process.

I finally gave up on the expensive Concorde and installed an Odyssey. Seems to work the same - been in there for a year.

 

[Big Ed]

You can get at the battery by disconnecting the rear seat hinge restraint, removing the back cushion, and folding the seat forward. Will be cramped, but fine if you are just pulling the battery. Take care not to damage the steel straps on the seat back by kneeling on them, as they are a Beach to repair.

If you plan to spend some time back there doing other stuff, or you expect the battery case to be problematic, pulling the rear seat will give you more room to work.

 

[darrell whitley]

Getting in an out is a major PIA. I’m leaning towards taking the seat out.

 

[darrell whitley]

Got it in without having to remove the back seat!!

 

[Gillie]

Bob , did you move the Odyssey forward or keep it in the back ?

 

[Bob Turner]

Put it in the original wood frame, with a small amount of additional wood framing. Still cranks just like the Concorde 35A-XC.

 

[Gillie]

Thanks , I tried the hawker/odyssey back in the batt box also but put the gill 35 back in her . odyssey didnt want to spin her as fast . Checked all connections , grounds , etc but no improvement . Figured the long trip the juice has to make from way back there had something to do with it but obviously you have not experienced the same problem .

 

[darrell whitley]

I replaced a 3yr concord with a new one. Seems to crank faster. The reason I replaced it early was I didn’t want to be stuck out with a dead battery. The other reason is that the A/C sat a lot before I got it.

 

[darrell whitley]

Wish I’d had the firewall mod.. The installation was a bitch for my Fata** to get to.

 

[Bob Turner]

I might have bigger wires to the starter? I used to get ten years out of a Concorde, but now they are down to five. I save a few bucks with the Odyssey. Don’t really care about the weight; I am usually solo.

 

[Big Ed]

I replaced a 3yr concord with a new one. Seems to crank faster. The reason I replaced it early was I didn’t want to be stuck out with a dead battery. The other reason is that the A/C sat a lot before I got it.

Wish I’d had the firewall mod.. The installation was a bitch for my Fata** to get to.

Baggage door is another way to improve battery access.

Yet another trick is to remove the rear window and upper rear interior panel, and lean in thru the opening. I would do that if having to service the fuel manifold or static ports.

 

[wbecker]

I know that it's mentioned before but is there any tricks to replacing my battery??? It lives in the area behind the baggage compartment. Remove the back seat? BTW I have a Concord battery on order...

The Concord is an exellent battery.
However:
The Odyssey SBS-J16 is what the factory installs, so it is leagal to use with just a logbook sign off.
And the Odyssey if about 14 lbs lighter, self dischrges far less, and lasts longer.