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Battery Question?

Discussion in 'Maintenance' started by PD186, Feb 13, 2013.

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  1. PD186

    PD186 Member Premium Member

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    Ok I am going on a weekend away soon so servicing the bike and to my horror I found that 2 cells in the battery are very low. I a car battery I would probbly just refill with distalled water but as the bike battery is much smaller sould I refill with acid instead. As I say they are very low.
    What do you think?
     
    PD186, Feb 13, 2013
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  2. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    I would replace it ASAP, there is only one thing  worse than a flat battery..... and that would be running out of fuel  :p
     
    kiffsta, Feb 13, 2013
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  3. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Yea, toss it over the fence and get an AGM or Gel 

    No more acid or water.

    (Top the old one up with water,recharge it and keep it for a spare)
     
    GreyImport, Feb 13, 2013
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  4. risky

    risky risky

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    amimpressed with motobatt batteries.
     
    risky, Feb 14, 2013
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  5. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Just be careful with the Motobatt warranty/guarantee.
    As I mentioned in the other thread 2 bike shops here (1 is the Yammy dealer) stopped stocking them due to some faulty ones and the supplier/importer wouldnt replace them.
     
    GreyImport, Feb 14, 2013
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  6. risky

    risky risky

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    mine is performing better than 2 other brands.
     
    risky, Feb 14, 2013
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  7. PD186

    PD186 Member Premium Member

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    Stopped by the friendly battery wholesaler and asked for their advice.

    They were very helpful and it appears that the battery may have been low due to the heat of the motor. Something most of you guys don't have to worry about but a air cooled V twin has this very warm air over the battery and it appears that may be evaporating the acid. Air flow over the battery compartment is not even as the cylinders are offset.

    Solution refill with demilitarised water and put on the charger and when I reinstall the battery I need to check charging voltage. but a faulty voltage regulator should have caused a more even evaporation.
    I was going to buy some water there but at $18.00 for 5L, I went to woollies and got 2L for $2.00
     
    PD186, Feb 14, 2013
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  8. risky

    risky risky

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    do not overcharge. use a small charger that is self regulating.
     
    risky, Feb 14, 2013
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  9. PD186

    PD186 Member Premium Member

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    I put it on the charger and went to 3amps for a couple of minutes then dropped back to almost nothing. about to put it back and check charge rate
     
    PD186, Feb 15, 2013
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  10. risky

    risky risky

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    if it will not charge or hold a charge probably a dead cell.either sulphated or broken connection. if it is an open battery drain the acid into a plastic dish and then hose the battery out upside down. see if blackish crap comes out and do until clean. replace acid and charge.old trick used by wrecking yards. the sulphation can short the cells.if stuck can lend you a ytx98-bs for a short period of time.
     
    risky, Feb 15, 2013
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  11. risky

    risky risky

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    also put a voltmeter on. if below 11 volts is in trouble. with charging test with volt meter before and after.if suss leave a day and retest.
     
    risky, Feb 15, 2013
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  12. PD186

    PD186 Member Premium Member

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    Topped up the low cells and put onto the charger tested voltage and all good I don't have a small enough hydrometer to test the battery so back into the bike and charging voltage was spot on some new bolts for the battery terminals as one snapped when removing it.
    Plenty of cranking playing around with the fuel problem and no problems with the battery and finally got the fule sorted out and all well ready for a weekend away next weekend.  :Thumbs_up:
    Only problem will be if the new master cyclinder and clutch leaver arive before the weekend I will have to resist the tempation to change them before I go  ;)
     
    PD186, Feb 17, 2013
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  13. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I have Motobatts in three of my bikes with no problems. One I hadn't started for 7 months and still had plenty of power to crank up the fuel and fire the engine. :)
     
    Murdo, May 11, 2013
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  14. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    I also bought a motobatt and can't fault it, just keeps powering on.
     
    Phil, May 11, 2013
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  15. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Will be interesting to see how my SSB Powersport battery performs after sitting in its box for 2 months.
     
    GreyImport, May 11, 2013
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  16. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My st1100 had a 7 yr old motobatt in it when I bought it and about six months later it just died and wouldn't start the bike. Have been told that they (AGM batteries) will go and go until they just die with no warning, but after seven years I can't complain. :)
     
    Murdo, May 11, 2013
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  17. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    Had a Yuasa battery in my Honda cbr1100xx, lasted six years to the month of manufacture of the bike. Even then it didn't die on me but early morning starts where becoming a struggle, couldn't complain with that sort of run.:)
     
    Phil, May 11, 2013
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  18. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    7 years is a damn fine effort!

    I attempted to pickup a Motobatt for the Fizzer about 6 months ago.....from that small bike shop in Dampier St as I had seen the right one for the bike there on the shelf earlier.
    Was told they no longer stock them due to problems with the importer/distributor or some such thing and the warranties......they now had the SSBs.
    Then tried Bikes and Bits and all they had was some Yuasa for some crazy price ... $200+
    Then while at Ride they confirmed the Motobatt story and were now stocking SSBs also..... the young fella looked up the specs for the FZR one and just found something that matched, as they wernt importing the specific model due to it being a non seller.
    Anyway the batt has been fine and Ive used it to start,test lights etc etc many times after the rebuild and it hasnt been charged properly at all.
     
    GreyImport, May 11, 2013
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  19. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    GreyImport, you should have gone around the corner into Kingsford Smith street and seen DTM. Best price in town and he even fitted for free.
     
    Murdo, May 11, 2013
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  20. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Hopefully they are still open in 7 years! :lolsign:
     
    GreyImport, May 11, 2013
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