Gang,
About 3 or so years ago, I purchased an '07 T-dub with 587 miles on it. Long story short, it was in very sad shape when we picked it up. It needed a ton of work. One of the items it needed was a new battery. So, I bought the one that belongs in it. And, added acid as it came without any. Well, that was around 3 years ago. I don't ride the bike every single day, only a couple times a month, due to the fact that I two other bikes I ride. But, I went out to ride it this morning early and, NO START.
Hmmmm, I keep a Harbor Freight automatic 4-amp, smart battery charger on it. It always shows GREEN and in the float stage. The last time I rode it, I rode it many days in a row, up in the Durango. It started every time I wanted it to. Skip forward about a month and, this morning, no start. I push it out of the garage and, turn the key on and coast it down the drive way and pop the clutch in 3rd. It fires right up and runs like it always does, like a top.
I ride it for about 20 minutes at various speeds. I shut it off at the top of a street and, nope, no start. Hmmm. I thought it might be corroded terminals. But, when I got it back and yanked the battery out, it was completely dry of water, CRAP!
Sooooo, since I had left over acid from the first time I filled it, I just re-filled it with that acid, all the way to the full line. Now, it's been on charge with that HF smart charger for about 8-9 hours at this time, 9:15 in the evening. The charger is, and has been for a good 5 or more hours, 14.3V. The temp of the batt has been around, 104 degrees. The battery is not boiling due to too high of a rate of charging.
When this type of charger is first placed on any of my vehicles/battery, it first goes to a high rate then, it simmers down to a float stage, which is normal. The screen is red when first applied and, when it's in a float stage, the screen turns green. As of this time, 9:40 P.M. it's still RED and 14.4V are being applied. Normally, if the battery or batteries ( I have two in the boat), are not topped off, it will take anywhere from 2 hours, up to 8-16 to turn from RED to GREEN and, drop to around 13.4 or 13.5V.
So, I'll see what things look like in the morning. But, my question to you experienced battery folks is, by having that battery drain itself of all liquid, down to the bottom, would simply adding new acid and recharging it do any good? Yeah, I know, it's not a big expense if I have to toss that battery. About $48 or so, three years ago when I bought it. It's probably useless to add the acid and charge it for almost 24 hours but, I figured I'd give it the old college try. Opinions?
Scott
About 3 or so years ago, I purchased an '07 T-dub with 587 miles on it. Long story short, it was in very sad shape when we picked it up. It needed a ton of work. One of the items it needed was a new battery. So, I bought the one that belongs in it. And, added acid as it came without any. Well, that was around 3 years ago. I don't ride the bike every single day, only a couple times a month, due to the fact that I two other bikes I ride. But, I went out to ride it this morning early and, NO START.
Hmmmm, I keep a Harbor Freight automatic 4-amp, smart battery charger on it. It always shows GREEN and in the float stage. The last time I rode it, I rode it many days in a row, up in the Durango. It started every time I wanted it to. Skip forward about a month and, this morning, no start. I push it out of the garage and, turn the key on and coast it down the drive way and pop the clutch in 3rd. It fires right up and runs like it always does, like a top.
I ride it for about 20 minutes at various speeds. I shut it off at the top of a street and, nope, no start. Hmmm. I thought it might be corroded terminals. But, when I got it back and yanked the battery out, it was completely dry of water, CRAP!
Sooooo, since I had left over acid from the first time I filled it, I just re-filled it with that acid, all the way to the full line. Now, it's been on charge with that HF smart charger for about 8-9 hours at this time, 9:15 in the evening. The charger is, and has been for a good 5 or more hours, 14.3V. The temp of the batt has been around, 104 degrees. The battery is not boiling due to too high of a rate of charging.
When this type of charger is first placed on any of my vehicles/battery, it first goes to a high rate then, it simmers down to a float stage, which is normal. The screen is red when first applied and, when it's in a float stage, the screen turns green. As of this time, 9:40 P.M. it's still RED and 14.4V are being applied. Normally, if the battery or batteries ( I have two in the boat), are not topped off, it will take anywhere from 2 hours, up to 8-16 to turn from RED to GREEN and, drop to around 13.4 or 13.5V.
So, I'll see what things look like in the morning. But, my question to you experienced battery folks is, by having that battery drain itself of all liquid, down to the bottom, would simply adding new acid and recharging it do any good? Yeah, I know, it's not a big expense if I have to toss that battery. About $48 or so, three years ago when I bought it. It's probably useless to add the acid and charge it for almost 24 hours but, I figured I'd give it the old college try. Opinions?
Scott