widget Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 ............not very exciting in light of the other posts I know, but anyway.!! I have a Motorbike and as I havent been riding it much the battery went dead. Its one of these sealed types and says clearly "NEVER NEEDS WATER"Called the shop to buy a new battery and they directed me to a Battery company in Selby who imports these batteries, call them and they say bring it in, if its Kaput we have new stock, but if it just needs charging we can do that for you, no problem. So this morning I pop into the company with the battery, the guy behind the counter, pops open the top, looks inside and says theres NO WATER and proceeds to FILL it up with water. He then pops it on a machine, says its fine, it just needs a charge, collect it this afternoon. I asked why he filled it with water cos it says clearly it never needs water and he tells me that if its left for a period the cells dry out and need filling. So I leave it here and off I go, but whilst driving home I phone the shop who services the bike, tell them, and the guy says NO,NO, you must never put water in the battery.? Now, I know there are some technical people here and I wondered if anyone knew the right answer, do these batteries need to be filled after a period.? I suppose one hopes the importer knows what to do . but.............! widget2008-06-17 02:01:54
slowpoke Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 fark, all i do when the battery goes flat is charge it and then take car/bike for a good long run... hopefully the importer knows what tehy're doing - just make sure you get a receipt fromt hem to say they worked on it today.
Sammajoor Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 fark' date=' all i do when the battery goes flat is charge it and then take car/bike for a good long run... hopefully the importer knows what tehy're doing - just make sure you get a receipt fromt hem to say they worked on it today. [/quote'] Slowpoke this run you take the bike on, it is tied to a leash hey. Because I heard in Boksburg I heard they steal anything that is not tied up or down *ok I'm running*
widget Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 fark' date=' all i do when the battery goes flat is charge it and then take car/bike for a good long run... hopefully the importer knows what tehy're doing - just make sure you get a receipt fromt hem to say they worked on it today. [/quote'] Problem is Slowpoke, I dont have a charging machine and too be honest I wouldnt know how to use one anyway. Usually, I just go buy a new battery, but when the shop said have it checked first I thought well okay.
slowpoke Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 bwahahaha samma... i live on the west rand so i just let the bike have fun and then we head home. no leash required. although a tow rope was employed at a stage after the bike was at a bad choice of "doctor"!
slowpoke Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 widget widget widget, a charger is not that expensive and you can get it at any hardware store (i visisted midas for mine). when your baby is up and running i'll hapilly show you how to attach a charger in future... and if you don't plan on riding regularly then spend the extra hundred or so bucks on a trickle charger that you leave attached until you ride the bike.
Speed Devil Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Sammajoor If the cells were completely dry then they would need to be filled up with battery acid which could be bought at any local motor spares shop and then charged for a while. If the cells were still above half then you can just top them up with distilled water which is also available from any motor spares shop and then charge it. People have the impression if you boil water in the kettle then it will be distilled, but actually when water boils and steam is released, the condensation formed when the steam cools is distilled (pure) and the bulk of the water that remains behind (with which you make tea and coffee) contains all the minerals, metals and other impurities. Minerals and metal particles do not evaporate or reduces with boiling. When water is boiled and steam is released, the amount of water reduces, which means you will actually a have higher volume of impurities in the water. So never use boiled water for filling batteries, as it is the quickest way to shorten the life span. Oh, and dont let your wife use it in her iron either as scale will build up a lot quicker too I hope it makes sense.
widget Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 Okay cool, speed devil, from what I understand you saying, even though it says "never needs water" on the battery, it can run dry and then needs filling.? It makes sense, I cant imagine the water can stay in there forever, I dont ride all that often so the bike can stand for 3 /4 months without been started.
slowpoke Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 widget, i'd definitely advise getting a trickle charger. also, what bike is it? and i hope it has a center stand...
Speed Devil Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Okay cool' date=' speed devil, from what I understand you saying, even though it says "never needs water" on the battery, it can run dry and then needs filling.? It makes sense, I cant imagine the water can stay in there forever, I dont ride all that often so the bike can stand for 3 /4 months without been started. [/quote'] Widget If a battery has loose caps for filling then it can be filled. Only fully sealed types like those in home alarm systems can't be filled. The acid does not evaporate just from standing, even when being charged, which includes being charged from a home charger or while driving, heat is generated from the chemical reaction which also causes quicker evaporation than just standing. Sorry Widget my first post should have been adressed to you and not Sammajoor. (The long weekend is catching up)
Jaco Steyn Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I am no expert, but I actually think it is a bad idea to add only battery acid (Sulphuric Acid H2SO4) to the cells. If it is completely dry, that might be an indication of a leak or crack in rhe body of the battery which ultimatelly may lead to replacement of the battery. I think that you must rather add "electrolyte" which is a mixture of acid and distilled water, which must have a relative density of ? 1.25. We normally have to add water to car batteries because the water evaporates, and because sulphuric acid has a boiling point of roughly 290 ?C and will not evaporate under normal instances. Battery cell electrolyte is something like a 35% w/w mixture of sulphuric acid with distilled water. I am really speaking under correction here, so please do not take anything that I have said as fact!
widget Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 widget' date=' i'd definitely advise getting a trickle charger. also, what bike is it? and i hope it has a center stand...[/quote'] Hi Slowpoke, its a Vulcan 1500 cruiser. No Centre stand I am afraid. I couldnt get time to fetch my battey yesterday so popped in this morning and also picked up a small charger from them, which they showed me how to use. Not difficult at all. Anyway, I will see if it all pans out later. Thanks Speed devil, I do note the top of the battery is able to be opened, so I assume its fine to fill.
slowpoke Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 widget, if i were you i'd look at getting one of those stands to keep your bike level when it stands - cos otherwise the carbs stand at and angle and then they get out of synch etc - i don't know the full technical details but i have been told what they are and the general consensus seems to be that if you don't use your bike regularly make sure it stands up straight.
widget Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Thats interesting slowpoke, I will look into it. Thanks.
shaunh Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Sp, not sure year model Vulcan widget has, but I think it is Fuel injected.
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