Rejuvenating a dead battery

[MikeJ]

I recall reading on one of my several moto-related forums -- maybe this one -- about a substance that can be added to the electrolyte fluid in a dead or near-dead bike battery (_not_ more battery acid, something else) that will let it rejuvenate itself for at least a while longer. This was not a brand name thing, just a fairly common chemical. Anybody recall such a thing?

Why I ask is, the battery on my Yamaha Vision boiled off most of its water (apparently due to a high rate of charge from the alternator) and the AGM battery I ordered as a replacement doesn't fit, so, more delay in getting the bike back on the road unless there is some quick fix for the old battery.

Thanks for any suggestions,

 

[tkent02]

Epsom salts is one of them.

Google it, there is a procedure to follow, you don't just dump it in.

 

[posplayr]

do a search; someone was just doing this here.

 

[rustybronco]

Although I have never tried it, years ago a gent who sold "rehabbed" batteries used to warm them in an oven before recharging them. IIRC he had a 50% success rate.

FWIW...

 

[MikeJ]

Epsom salts is one of them.

Google it, there is a procedure to follow, you don't just dump it in.

That's _exactly_ what I was thinking of, and I guess yes, GSR is the forum where I read about it.

Thank you very much sir.

 

[MikeJ]

do a search; someone was just doing this here.

I did try a search of all the GSR forums first, using the keywords "rejuvenate battery" and only came up with a single thread on that topic, from the archived tech forum back in 2005. Which I read in its entirety, but the hint wasn't in there either. Plus, I knew I had read a new post about it just a few days ago, not from an archive - I just didn't remember which forum I had read it on. GSR comes thru again!!

Tkent02's post reminded me where I read it - it was here, and the solution was epsom salts, and I still have no idea what keywords would have turned up that earlier GSR thread when doing a search. Just "battery" alone would be too broad, I think...

 

[Macguyver]

I just did a search for "Epsom Salt Battery", and found the thread, here you go.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=161582&highlight=epsom+salt+battery

 

[posplayr]

I just did a search for "Epsom Salt Battery", and found the thread, here you go.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=161582&highlight=epsom+salt+battery

that is the one

 

[Redman]

My trick is this:
- charge it up with batttery charger
- then discharge it by, say, turning on headlight till headlight is dim.
- then charge back up with battery charger
- then discharge it by, say, turning on headlight till headlight is dim. SHould take a little longer than before.
- repeat, repeat, repeat. SHould take longer to discharge battery each time because each time charging it is taking more charge. If it doesnt, then nothing is likley to work.
Also note that this is also the way to make the battery produce as much explosive gas as possible. So I recommend (espicaly if a vented battery) that when connecting the battery charger to connect the positive to the positive first, then connect the negitive of battery charger to the bike ground/frame somewhere away from the battery, so any sparking is away from the batttery.

.

 

[Steve]

My trick is this:
- charge it up with batttery charger
- then discharge it by, say, turning on headlight till headlight is dim.
- then charge back up with battery charger
- then discharge it by, say, turning on headlight till headlight is dim. SHould take a little longer than before.
- repeat, repeat, repeat. SHould take longer to discharge battery each time because each time charging it is taking more charge. If it doesnt, then nothing is likley to work. ...

Feel free to do this, but be aware that lead-acid batteries (that's what we use) do not like to be discharged below a certain level, and going until the lights are dim is below that level. Discharging below that level actually reduces the long-term capacity of the battery. You may see some "improvement" for the short term, but it really won't last very long.

The "wet" batteries are what most of us know as "lead-acid" batteries, but the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are "lead-acid" batteries, too. It's just that their acid is absorbed into fiberglass mats betwen the plates. Because they are sealed, they are often mistakenly called "gel cell" batteries, but the electrolyte is not gelled. But "gel-cell" batteries are often lead-acid, too, so all this discharge information applies to them, too.

.

 

[almarconi]

Here is some more information:

http://ysuusy.com/Lead_Acid_Car_Battery_Repair.html

 

[bwringer]

I use a substance called "money" to revive a dead battery, often in conjunction with something called "the internet" or a "store".

Even if you're the king of all penny pinchers, it's simply not wise to risk of the added strain on your stator.

You see the same thing in cars -- people will happily risk getting stranded and frying a $350 alternator to eke another month out of a $70 battery. Mysterious behavior.

Motorcycle electrical systems run even closer to the edge, and you can't just run down to Autozone for a new stator and stator cover gasket.

 

[lawrie]

Many, many moons ago one of my jobs as a plant engineer was to look after about 80 large industrial traction batteries, charge 'em, water 'em type of thing.
Several of us went on various 'courses' to learn our trade, one of which was at a large lead-acid battery manufacturer, & we were taught the 'correct' way to maintain them, you know the thing, distilled or de-ionised water, proper discharge, followed by 'float or balanced' recharge, then to my surprise, one of our tutors showed us how to rejuvinate an old,dead battery.
In many cases, a 'dead' battery has its plates shorted out by a build-up of the sulphated lead 'goo' on the case bottom, what we did was to turn the case on its side, empty it out, then shove a hose-pipe in all the cell compartments & thoughly wash out unil only clean water comes out.
We then knocked up a new mix of water/acid & refilled the battery, left it for a few hours to re-penetrate the plates, then give a gentle re-charge, unbelievebly, the battery is nearly always reusable!!
I know full well that the 'goo' on the bottom is some of the lead paste from the plates, BUT, theres usually still enough left to give a new lease of life, ALSO, you CAN sometimes get away with using ordinary tap-(faucet) water in batteries, so long as its not too hard, i've been putting it in my 110ah battery in the Range Roverfor the last 6 years!!
Obviously, this won't always work, but i've done it many times in the last 35 years, you've nothing to lose, so why not give it a try.

 

[waterman]

Many, many moons ago one of my jobs as a plant engineer was to look after about 80 large industrial traction batteries, charge 'em, water 'em type of thing.
Several of us went on various 'courses' to learn our trade, one of which was at a large lead-acid battery manufacturer, & we were taught the 'correct' way to maintain them, you know the thing, distilled or de-ionised water, proper discharge, followed by 'float or balanced' recharge, then to my surprise, one of our tutors showed us how to rejuvinate an old,dead battery.
In many cases, a 'dead' battery has its plates shorted out by a build-up of the sulphated lead 'goo' on the case bottom, what we did was to turn the case on its side, empty it out, then shove a hose-pipe in all the cell compartments & thoughly wash out unil only clean water comes out.
We then knocked up a new mix of water/acid & refilled the battery, left it for a few hours to re-penetrate the plates, then give a gentle re-charge, unbelievebly, the battery is nearly always reusable!!
I know full well that the 'goo' on the bottom is some of the lead paste from the plates, BUT, theres usually still enough left to give a new lease of life, ALSO, you CAN sometimes get away with using ordinary tap-(faucet) water in batteries, so long as its not too hard, i've been putting it in my 110ah battery in the Range Roverfor the last 6 years!!
Obviously, this won't always work, but i've done it many times in the last 35 years, you've nothing to lose, so why not give it a try.

Lawrie, welcome to GSR. Glad to have contributors that have real world experience with motorcycle components. Search for BassCliff, his website has a lot of collected GS knowledge. He most likely will find you also.

This battery renewal sounds like a great idea. I have several dying batteries around and even more dead ones, I will gladly sacrifice one for the cause. My question is what is the proper acid concentration, from my quick search is 29 to 32% or 4.2 to 5M Sulfuric correct?

A strong word of caution to those who may want to try this, Sulfuric acid is pretty nasty stuff. Always add acid to water, never in reverse. It will give off nasty vapors and will produce heat upon adding to water. If you are emptying battery, use caution as this waste will be loaded with lead which is also harmful. Try to neutralize with baking soda and large quantities of water to flush chemicals down drain. Please be smart and wear gloves, eye protection. ATGATT.

 

[lawrie]

Hi Waterman, & thanks for your welcome, however, i've been a member of this forum for around 11 years or so, but somehow I lost my registration & had to re-register!!
You'll see some of my bikes in the gallery & here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawriespics/sets/72157594415814578/
You're in the ballpark with the mix ratios, its about 36% acid to 64% water in a fully charged state, also, I should have mentioned, try this with a recently 'dead' unit, I'm not too sure an old, dried up unit is salvagable!!

 

[bwringer]

You can buy battery acid in many auto or motorcycle parts stores, already mixed up. It's only $2 or $3 last time I looked.

On the other hand, the morality and wisdom of dumping lead-laced acid down the drain is highly questionable. Think about where the lead will end up. Sufficiently diluted acid isn't that big a problem, but lead is forever.