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    #1

    battery fluid

    Assuming stator, regulator/rectifier and battery all work properly (or reasonably well) for the following reasons: bike runs great!

    Starts, idles, redlines all great. Occasionally battery fluid needs topping off.

    Now seat is locked and cannot be opened. I can charge the battery, but cannot physically access it to check or add electrolyte.

    Until I get the seat off, what kind of damage am I doing to which components by charging (self monitoring) a battery that may be low on electrolyte?

    I drilled out the seat lock, seat still won't release. I've got to find my "Oversize Hammers" catalogue.

    Till then, what kind of damage am I doing to which components by charging (with a self monitoring charger) a battery that may be low on electrolyte?

    Surprise, surprise, I'm talking about the old Suzi ('82 1100e)
    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Actually, reg/rect might not be in top shape since low electrolyte might indicate an over charging situation, correct?
    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

    Comment

      #3
      Never add electrolyte to the battery, only distilled water. You want to keep the fluid level over the plates or damage can occur.
      Ed

      To measure is to know.

      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

      Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

      Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

      KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by Nessism View Post
        Never add electrolyte to the battery, only distilled water. You want to keep the fluid level over the plates or damage can occur.
        Yes I know about that, but can't comply until I get the seat off. At least I don't have that stock air box!
        1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

        2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

        Comment

          #5
          Good idea to ALWAYS disconnect the battery cables when charging with larger than trickle charger...

          For my bike the manual states to disconnect cables when charger is over 0.8 amps (Or damage to regulator rectifier can occur)...

          I was headed out of town, wanted to start my bike and let it warm up this weekend before leaving.
          So once I turned the key to ON and connected 2 amp charger...didn't start, but must've done something to solenoid (I'm thinking temporarily welded together(?)) because starter got stuck turning until I quickly disconnected the battery cables...stupid.

          I tapped on the solenoid (With metal junk) and it worked ok with 2amp charge removed , but died quickly because I need a new batt.
          Made me late heading out of town over stupid hurry mistake...Wondering whether I might as well look for a new solenoid since some damage must've occured ,although it worked normal again...Just got back.

          (This is my '93 GSX1100G I'm refering to) ...D^MN ! The battery can be ordered from/to walmart for around $38 and a site "battery sharks" had a very cheap imitation battery with sealed, fiber mat similar to GEL, but w/ shipping same as walmart price...

          Welp, gotta log out. (drove 2 days, picked up my [kids] ...acting like ...ATM even though they're not really......

          Comment

            #6
            I know this is something already thought of regarding the seat. I had an 82 GS1100E many years ago and can't recall how the seat hinged but on my current GS, I suspect I would remove the side cover on the hinge side, break off the cotter pins or remove them from the hinges and tap the hinge pins out. Is that something you could do on the 82? I can't reall the lock mechanism at all but seems one the pins are gone you could pull the seat out.

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by geol View Post
              I know this is something already thought of regarding the seat. I had an 82 GS1100E many years ago and can't recall how the seat hinged but on my current GS, I suspect I would remove the side cover on the hinge side, break off the cotter pins or remove them from the hinges and tap the hinge pins out. Is that something you could do on the 82? I can't reall the lock mechanism at all but seems one the pins are gone you could pull the seat out.
              Lock mechanism is on the rear cowl I'm pretty sure it is not hinged , but I do not own one.
              81 gs 1100 E One owner,Me.

              Comment

                #8
                Personally, I wouldn't ride it and risk harming anything until I could get the seat off. It can't be THAT bad. (I hope!)

                After all, you do have the 883 to ride.

                Comment

                  #9
                  If the electrolyte is low enough to expose plates to air they will sulphate. Depending on yada yada this can be terminal ( pun intended )
                  I have topped off many batteries that wouldn't take charge or were cranking slow and in nearly all cases the battery survived the experience.
                  Just don't push your luck.
                  Did I mention that if they are really bad you can explode them.
                  PS this means that if you want to give an old battery with unknown history a speculative refill and charge you might want to check out youtube and take the children and animals indoors.
                  Last edited by Brendan W; 09-06-2016, 05:29 AM.
                  97 R1100R
                  Previous
                  80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

                  Comment

                    #10
                    It's the mother-friggin' seat that I can't remove that's at the heart of my current dillemma.

                    I just wanted to gas up as she was on reserve. Now she stays home until seat comes off.

                    I was guessing my R/R is not up to snuff as it seems to boil out the electrolyte several times a year. Not a crisis unless you can't get to the battery to top it off.
                    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Rob S. View Post
                      I was guessing my R/R is not up to snuff as it seems to boil out the electrolyte several times a year. Not a crisis unless you can't get to the battery to top it off.
                      What is the voltage topping out at?
                      If you still have a shunt r/r going slowly south, you know that as soon it gets bored boiling the battery it's going to fry the stator. At least the seat can stay put to replace that
                      97 R1100R
                      Previous
                      80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Rob I'm sending you a PM about something you could try. It works on the 850 although I have the benefit of being able to open the seat to get a head start on it.
                        Don't want to post on open forum.
                        If it works get back.
                        97 R1100R
                        Previous
                        80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Seat is off!

                          Battery is out being charged in the slop sink.

                          Cell under the positive terminal was full, under the negative one third full, others varied. Anything to be gleaned from that, other than she's over charging and boiling out electrolyte?

                          Solution to getting seat off? A bigger hammer!
                          1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                          2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            When you get a new battery (which appears to be sooner, rather than later) consider getting a sealed AGM battery.

                            Note that "AGM" is a construction style, not a brand name.

                            .
                            sigpic
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                            hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                            #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                            #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
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                            Comment

                              #15
                              I used to think that, now I know it stands for "absorbed glass mat".

                              Assuming it's stock, my R/R is shunt, correct, and what I want is series, right?
                              Last edited by Rob S.; 09-07-2016, 07:24 PM.
                              1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                              2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

                              Comment

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