Battery cells too full?

[Anonymous]

I just got a new battery for my bike. The instructions say to fill the cells with the acid to the upper fill line and then let it sit for 30 minutes. If the cells have gone down at all, fill them up to the upper fill line again, and then charge the battery.

So I filled them the first time, careful to get them each to the upper fill line exactly. Then I let it sit. When I came back, all of them were MORE full. Like 5-10 mm fuller. I have no clue why. What should I do now? Is it ok to remove some of the acid from the battery?

--Tyler

[focus frenzy]

that is very odd for the level to rise, I suspect that you have bubbles trapped in between the plates, tap on the battery to free the bubbles, don't hit on it to hard or you can damage it.
that is the only thing that could cause the level to rise, the bubles form due to the lead plates reacting to the acid and building a static charge, you should put it on a slow charger (1 to 2 amps) and let it charge for 7 to 12 hours before using it.

[earlfor]

Re: Battery cells too full?

NO, if you filled it to the full line with electrolyte, you already have the correct amount of acid in the battery. Water boils away or evaporates, acid does not.

Earl

When I came back, all of them were MORE full. Like 5-10 mm fuller. I have no clue why. What should I do now? Is it ok to remove some of the acid from the battery?

--Tyler

[KrazyKarl02]

Don't worry

I wouldn't worry, the main thing you should be concerned about is covering the battery's cells. If those are coveres you should be ok. Make sure you route your battery overflow line correctly, as a new battery will spill over a bit and acid marks on a swing arm suck! On a side note I know you have already bought a battery, but I can not speak enough for Yuiasa (spelling?) I have bought walmart, O'reilly's, etc... brands and none seem to crank as hard as a genuine Yuiasa (once again spelling). There is a reason why O'reilly's "Ever Start" batterys have a nickname of "neverstart"... just my 2 cents

[SqDancerLynn1]

I had a 78 GS1000 many years ago if it sat for 4-5 days I could crank it for 5-10 minutes until the battery was dead & it would not start. I bought a DieHard battery at Sears Surplus Store Always started after that

[earlfor]

The only batteries I use are the sealed, maintenance free. They dont have a vent that can drip acid/water. Maintenance free batteries (at least for motorcycles) are premium grade. I changed to this type of battery 3 years ago with the 750E. It still has that same battery and it is doing just fine.
I did the same thing with the 1150 when I bought it from David. It too still has that battery in it. No battery to check and fill with water, no acid burns on the bike frame and if you periodically clean grounds and connections, I think its reasonable to expect 5 years or so on the battery. Cost is about $70, but over 5 years, its a lot less than $29.95 every 6 months.

Earl

[Anonymous]

Ok, I went ahead and started charging it. The instructions said to do 15-20 hours according to some table that wasn't included in the instructions. Focus Frenzy - you said 7-12.

I have it on a 1 amp trickle charger, and after just two hours, I can hear bubbles rising fairly steadily in the battery. The voltage reading (while the charger is connected) is about 15.5 V.

If I have readings like this, do I really need to keep it on for a full 7 hours minimum?

Also, I bought an Autocraft battery. $35. Supposedly heavy duty or performance or something. We'll see how she lasts.

--Tyler

[SqDancerLynn1]

If you give the battery the proper charge for 6-7 hours before using it
The battery will last longer

[Anonymous]

Earlfor, where would I get a maintenance-free sealed battery? The places around here (Auto-Zone and Walmart) carry lead-acid batteries.

[focus frenzy]

Ok, I went ahead and started charging it. The instructions said to do 15-20 hours according to some table that wasn't included in the instructions. Focus Frenzy - you said 7-12.

I have it on a 1 amp trickle charger, and after just two hours, I can hear bubbles rising fairly steadily in the battery. The voltage reading (while the charger is connected) is about 15.5 V.

If I have readings like this, do I really need to keep it on for a full 7 hours minimum?

Also, I bought an Autocraft battery. $35. Supposedly heavy duty or performance or something. We'll see how she lasts.

--Tyler

hmm that is kind of high, what you do then is disconnect the charger and allow the battery to set for 30-45 minutes to settle and then check the voltage.
a fully charged 12 volt battery will read 12.8 volts.
15.5 is to high a voltage to charge a battery at, your charger may be bad (or cheap) on a proper charger you should get a slow but steady rate of bubbling.
has the acid level dropped?

[earlfor]

Any motorcycle shop can order one for you. I buy mine from a local business called Battery House. They only sell batteries. :-) Probably any garage/shop that sells/orders batteries can order one. Few places keep them in stock, but I dont have to wait longer than about 5 days to get one.

Earl

Earlfor, where would I get a maintenance-free sealed battery? The places around here (Auto-Zone and Walmart) carry lead-acid batteries.

[crc1214]

I have had the same thing happen with every "fillable" battery I have purchased. Fill it, then about 30 minutes later the level is actually too high..... been there/done that. Just charge it for a good 7 hours or so, put it on the bike, and you'll be fine. In about 2 or 3 months of riding, some of the water portion of the electrolyte solution will evaporate, and the levels will be fine.

As for maintenance free, try NAPA. When I called they were in-stock and about 60 bucks I think....... but funds wouldn't allow me to spend that much at the time. Wish I had. Next time I will.

Chad
Columbus, OH 1978 (same year as me) GS550E