battery

[exquized1]

Going through a battery every season. I been buying them from wal-mart cheap enigizer brand. This last batery was almost drained dry with lest than a half of inch of fluid left in it. If I fill it with distilled water would it possibaly take a charge? Or should I look into a different type of battery?

[JACKHAMMER01]

Yuasa has a maintenance-free AGM battery that I swear by! They usually last me 6 to 7 YEARS, and the cost is only around $100. They can be purchased from your friendly, local neighborhood Stealership.

[mitch]

Hmmm

Sounds like....i cant believe im gonna say this ..... your XS is overcharging. possibly a regulator prob.
Doug

[prometheus578]

"Refill with water?"

Once a battery's plates become uncovered, they start to oxidize/sulphate, etc.
Sometimes they can be resurrected, but are weaker because of it.
Mitch states a real possability. Batteries shouldn't lose that much fluid... that is, unless you've not been keeping up on it maintenence.

[egsols]

Overcharging sounds like a possibility, if it is loosing water. May also have a crack in the case somewhere. Check the fill caps to make sure none are missing. Do you notice any moisture in and around the battery?

Has the battery every frozen? Can tell if case is bulged.

[webbcraft2150]

Timely I must say. I gave up on my 4 year old lead acid battery this weekend. Popped the $84.00 for a AGM battery from battery specialists w/2year warranty. Fit perfect and has higher amp hour rating than the Yasua lead acid units. This should eliminate the need to pop the seat and pull the battery to check it.

I do agree with the other guys, sounds like a leak or a overcharging problem, or maybe just a battery that need to be put out of its misery.

[prometheus578]

battery that needs to be put out of its misery

Would you say that the battery's condition is terminal?

TERMINAL!!!
See, that's like a battery joke...
Terminal...
See, 'cause... battery's have teminals, and....
Oh, never mind.

[mitch]

Prom

You keep talking like that Prom and your gonna get DISCHARGED
Doug

[egsols]

Prom, Thanks for the explanation.

Ever since they put a steel plate in my head it appears to have lead to negative results. I don't know if it has damaged any of my brain cells, maybe just half a dozen or so. I seem to lack energy and unlike women, can't retain water. The wit on this site, however, has re-charged me and provided me with a more positive outlook on life.

[exquized1]

overcharging

This is the 2nd battery in 2 years both did the same loss of fluid. I want to go gel cell but the misses won't let mespend that kind of money right now so it was off to wally world for another battery with my gift card just to make her happy. Why would it overcharge? Is there something going out or do Ijust have to add a bunch of accessories?

[DiverRay]

Check ALL your connections!! The three wires that go to the ignition switch are usually the problem. You have a red from the battery, and a brown going BACK TO THE FUSES AND REGULATOR. If you have corrosion on the connectors, it will raise the resistance and the regulator will try and put out a higher voltage to make up for it. You will then end up boiling out the battery.
I would also check ALL the ground wires, usually black, to verify good grounds at all points.

[exquized1]

Thanks DiverRay

For the info. Will have to spend some time going through it. The po hacked at the wireing harness to bypass the ignition. lots of lose wires. waiting for the ok to get a new wire harness.

[DiverRay]

If the PO has chopped the wires, then connect up a wire from the switch, or another switch. Go from the battery positive, to a switch, and then to the brown on the reg/rec. That is the line that will energize the regulator, and tell it how much to charge.
A quick test is put a VOM on the battery and start the bike. at idle, if it shows 13.2V or more, you are probably overcharging. If at 2500 RPM you show over 14.5V. you ARE overcharging.

[prometheus578]

Egsols...
Glad you used up all the good puns before T.C. saw this thread.

[TopCatGr58]

Well, Prom,

We've done this topic before, and since Egsols did such a bang up job, I didn't feel like jumping in and giving him any static, there just wasn't enough shock value in it! So..we'll just put a cap on this!

exquized1 said:I want to go gel cell but the misses won't let mespend that kind of money right now so it was off to wally world for another battery with my gift card just to make her happy.

Looks like his SWMBO solved his overcharging problem already, by taking away his CREDIT CARD!

That probably went over like a lead balloon! I think I'll just go Ohm!

T.C.