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  • #1

    Battery Refurb?

    Me SF has been in storage for six years and it's battery was born in 2005.

    Question to members in the know.

    Being a wet unsealed battery can it be refurbished?

    I was thinking replacing the liquid or topping it up or whatever then trickle charging it up.

    I know it'll be quicker to buy a new one but I was thinking why not give it a go as something to do.

    Al
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Originally posted by ardvark1 View Post
    Being a wet unsealed battery can it be refurbished?
    Nope.... time to buy a new one.
    Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

    '78E original owner - resto project
    '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
    '82 XJ rebuild project
    '80SG restified, red SOLD
    '79F parts...
    '81H more parts...

    Other current bikes:
    '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
    '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
    '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
    Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
    Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

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    • #3
      Hey Ardvark,

      Steve doesn't need anyone to back him up, but I concur!

      Lead Acid batteries do not store well, especially if they are not maintained and kept charged. As the battery self discharges the acid converts the LEAD plates into Lead Sulphate which is next to impossible to reverse once it's formed on the plates, and the acid becomes very weak closer to water. Keeping a battery charged up keeps the Lead in the plates and the ACID very acidic, that's what allows it to then react with the lead to generate the electricity.

      So....long answer...time for a new battery...whether you get another standard Lead Acid type, or spring a few more bucks for a sealed type is your choice.

      T.C.
      T. C. Gresham
      81SH "Godzilla" . . .1179cc super-rat.
      79SF "The Teacher" . . .basket case!
      History shows again and again,
      How nature points out the folly of men!

      Comment

      • #4
        Cheers to you both for answering.

        It's a dead one.

        I think what I'll do is when I'm ready is top it up with distilled water and give it a charge, just to see what happens.

        Then when the bike is near completion get a new battery fully charge it then trickle charge it once a week to keep it happy.

        Al

        Comment

        • #5
          Welp... I guess since I'm the disagreeable type...

          I've seen people get several refurbishes out of dead batteries, including me. Find a place safe to dump out the current acid in it. Make up some baking soda and water, swish it around an dump it. Do this several times. Then a good rinsing with clean water. Lastly, find a battery shop and get a bottle of acid.. usually $5 or so... and pour that in, then charge it.

          I know several people this has worked for, and a guy I work with has gotten several extra years out of his jet-ski batteries doing this. One kept a battery up on his seldom ridden Harley for 8 years past the manufactures date, and was still working when he sold it. Worth a shot anyway. Not much money involved if it doesn't work.

          One thing to remember is even if it works, it may be down a touch on the cranking amps, so if it shows to be charged and still cranks slowly, you might spring for a new one anyway.
          Last edited by trbig; 08-07-2015, 10:24 AM.
          Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

          You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

          Current bikes:
          '06 Suzuki DR650
          *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
          '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
          '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
          '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
          '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
          '81 XS1100 Special
          '81 YZ250
          '80 XS850 Special
          '80 XR100
          *Crashed/Totalled, still own

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          • #6
            Motobatt!
            79SF
            xjr ohlins shocks, tarozzi forkbrace, bsa handlebars, bsm exhaust

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            • #7
              IMO. I say buy a new one and forget the head aches try to bring that one to life. Six years is just too long.

              Bill
              1980 XS1100 SG
              Jardine Spaghetti with Harley Mufflers

              Comment

              • #8
                I turned mine into a epson salt battery when it died, and it is still going after two more years.
                1980 XS1100LG Midnight
                1991 Honda CBR1000F Hurricane


                "The hand is almost valueless at one end of the arm if there be not a brain at the other"

                Here's to a long life and a happy one.
                A quick death and an easy one.
                A pretty girl and an honest one.
                A cold beer and another one!

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