Battery Question

Bike won't start - think it's the battery.
The lights work as normal but it doesn't appear to have enough power to kick
it over.
Checked the battery - it's dry.
I know in cars people just fill 'em up with water - are bikes the same? Can
I just put in some distilled water? Don't know for sure if that's even the
problem but it's a process of elimination I guess.

Cheers,
Proc.

1988 VFR 700F.

 

Water alone won't help, you need water plus charge. If your battery is dry
it could well be rooted anyway, so take it to a tyre/battery dealer & have
it checked.

 

Just fill it up and charge it.
It's either rooted or it's not. (And nothing you do is gonna change the rootification)

 

Battery run dry is a start
fill it with distilled water and try cranking it over
if it still fails try a bump start
If that doesn't work
then try and get it charged
Or you can shortcut all of this and get another battery and make sure u
check the electrolyte levels regularly because it should never be
allowed to run dry.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but I though most if not all motorbike batteries were
sealed units?

 

It would seem that the level of knowledge about maintenance of ones 'sickle'
is dropping rapidly !!
Doesn't anyone RTFM anymore ??

 

New ones yes, but not the older type batteries to suit older bikes.

Cam
'00 ZX6R

 

I forgive you, Matt.

-----sharks

 

Yes ...but if your battery is discharges and dry ... then only fill it
so the water just covers the plates ... not all the way to the top. Then
charge it. Then and only then fill it to say half way between the max
and min marks. When you charge the battery you may find the fluid level
increases ... so if you filled it to the top it may overflow. Batteries
do not like being dry so it may well be time for a new battery. you can
get sealed units they may fit in your bike... if you do you'll find
their around twice the price of a nonsealed battery...

Oh.. one with therectifier regulator that goes faulty and boils the
battery dry... get your charging system checked ... don't wait for the
(new) battery to boil dry and caot you yet another battery and a
rectifire regulator... can you say $$$$?

 

Sorry. I can't forgive that level of ignorance. ;-)
When did you last look at your battery? Know where it is?

Theo

 

It was replaced when I bought the bike at the start of the year. As it is a
sealed unit, and the bike is still starting, I haven't bothered looking at
it since. And yes I do know where it is. Its taking up all my under-seat
storage space
(bloody ZZR's have less storage than sports bikes and they are meant to be
part tourer!)

 

FuTAnT said....

Fu> New ones yes, but not the older type batteries to suit older bikes.

The age of the bike's really irrelevant. As long as the new battery can
fit in the carrier, and its amp/hour rating's roughly the same as the
original, then there's no problem. Electricity back in the olden days is
still the same as it is today...

 

Theo Bekkers said....

TB> Sorry. I can't forgive that level of ignorance. ;-)
TB> When did you last look at your battery? Know where it is?

Yep. half an hour ago. Decided to see if the old girl would start (got a
big ride coming up next weekend, you know). Flat as a tack. On the
charger for a while.

Did you know that an Arlec charger will run out to over 40 amps when
you're cranking the starter motor with it still connected??

 

Hehe. Did it survive?

Theo

 

I sell bike batteries and most of them are sold dry with a bottle of
sulphuric acid. I hope there is a way of opening them and getting the acid
inside.

 

Theo said....
TB>
TB> Hehe. Did it survive?

Yeah. These old Arlec chargers are pretty tough. Certainly, this one is.
I dunno how many times it's been dropped on the floor. It's held
together at the moment with duct tape....

 

"Martin Taylor" wrote

So's mine.



Theo