OzSTOC
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: hobs on July 12, 2012, 05:53:34 PM
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Posted here a couple of months ago when I dropped the bike and the lucky escape for me and machine with relatively minor damage.
Thought I would follow with this lesson learnt experience.
When leaving for work in the wee hours of the morning the bike would sometimes not turn over real fast. Would clutch start down the driveway and head off to work. Always started in the afternoon when going home from work and any other time except for early cold mornings. Thinking this was just a tired battery on its last gasps as it was 2 yrs. old and deciding that I need to get a new one. Put it off for a few weeks as was happy starting down the driveway and it was ok every other time. One Saturday morning decided it was time to replace the old battery and to ensure I got the right one would take it off the bike and take it with me.
when I pulled it off the bike I noticed the the fluid was very low on some cells and non existant on others, (I know, sounds slack and neglectful).
Wondered why that should be and where the fluid went. Then remembered the dropped bike event and realised that the battery fluid had run out over the overflow tube when the bike was horizontal. Topped up the battery and put it back in place and it has not failed since, even on very cold morning starts.
Didn't even think to check battery after my stack. Has anyone else had similar experience, or is it due to my inexperience?
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Just curious as to your battery.
My 1100 has a sealed battery and I'm sure the 1300's are the same.
Alan
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Hobs, unless you filled the battery with the correct strength acid, and not distilled water you may be fine.
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Didn't know they still made batteries that could have water added.
Especially for bikes that have demonstrated an ability to depart from the vertical, sealed batteries would seem to be invaluable.
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Some of the batteries still have to be filled with acid to activate them, even if they are low maintenance. A bit like low maintenance batteries for cars. Adding fluid to them might not be easy can can be done. There are fully sealed batteries from the factory that do not need to be filled before using, and can be used at all sorts of angles. As far as I know the standard Yuasa in the ST13 is an acid filled battery, not fully sealed. Yuasu do make a fully sealed battery from the factory these days as an option.
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The battery is a yuasa and it has a small black overfill tube running down the side from thr top. Didn't notice it when it was on the bike. The battery was on the bike when I got it. It has 5 or six screw filler caps on top that you can undo with a flat screwdriver.
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There are three Yuasa batteries for the 1100:-
From American Site http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motorcycle.php?action=showListing#formanchor (http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motorcycle.php?action=showListing#formanchor) (need to do a search)
YTX14H-BS - High Performance, Maintenance Free
YTX14-BS - Maintenance Free, VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid)
YTX14 - Factory Sealed
The Australian Site says this one YTX14-BS
http://www.yuasa.com.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=11321&cid=6304&application=21&producttype=115&type=1208 (http://www.yuasa.com.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=11321&cid=6304&application=21&producttype=115&type=1208)
I have one of these, the last one I bought was activated at the bike shop and ready for me to collect upon arrival.
Shouldn't lose acid if bike tips over as it's spill proof
Maybe your battery has been replaced with an incorrect type