Check your new battery acid level!

Greetings all,
I just wanted to pass along a simple message: If you buy a new battery be SURE to check the acid level closely!
I recently bought a new el-cheapo Chinese made battery for my SR650. The counter person did me a 'favor' by filling the battery with acid, told me to allow it to self-charge for at least 4 hours and it should be ready to go.
I did as instructed and installed the battery. Now the bike starts fine but...
During a ride two weeks I suddenly got a strong scent of battery acid. Didn't know at first what the problem was until I got home.
Upon inspection I immediately saw that my new battery had overflowed, spitting acid on my right boot and worse, on my right pipe, ruining the chrome in a half-dozen spots!
I pulled out the battery and looked closely at the acid level, it was completely filled...WAYYYY over the 'Maximum" line. I kicked myself for not checking the level BEFORE I installed the battery!
After draining off the excess acid into a container I could see that the battery had been overfilled by about 12 ounces!
I also replaced and re-routed the overflow tube to ensure any future battery spillover was being directed down to the road, not to the side.
Now everything is OK but I am still pissed that my pipe is spotted. I blame myself, not the kid at the bike shop counter. I should have known better!
Just a word to the wise...
Check your battery level AND overflow tube routing.

That sucks huh Dave? I did my own battery fill up and I got a battery from Napa for like 36 dollars. I didn,t have a charger then so I rode to a SEARS and they charged it for me for free. I have to check the liquid level in my 1000, since I havent seen it since January.

On the other hand, let me take this opportunity to warn people to check them regularly!

Discharge and re-charge causes the level to drop over time. It can drop significantly in less than a riding season....

Make sure to top it off, but as Dave points out, only to recommended levels...

and a little note from my self USE ONLY DISTILLED water to top off your battery! regular tap water has tooo many chemical additives that hurry sulfation of your battery cells. :blink:

and worse, on my right pipe, ruining the chrome in a half-dozen spots!

Welcome to the club.
That happened to me years ago, but it was within the 1st week of owning my B1!

Post edited by: mariozappa, at: 2007/06/11 11:56

I had a new battery put in and the guys who did it, did not put the little rubber plugs to seal it. Found out a week later and now have to use duck tape to keep it close till I can get a new one...

Self charge? Bwhahahaha strike two...

Bummer! I am sorry to hear about this! I, truthfully, would have trusted the person and would have never given it a second thought! Thanks for the info.

Now, I will check mine before placing my new battery in the bike.

man, that happened to an old suburban of my dads, it is not a pretty site, especially when it eats everything up. I'm sorry to hear about that!

I agree with wiredgeorge it will never self charge, you need to charge the battery at 1 tenth its amp hour rating till completely charged,before ever putting it into service or it will last about half it normal life even more critical on maint. free batterys, once you shock it ie. hittting the starter you will never get it to hold a charge above what the voltage was when you hit the button

By any chance is you system overcharging??? That will boil out the acid too.
Ride safe.

The Milkman wrote:

By any chance is you system overcharging??? That will boil out the acid too.
Ride safe.

No, it seems that the bike is charging fine. I thought about that too but I am sure that the overfill was the problem as it has been fine ever since.
I have purchased several batteries over the years, mostly for cars and in all cases I was told to fill the battery and it will self-charge either in a few hours or overnight. I have never had a battery NOT charge when I did as directed. This was the first time that the store actually filled the battery for me and the only time I've ever had a problem. As far as loss of battery capacity or lifespan, I still maintain my battery via a trickle charger occasionally, especially if I hadn't ridden for a week or if I plan a trip, but it usually only takes a few minutes to indicate 'full charge' on the display...so I know the battery is fine. Only time will tell.
Thanks everyone.