Posted by Hogryder on November 03, 2001 at 04:04:00:
In Reply to: newbie posted by bryan on November 02, 2001 at 16:53:27:
John is right, sounds like the battery is weak. If you have been riding it fairly regularly, it probably has at least one cell low in fluid. Pull the battery out and check. Fill with DISTILLED water and put on a charger. If the level is OK, clean the terminals and check the wires for corrosion. If it's in good shape but still won't hold a charge, get your generator/alternator/voltage regulator checked. Also check to see if there is a "salt bridge" across the plates in one of the cells. These can form when one of the cells is very low in acid and lead sulfate drops out of solution. If you have powder or crystals in the bottom of the battery, you might as well replace it. They can be brought back to life by using a thin plastic rod (NO METAL) to break up the salt bridges and refilling with fresh sulfuric acid, but the battery will only last a few months. If you are really broke, you can drain out all the old acid, flush the battery with clean water, dissolve the oxides and sulfates with muratic acid (available at hardware stores), flush with distilled water, then re-fill with 10% sulfuric acid. Lots of work and you have to be very careful but you can have a brand new battery for just a few dollars. If all you can find is concentrated sulfuric acid, SLOWLY add 1 part concentrated acid to 9 parts distilled water. DO NOT ADD WATER TO ACID!!! The reaction gives off lots of heat and if you add water to acid it will flash to steam and blow hot sulfuric acid all over your face. Not a pretty sight.
With proper care, a battery will last for a long time. I just replaced the battery in my HD. It was the original battery and had been in use since May 1990. By the way, I know how to renew a battery, I have everything I need to do it so it wouldn't cost me a cent, I have done it before, and I still plunked down $50 for a new one. Just too much hassle.
Keep on ridin'.