Pulled the battery out yesterday.

[Conrad]

So I pulled Connie's battery out yesterday just to check and make sure that the connections were clean. It's a good thing that I did. The negative terminal was a mess again. It had that powdery corrosion crap all over it and the bolt that holds battery cable to the battery terminal was showing some rust. I took it all apart and took a wire brush to everything that needed it. Once it was all cleaned up I applied some good quality contact cleaner/preservative and put her back together.

If this hasn't been done on your bike recently I would suggest you do it and make sure that your terminals are clean and tight.

Also for you guys who have your batteries installed backwards it's a good time to put em back in right. For those that don't know, the positive terminal should be facing out; some dealers installed the battery backwards during set-up. The plastic battery cover will be backwards too. It's much easier to get the battery back into its home when it's put in right.

FYI, no bolts were stripped in the process Brent!   

[VirginiaJim]

How old is the battery?

[Conrad]

It's the original battery.

[VirginiaJim]

I've always thought that when a battery starts that slow downhill slide to the graveyard that it can manifest by showing acid corrosion on the terminals.  Don't know if that is true or not.  I never saw corrosion on my OEM battery but I changed it after 3 years even though it started the bike fine.  I didn't want it going out on my on my trip out west in 2010.  The only thing I've seen on mine is loose terminals.

[Conrad]

The negative terminal was a mess the very first time I pulled the battery out of the bike to install the battery tender lead. The bike was less than a year old at that time. You're right though, it's getting pretty long in the tooth. I'll be keeping a close eye on it and I'll put a new battery in if it acts up at all. 

[martin_14]

well done, Conrad. I did that procedure for the first time last year in March after the winter, when I took the battery out for charging before the start of the season. That "battery contact grease" is really good. This year it showed no corrosion or sulfation whatsoever. I also have the OEM battery on my '08 bike and it still runs strong. After sitting in the bike, in the garage, for 3 months with temps going in the -17°C (0°F) I put it on the trickle charger and it showed the green lamp immediately. Almost no discharge. 

[stevewfl]

My battery is 2 years old, when i pull it out to check it I'm replacing it. Fl heat destroys them, not to mention my off roading in AZ and my riding around 112 in dallas last summer.

[Conrad]

well done, Conrad. I did that procedure for the first time last year in March after the winter, when I took the battery out for charging before the start of the season. That "battery contact grease" is really good. This year it showed no corrosion or sulfation whatsoever. I also have the OEM battery on my '08 bike and it still runs strong. After sitting in the bike, in the garage, for 3 months with temps going in the -17°C (0°F) I put it on the trickle charger and it showed the green lamp immediately. Almost no discharge. 

 

[MAN OF BLUES]

stock battery, purchased bike 7/07
how it looked 4/10, was fine 9/09.



cleaned it, and greased it, re-installed and it looked fine as of last fall....
IMHO the first year batt's were all questionable in the seal around the posts, as it was clear they were emitting gas in those areas to cause this.

Likely will replace it this coming spring.

[Conrad]

stock battery, purchased bike 7/07
how it looked 4/10, was fine 9/09.



cleaned it, and greased it, re-installed and it looked fine as of last fall....
IMHO the first year batt's were all questionable in the seal around the posts, as it was clear they were emitting gas in those areas to cause this.

Likely will replace it this coming spring.

My negative connections looked just about like this, not quite as bad though. The positive terminal and connectors were pristine.

[maxtog]

I've always thought that when a battery starts that slow downhill slide to the graveyard that it can manifest by showing acid corrosion on the terminals.  Don't know if that is true or not.  I never saw corrosion on my OEM battery but I changed it after 3 years even though it started the bike fine.  I didn't want it going out on my on my trip out west in 2010.  The only thing I've seen on mine is loose terminals.

I tend to think like you on this, too.  However, there are other factors that can probably affect things- like how often the bike is used/started, if a charger is used or not, how the bike is stored, ambient temperatures & humidity, etc.

[C14-Pilot]

Guys,

I had to replace the original battery in my 1999 Honda 300 fourtrax last week.
The battery was 13 years old.

later,
C14-Pilot

[Ga. Cycle Rider]

I did not leave my recently departed 2005 FJR's  battery in as long C-14 did in his fourtrax. But I did decide to take it out as a precautionary measure after 6 years and 19 days of use. I credit the constant use of the battery tender plus. Imagine how pissed I was when I was going through the motions to wire up the battery tender to the 14 and I had to drill out one of the bolts that covers the battery. I have never cussed a bike with only 400 miles on it like I did this one.

All of my vehicles have the battery tender lead on them. I simply rotate the charger from one to another all the time. never had a dead battery leave me looking for the jumper cables.

[maxtog]

I did not leave my recently departed 2005 FJR's  battery in as long C-14 did in his fourtrax. But I did decide to take it out as a precautionary measure after 6 years and 19 days of use. I credit the constant use of the battery tender plus.

A quality battery tender (charger) will, indeed, extend the life of lead-acid batteries significantly by preventing sulfation.

[JerBear]

It was 59 degrees today and this thread, along with the great weather, got me into doing some of this type of maintenance.  I'm glad I did it, the neg. terminal was really cruddy.  I took it all apart and cleaned it with baking soda and also cleaned under the ground where it is bolted to the frame a little gunky under there too

[Conrad]

It was 59 degrees today and this thread, along with the great weather, got me into doing some of this type of maintenance.  I'm glad I did it, the neg. terminal was really cruddy.  I took it all apart and cleaned it with baking soda and also cleaned under the ground where it is bolted to the frame a little gunky under there too

 

[MrFurious]

A quality battery tender (charger) will, indeed, extend the life of lead-acid batteries significantly by preventing sulfation.

Most definitely.  My last bike (2000 Road Star) was still going strong on the original OEM battery in it when I sold it last summer.  Attribute that to the fact that if I knew it was going to sit for more than 48 hours I plugged it into the tender. 

[Pokey]

Bought my 08 in July of 09, and I have pulled the battery 2 times to check on it. Both times everything was still tight, and had no crud on the terminals. I did of course snug up things before putting back, and I applied a dab of Belray waterproof grease to the negative post. I am a believer in the battery tenders for more than just keeping charged, they really help with extending the life too.

[Conrad]

I use a tender too Poke, still got the crap on the neg post.

[VirginiaJim]

I don't use a battery tender and I don't get crap on the terminals.