Topic: Remove battery while charging?

[scott_cb650]

My Clymer manual say to remove the battery while charging so it doesn't vent and cause corrosion to the surrounding parts.

Is this necessary?

I've had to charge my battery twice since it wasn't driven for a couple of weeks and I didn't notice any moisture around the battery.

Thanks,
Scott

[skamania19]

I've charged with the battery in and it didn't seem to hurt anything. That being said, if my current bike needed a charge I would remove the battery to do it just to be sure. It's not that difficult a procedure on most bikes and good insurance.

[eldar]

unless you have some unknown draw, You should not have to charge a battery after just a couple weeks. Now if it sits a couple months, then you may want to.

[Uncle Ernie]

I use a trickle charger like a Battery Tender on all my batteries in-bike. You need to check water levels more than you'd think, though. A tender won't boil the battery, but it will heat the fluid enough to cause evaperation. Clymer is talking about older style chargers that may boil the unit.

[Kelvin8]

I have a battery MAINTAINER for my bike. You can get a Black & Decker one at Wal-Mart for less than $18. Well worth it. It monitors the battery's charge and only charges when it drops below a certain level, never over charges.

[scott_cb650]

Thanks for the help.
I do have the old style charger and the battery does sound like it's boiling.

I don't know how hold this batter is (just bought bike in August).
It's an Interstate battery and I think it's getting worn out.

[TwoTired]

I think Uncle Ernie is on the right track.
There are hundreds of different chargers out there.  And, many don't know there are ones specific for a task and battery type.  The typical auto battery charger or tender should not be used unattended on an MC battery.  They put out charging currents that are too high for long duration charging/maintaining.  Has to do with the size.  It matters on batteries and chargers.  A trickle or tending charger suitable for a 600 amp car battery, is too high a charge rate, even in tending mode, for a 12 or 14 amp motorcycle battery.  A sure sign it is too high is if the battery is warm while the charger is in the "tend" state.  It can warm a bit while achieving the full charge without ill effects.  But, warming long term is not recommended.  Perhaps it would be okay in places that have temps below freezing, though.

The battery should certainly not be left to "boil" and any heating greatly accelerates electrolyte loss.  I'm guessing this is why the clymer asks to remove the battery from the bike.  They don't know if you have, nor do they specify, the proper charger.  And, an overcharged battery will vent gasses (hydrogen) and sulphuric acid vapors overboard.

The other issue may be that people top up a dead or low charged battery and then charge it to full strength.  This can make the battery overflow as the fluid volume increases during the charge.  The overflow would still be sulphuric acid.  A low or dead battery should only be filled enough to cover the plates and then topped off after full charge is achieved.

I gotta say I've been pretty happy with the Surecharge series of chargers/tenders I've had for a while.  And, the Yausa Smartshot I bought recently.  These don't heat the battery in "tend" mode and I've noticed no electrolyte loss while using them.
Cheers,

[Philly550K1]

, an overcharged battery will vent gasses (hydrogen) and sulphuric acid vapors overboard.

The other issue may be that people top up a dead or low charged battery and then charge it to full strength.  This can make the battery overflow as the fluid volume increases during the charge.  The overflow would still be sulphuric acid.  A low or dead battery should only be filled enough to cover the plates and then topped off after full charge is achieved.

yeah, that.  make sure you have a vent/overflow tube on the battery and that it points somewhere other than onto your bike....

[Chris Liston]

My brothers 05' V-Rod has the battery tender connector built in.  All you do is plug it into the tender push connection.  The battery remains in the bike.  No need to take it out.

Chris

[ProTeal55]

Those Battery Tender leads are put on at the dealership to help promote Battery Tender sales withtin the store , just an F.Y.I !

The Battery Tender trickle charger is the best thing you can get to help keep your battery happy. It keeps the bat at a full 12 volts , and if it is fully charged , switches to a "storage" mode , to maintain battery life.

After a ride , the first thing I do after i turn the bike off is plug in the tender to the bike. Then unplug before you go riding. Good habit to get into , basically elimanates the chance of a dead battery leaving you stranded somewhere....