QuestionChris,
I have an 82 CB900F that has been hybernating in my parents garage for about a year. I tried to recharge the battery and it didn't work, so I ordered a new one from BikeBandit.com. The battery came in a box that warned the user to carefully follow the enclosed instructions, but there were no instructions enclosed. So, like an idiot, I just started charging the battery with my trickle charge, without even putting water in it. It wasn't until I put it in the bike that I realized what I had done. Then I put distilled water in the battery and tried again. I charged it for 15 hours with a 1amp charger and it was good enought o turn on the lights, but not strong enought to turn over the motor at all. Did I destroy the battery? Is there something else I ought have done other than put water in battery? If I did ruin the battery, should I shell out for a sealed battery?
note: I'm pretty sure that the starter isn't the problem. I tried to push start the bike, which I think would have worked if the battery had enough juice.
Thank you,
Paul
AnswerHi Paul.
This is why I do not order batteries online. They cannot ship the most important part; the battery acid (hazardous material). Yes, you ginched the battery. You should also contact the merchant that sold you the battery and tell them that you got a battery with no preparation instructions, which is what you should have done before you tried to charge it. You can bother with a sealed battery or just get another, regular maintainable type battery, locally.
I recommend that you find a local shop and get a Yuasa battery for your bike. Yuasa is, imho, the best bike battery out there and the shop will put the correct amount of acid in each cell. Take it home and sit it on a charger, or put it in the bike and start it up. Charging it up is recommended, but I have taken them straight from the shop and put them in the bike and they have run just fine for me.
Let me know how it goes for you.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON
