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Message started by bill67 on 04/11/09 at 13:34:30

Title: Battery water level
Post by bill67 on 04/11/09 at 13:34:30

Is it my old eyes,even with glasses on I cant see the water level through that square hole where you see the battery,If I take it out I can see the level,Is there a trick to it I've tried a bright light doesn't help me.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by Oldfeller on 04/11/09 at 14:00:22

Does your battery have a milky white to partially clear plastic case? You can see the water level through the white plastic if you have one of these style cases.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by bill67 on 04/11/09 at 15:09:13

Yep its the stock battery milky white,I can shake the bike but i still can't see the water in there ,last year I took it out because I couldn't see in there and it was right up there were it was supposed to be.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by thumperclone on 04/11/09 at 15:54:42

reading with bike level??

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by bill67 on 04/11/09 at 16:47:05

Yep bike level,So you guys can see the water level.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/11/09 at 18:06:09

Water? Water? What Waaaater? My Big Crank needs No water.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by Jay on 04/11/09 at 19:33:59

Similar problem Bill. I almost have to look at mine from the cornerof my eye, sideways; then I can see the level. Definate PIA. Shining a brite light on the battery only made it worse. Gotta be a better way.
Yes, yes, I know. Big Crank. It's on my list.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/11/09 at 22:27:04

I almost have to look at mine from the corner of my eye,

Looking straight at things, over the years, exposes that part of the retina to enough light to damage it slightly.Just off to the side, away from the usually "Focused on spot", the retina is still sensitive. Looking into the night sky, faint stars will be seen just away from where I am looking. Then when I look AT that spot, the faint star disappears.

If I was having trouble seeing the level I would cut a piece of cardboard & hack a hole in it to go over the hole in the battery box & shine the light back behind the left sidecover. Using the cardboard to block the light from my eyes I think the level would be more easily seen. Or maybe put the light on the front of the battery & look behind the sidecover. But, by protecting the eyes from the direct light, the pupils wont be constricted & the contrast between the plastic case versus the case with the water in it should be easier to spot.
Thats the way Id go at it, I hope that helps.

ofcourseaBIG CRANKsolves this problem,,,, ;D

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by diamond jim on 04/12/09 at 09:27:03

Would adding a couple drops of blue food color dye hurt the electrolyte? It would certainly help you see it better.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by diamond jim on 04/12/09 at 09:27:48

Would adding a couple drops of blue or green food color dye hurt the electrolyte? It would certainly help you see it better.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by bill67 on 04/12/09 at 09:46:40

I thought about that too.I don't think it would hurt anything.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by PTRider on 04/12/09 at 10:35:47

Try to put a strong light in a place where it shines through the case, if possible. Or, remove the battery (I know, PITA) and shine a strong flashlight down each filler cap. Even if a colorant didn't harm the battery, it'd probably soon stain the white plastic case and you'd have no chance of seeing anything.

Maybe you can't see a level 'cuz they're low?

By the way, the battery electrolyte isn't water, it's dilute sulfuric acid. We add distilled water to replace the water (from the dilute acid) that evaporates away in service. The correct level of the electrolyte should be covering the lead plates and not high enough to bubble out and make a terrible mess and damage.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by Jay on 04/12/09 at 19:19:41

203F393E23241525152D3F33784A0 wrote:

I like this idea. A method of defusing the light around the battery, instead of steady at it, may be a step in the right direction. It wouldn't hurt to keep the reflection off of the shiney bits in that area anyway.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by verslagen1 on 04/13/09 at 21:15:11

you don't need a light you need a big crank

http://verslagen.savageriders.com/smiley/angry021.gif

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by SV og LS on 04/14/09 at 04:03:17

I don't think it's not that important if you can see the fluid level through the square hole or not. It's only one cell. I've noticed every cell has different fluid level anyway, one could be at halfway between min and max, another could be at minimum. It's not too much to remove the battery once or twice a year to clean it and the terminals and add distilled water if needed.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/14/09 at 07:32:13

Bill, I know dropping the $$ for a battery is not fun, but seriously, before the old one craps out & you NEED on so you can ride, depending on how old your battery is, maybe it would be a good idea to pull the battery, get all the cells right on water & see how it acts. Batteries can go from good to total crap without warning. So, since its riding time, maybe you would be smart to go ahead & order one? If the battery you are running is 2 or 3 years old I would sure consider it.
The guy who mentioned "Its only 1 cell you are seeing" is absolutely right. The one behind the cut out can be looking great & another could have the plates exposed.

Title: Re: Battery water level
Post by bill67 on 04/14/09 at 08:52:14

Well I decided to take the battery out,One reason it was hard to see it was because the water was at the upper level,so every thing is OK.