SuzukiSavage.com - Battery+checks for beginner

Savage_Rob

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #15 - 08/27/07 at 14:00:54

skatnbnc wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

Um, sorry but the answer is YES, and Savage Rob is being a little sarcastic there. Wink

Step-by-step is on the Tech Section.

I wasn't being sarcastic at all. I tried to picture the battery box in my head and thought about removing the top - not a big deal... Unfortunately, after that the mental picture went somewhere into the realm of inspection mirrors and turkey basters and I decided it was far easier to remove the battery.

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Battery+checks for beginner Reply #16 - 08/27/07 at 16:24:17 Thanks guys......now just please tell me where it is in the tech forum......can't find it Pictures always help... since the owners manual has bad pics to say the least! Cant even tell which side or end of the motorcycle the item is on in their pics
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #17 - 08/27/07 at 18:53:29

I did a quick look and came up only with other threads like how to change cylinder head cap plug. Not battery removal...or battery change....hmmmmmm

Well, here you go:
Battery Removal procedure:
1) remove tool kit cover.
2) remove tools.
3) remove seat (10 mm bolts, 2, one each side). Lift up back and slide seat to the rear.
3) remove three screws on tool compartment plate covering battery, one on top, two holding latch catch. Make note of how latch is mounted!!!!
4) Disconnect negative terminal from battery. Keep connector away from battery terminal!!! (tape? ? ?)
5) Disconnect positive terminal. Keep connector away from battery terminal!!!
6) Push battery out. My 01' is easy from the opening in left (shifter) side.

For acid (water) level filling on non-sealed batteries:
7) Clean up any corrosion on terminals with mixture of Baking Soda & water. (yep....good old Arm&Hammer).
8 ) open each cell and top off level. Use either battery acid (auto store) or distilled water. Dry off any over flow. Avoid using Tap water as it has minerals and may shorten battery life.
9) optional: go to AutoZone (or local auto retail store) and pick up some anti corrosion spray, coat terminals as recommended on product.

Re-install:
reverse 6 thru 1.......

Your done.. Go ride!!!!

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #18 - 08/27/07 at 19:24:04

T-Mack1.....you are so nice, thank you,

I just got back in from removing the battery....then I read your post....and I thought,hmmm,steps there I don't remember doing

But I got it out ok....and I'll use your notes to put it back in tomorrow, I can use them I'm sure as I was out in the semi dark doing all this

The battery is a (which I was very curious about the type it was,since it was in there so tight couldnt see)but...

it is a ..Yuasa super sealed high performance battery.....No where to put water....maintenance free,I think!?

So, I'll take it tomorrow and see about getting it charged?! I guess that's my next step since I tried again today to start it and it appeared dead.

Couldnt see the terminals good to see if any corrosion...at any point....got dark so will check tomorrow.

One question....do these type batterys go dead also, unless they're old?

I thought I had read on this site somewhere that these dont give you any problems ?! Maybe another kind,not sure.

You know I never had a problem with it until I dropped my bike....could just be coincidence though.

Thanks again!!

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #19 - 08/27/07 at 19:35:15

T-Mack1:

I'm glad youre very good directions are posted though...I'm going to keep them until I'm sure I have it down pat....I mean how often do you remove the battery?! I hope not often

and its nice to have them here if any other new/beginner needs them!

Also....one more question,anyone,...do you have to remove the battery to charge it? I'm thinking if you have a charger at home...then no.

And what is the best type of charger for MC's?I'm sure I'll get one soon,so need to know.

Might as well have everything about battery's on this one topic here .... "maybe" put it in the tech section for newbies

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SavageWahine

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #20 - 08/27/07 at 19:42:47

FreeSpirit wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

T-Mack1:

I'm glad youre very good directions are posted though...I'm going to keep them until I'm sure I have it down pat....I mean how often do you remove the battery?! I hope not often

and its nice to have them here if any other new/beginner needs them!

Also....one more question,anyone,...do you have to remove the battery to charge it? I'm thinking if you have a charger at home...then no.

And what is the best type of charger for MC's?I'm sure I'll get one soon,so need to know.

Might as well have everything about battery's on this one topic here .... "maybe" put it in the tech section for newbies

If a battery is good, then there is no need to have a charger, cause the alternator on the bike is supposed to charge your battery while you are riding.
I would take the battery to a dealer and have them check it to see if it is dead. If it is they might be willing to charge it for you. If after riding around for a while, and your battery dies again, it's either a bad battery or your alternator is not working.

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #21 - 08/27/07 at 20:44:58

SavageWahine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

If a battery is good, then there is no need to have a charger, cause the alternator on the bike is supposed to charge your battery while you are riding.
I would take the battery to a dealer and have them check it to see if it is dead. If it is they might be willing to charge it for you. If after riding around for a while, and your battery dies again, it's either a bad battery or your alternator is not working.

Thanks,but...I do think its a good idea for anyone to have a charger. What if you forgot to turn off the key,etc....and let your battery drain?

You would need to charge it or sit home one

Also I dont know about charging batterys(and the type I have) for MC's....can you charge them quickly or need to charge them slowly...

My battery says charge at 1.2amps at 5-10 hrs.....dont think I could leave it with a dealer for that long

If that's my only option on charging.

BTW,I did a search on my particular battery and it is for the/fits the Suz Savage & the right year also....that was good news!

I heard there are some battery experts here. Maybe they will give us some more info

Or don't have to be a expert!

Since the post was started ,has some good info already and I had such a hard time finding info on battery's...I hope all good info gets put here and its not dropped before someone answers these last questions.
Would sure make it easy for someone else to find the answers.In one place

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FreeSpirit

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #22 - 08/27/07 at 21:33:48

Thought of this a while ago.....Is there anything I could have knocked loose or bent or anything ,when I dropped my bike that would interfere with it starting?

Anything at all? I'm just wondering why my savage started so darn good,dropped the bike hard,and now having starting problems.Coincidence maybe but it makes me wonder....

Especially knowing now that I have a good type of battery!

Other question though is....is there anyway to tell how old your battery is? Stock Date or something? I don't know when it was put in. Was in when I bought it.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Battery+checks for beginner Reply #23 - 08/27/07 at 22:53:27 Well, Yea,, dropping it might do something to whether it starts. Check spark, check to see if fuel is in the bowl( crack that little screw sticking in the pointy down doohickey at the bottom of the carb,, uh huhh, high tech!! ) Make sure the plug wire is on the plug. Fuel, air, compression, spark,, = putt, putt.
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FreeSpirit

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #24 - 08/27/07 at 23:26:34

Thanks Justin,

Youre going to make a MC mechanic out of me yet

Hang on though and let me get my only help..owners(almost worthless)manual

Ok,the basics:

fuel-I understand,air-I dont ,compression-I dont ,spark-I understand.

Air....only thing I know is the air filter...am I close?
Compression....dont have a clue.

But would be a good start to understand those! You have answers?

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Battery+checks for beginner Reply #25 - 08/28/07 at 05:11:09 There are a lot of different battery chargers out there. I can say that I've been very pleased with my Battery Tender Jr.
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #26 - 08/28/07 at 10:49:05

Batteries do go bad, nothing is perfect. The sealed units do last longer than the non-sealed (vented) types only because they do better at keeping the water in.

Batteries normally go bad from two main reasons, the lead plates inside get too much oxide build up (old age)or the bottom gets a build up of sediment that is the results of the chemical reaction that happens during charging. (my grandfather use to work at an Exide plant around here).

If the battery is not new than dropping the bike could have shifted the sediment, causing a cell to "short" out and you would get weaker or no Amp's to start the bike.

Charigng your battery,..... here's where the sealed units have to charge slower. When you charge a battery, the acid/water boils a little. The bigger the charger (amps) the more it boils. Remember your science classes in school, when things boil the expand, so the vented batteries do better to relieve this pressure from expansion. The sealed units do have pressure relieve valves, but.... if you try and charge it too fast and it could turn into a balloon, than pop.....actually a hiss than...blah...a mess

I use a 1 amp trickle charger over night. A Battery tender sold at cycle shops work better becuase they monitor the chagre level and do not over charge ( They also are tricke chargers).

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allan

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Re: Battery+checks for beginner
Reply #27 - 08/28/07 at 11:31:38

just my 2 cent's

wear eye protection (especially a newbie)

do not smoke around batteries.

get a battery tender and fit the pig tails permantly to the battery then when its laid up you can connect your tender and charge away, lay the wires under your seat,

on an upward note glad to see you girls looking after each other

allan.

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Starlifter Serious Thumper Offline It only snows seven months of the year here. Posts: 3746 Eastern Michigan Gender:	Re: Battery+checks for beginner Reply #28 - 08/28/07 at 11:45:13 For the eventiual battery replacement I have been considering the "Big Crank". Did someone say that the battery bay needs a modification for the crank to fit? If so what is it?
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Battery+checks for beginner Reply #29 - 08/28/07 at 13:26:34 I think there's a Big Crank that fits without mods. I had to mod a bit to fit the Odyssey.
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