starting causes bad cell

I was recently given an 1985 xj700 and had it running after changing the battery to a new one and thoroughly cleaning the carbs, but after i installed the air filter and battery boxes and rehooked up the battery this happened.
I turned on the ignition and all the lights came on, then I hit start I heard a click and then all power shutoff. no lights. nothing. I checked the fuses they were all good. so I tested the battery the result bad cell. so i thought it was the battery. I got a new battery and tried it again with the same result.
I have since gotten a new battery but am afraid to try it again becausee i dont think the shop will give me another free battery. I noticed that I had one of the bolts to the starter motor not in all the way and have fixed that problem. I dont think that would cause it but I dont know.
So my main questions are, what might be causing the bad cell and are there any ways to test for what it is without destroying another battery?

 

Welcome, geedan.

There's pretty much no way that your bike could cause a dead cell in the battery, unless the starter was causing a short, and you held the button for a long, long time, while pounding the battery with a sledge hammer and tugging on the wires... But then, you would have probably let the genie out...

My vote goes to two bad batteries in a row... I bet they're from the same batch. If the third one fails, try another brand.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

geedan06,

stereomind is dead on. Must be 2 bad batteries from the same batch.

 

did you charge the batteries first or just put acid in them ?
how did you determine it had a dead cell ?
a battery with one dead cell should light the lights at least a little and crank the engine slowly

 

The batteries are sealed AGM and come fully charged. After the first battery failed i charged it overnight and when i put it in the bike the lights barely came on and not enough power to turn engine, just clicking from starter relay. The voltage tested above 12V and said bad cell. it also would not pass a load test. I tried the same with the second battery and the only difference was that after overnight charging there was not enough power to turn lights on or anything.
I had the battery store load test the newest one before i took it home I guess ill try that battery tomorrow since its raining like crazy right now, and if it fails maybe ill get a better brand. Ive got my fingers crossed.

 

With what type of charger, and at what capacities are you charging the battery? Better yet, how is whoever is selling you the batteries charging them?

AGM batteries do not just come sealed and charged. Someone has to charge(as in install)the electrolyte which then becomes AGM, and that same person still has to properly charge that battery with a battery charger or it can be destroyed before you even use it.

 

Yeah I vote inept retailer.

 

something's wrong somewhere, i'd say just get a lead acid battery and go ride
if your going to store it for the winter, don't put acid in it till spring, then go ride
is the dealer going to give you another battery in 2 or 3 months if the next one craps out ?
let someone else experiment on that guys batteries

 

You guys were all right. I guess it was just two bad batteries. Thanks everybody for the confidence I needed that it was the batteries and not the bike. Third battery started the bike right up, and if that one gives me problems i'm switching manufacturers. Im stoked i can ride again.