Battery question

Hi folks,

I've got a question that shows my mechanical ignorance.

On the picture I've attached, is the area I circled supposed to be where the breather tube goes? There was no breather tube on my battery when I pulled it out today. I also didn't see the breather tube anywhere around the battery.

Thanks,
mik,eg

 

Could it be a maintenance free battery which are filled with a thick gel rather than acid/distilled water? (Sometimes called "Dryfit")
This type of battery does not have a breather pipe.

 

That's not a maintenance free battery. Maintenance free doesn't use a level sensor.

The breather tube goes on that nipple. Routing of the tube isn't critical, you just need to get the end at the bottom of the motorcycle where it can't drip acid on anything. You do need to make sure it doesn't get pinched or into anything that moves (swingarm pivot) or gets hot. Or, you can look in your service manual.

 

Thanks for the input guys.

It's definitely not a maintenance free battery, the fluid level does move when I tip it.

Does it require a special type of tube, and where should I get one? I don't see any on Chacal's forum.

thanks,
mikeg

 

You should be able to pick some up at your local hardware store. It was just a clear plastic tube about 14" long should do it.

MN

 

By the looks of the acid level, it is low. Use distilled water or like I do, use the water from my dehumidifier. Any hose will do as long as it reaches below the bike.
Don't forget to trickle charge it during the winter months.

 

A Hardware Store will have Vinyl Hose to fit that, on a reel, in the Plumbing Section.

Windshield Washer Hose will do the trick, too.

Attach the Hose to the Battery.
Affix a piece of Duct Tape over the Hose, on the Battery, to keep the Hose in-place ... at the Battery end.

 

looks like the nipple on the battery is missing too, where the tubing is supposed to attach to, can't see to well from the pic, if that's the case you may need to invest in a new battery unless someone knows how to connect the tubing without a nipple

 

UNDERSTATEMENT of the week! You definitely need to get the cells topped up before you worry about too much else.

Since we're on the subject, I find that the heat of summer and a lot of high-rpm cruising will take its toll on the fluid level in your battery more quickly than you might think. I strongly recommend checking it weekly if you ride the bike regularly.

 

Get a Plastic Hose -- "Union" ... (Splice)
Cut the 'Bubble Flare' off the end with a Razor Blade.
Insert the Union into the where the Nipple is broken off the Battery.
(You may have to widen the Hold with a Twist Drill)

Either: PVC Joining Cement ... or, Epoxy Resin

 

I thought it looked like half the cells were really low too, but didn't want to trust the picture.

If they really are that low it's probably junk anyhow. A new battery should come with the hose.

 

If you are thinking about keeping a charger on your battery over the winter months. Buy yourself a "battery tender" it will only carge when it needs to and some will actually run the battery down alittle and chage it back up to work the cells so they don't go bad.
Standard battery chargers could boil the water out even at 1 or 2 amp settings if left long enough. Boil the battery dry and just plan on buying a new one.

MN