Battery life? and other questions

[JunaryBunch]

My bike won't start - checked the levels on the battery - added distilled water and nothing happens.  Light and dash lights seem dim.  So I think the battery is almost dead.  BUT how do you determine if the battery is "dead" or if you just need a charge?

Separate issue / question.  Between the carburetor housing there is a hose that I'm not familiar with.  I can't seem to find it in Clymer.  My question is if there is a hose between the carburetors that does NOT plug into anything?  Is this just an air intake hose or something?

If it does go somewhere, where?

Also, just to make sure - underneath the gas tank there is a screw to stop the flow of gas when you remove the tank.  Do I need to turn it back to the "on" position or do I turn it until it doesn't go any further (which is past the "on" indicator?  And will this cause a fuel starvation problem if I leave it at the "on" position?

thanks

[Hugh Jardon]

Gee, I guess you don't own a crappy little voltmeter, do you? They DO come in handy, as you can tell.

If the battery is too weak to blow the horn, it's too weak to turn the engine over. Try to charge it (especially since you've already added fluid to it); what do you have to lose? If it takes and holds a charge, you're back on the road.

If not, then you know you've given it your best shot, and you'll have to break down and buy a new battery. Do NOT let the stealership  sell you a battery that is "already charged, and ready to install", since someone else probably rejected it, and DON'T buy one that will be "ready in one hour". Motorcycle batteries are small, but stealerships charge them with AUTOMOTIVE chargers, which can damage the battery internally, including overheating it, and buckling the internal plates.

Any battery that has just come off a charger should be warm to the touch, but NOT hot; if the battery is hot, that indicates that the electrolyte has been BOILING OFF while the battery was charging, and I wouldn't trust it. A GOOD shop will trickle-charge the new, fresh battery, which will take a few hours. Just be patient; go home and take a nap, and go back when the thing is ready. They should have a setting on their charger specifically for motorcycle batteries, but some dealers are too cheap to buy those.

The dealer doesn't really care if the battery fails from being overcharged; they'll just replace it under warranty, but YOU'LL be the one stuck with the towing bill and other expenses when the gaffed-up battery strands you in the middle of nowhere.

Check this link:

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/assets/schematics/Suzuki/SU0083_039.gif

Number 9 there is the fuel petcock under the tank; you can see the screwhead turned to the VERTICAL position, which is what allows the gas to flow from the tank to the carbs. Check yours, and see what position the screwhead is in.

Lastly, I'm not sure which hose you're referring to, but:

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/assets/schematics/Suzuki/SU0083_013.gif

http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/www_gs500_de_HoseRouting.jpg

Good luck; hope this information helps you.

[The Antibody]

Dealers DO care if they ruin a battery, returning stuff for credit is a huge pain in the ass. Otherwize Hugh is right on the money.

 -Anti