bike hit and battery question

MrDan · April 11, 2006, 04:58:16 PM

So a few weeks back, someone knocked my bike over at work. I store it there so it wasn't found until two days later. It was on a slight decline and there was a gas/oil puddle as well as the broken mirror/turn signal/scuffs. Nothing too major and the engineers actually stood it up before I got to work so that was nice.

My question is, what do I need to check before I fire her back up? I've been waiting since I also need a new battery. Reading about batteries here, I'm confused. Is it possible to get a sealed (like a car) battery that does not need water/acid/electrolytes added to it? And if so, where. Or is the process soooo simple that even I could do it and I should just suck it up and get the Everstart at walmart?

Oh - and if anyone's in the Northern VA area and wants give me a hand getting her ready to ride, that would be cool too.

Dan

melloGS · April 11, 2006, 08:52:27 PM

I got a battery with a 6 month warranty for 29.99 at a dealership today...ready to go...

badguy · April 12, 2006, 05:08:04 AM

Quote from: MrDan on April 11, 2006, 04:58:16 PM
Oh - and if anyone's in the Northern VA area and wants give me a hand getting her ready to ride, that would be cool too.

Depending on what kind of help you need, I can try to give you a hand. I'm in MD, but NoVa isn't much of a drive.

However, I should warn you that I'm new at this, so you might prefer someone with a little more experience. But if nobody else responds, let me know what I could do.

Good luck

MarkusN · April 12, 2006, 05:15:24 AM

Apparently the charge regulator in a GS may fry a sealed battery (charging it at too high a voltage causing it to overcharge and gas out).

Check oil level before starting her up. And check for corrosion damage due to battery acid and thoroughly wash the affected areas.

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 07:39:06 AM

Markus - Ii'm pretty sure I'm not leaking battery acid since it's been dead for months .. but I'll check it anyway.

Mello - When I called the local dealer (Coleman) it was $100 and I'd have to install it.

Badguy - thanks, I'm really just looking for someone to give the bike a quick once over and see what (if anything), I'm missing ...

MarkusN · April 12, 2006, 08:01:48 AM

Quote from: MrDan on April 12, 2006, 07:39:06 AM
Markus - Ii'm pretty sure I'm not leaking battery acid since it's been dead for months .. but I'll check it anyway.

A dead battery does not make the acid content go "poof". If she's been lying on the right side you can be pretty sure that there was an acid spill.

3imo · April 12, 2006, 08:28:09 AM

MArkusN is on the money.
that batt acid really sux.

Otherwise. I wouldn't worry about the bike too much. check the oil level and check if there is gas in the oil.
(evident usually by a higher oil reading than normal)

otherwise, start that baby up. I wouldn't wait for a new batt. Jumpstart her off your car and lett her run a bit.
watch the temps, if you don't ride her around.

also when you get her started you will have to leave the dead batt. in the bike for two reasons. one she'll run like SHIITE and two the pos connection will probly short.

jumpstart her and take her for a spin. It'll be good for the engine.

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 09:29:40 AM

I actually tried to jump her last week and was unable to. I'll try again today now that it's not in the 40s.

I'm confused about the battery. If I'm reading other posts correctly, the Everstart only fits if it's on it's side. How is that different than the bike being on it's side for 2 days?

I'll go try jumping and see what happens.

Thanks.
Dan

3imo · April 12, 2006, 09:47:15 AM

I amsure he meant a sealed batt.

the stock batt and most replacements are not maintenence free. they leak.

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 09:52:53 AM

Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 09:47:15 AM
I amsure he meant a sealed batt.

the stock batt and most replacements are not maintenence free. they leak.

See that's where I'm confused. I went to look at the sealed everstart battery that's been referenced all over the place. I grabbed it and as I'm walking to check out, I pop open the box ... to find that the "sealed" battery requires stuff to be added to it. I cannot find a "sealed" battery anywhere that fits our bike and that nothing needs to be added to. Am I just stupid? (I know you'll give me a straight answer on that one 3imo haha)

3imo · April 12, 2006, 09:57:43 AM

stupid is as stupid does. - Gump

a sealed batt. could still need the acid added upon purchase, I think. I am gonna run to Advanceauto and ask real quik.

I thought sealed meant you din't have to worry about a vent.

did the one you mentioned have a little vent thingy?

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 10:02:32 AM

Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 09:57:43 AM
stupid is as stupid does. - Gump

a sealed batt. could still need the acid added upon purchase, I think. I am gonna run to Advanceauto and ask real quik.

I thought sealed meant you din't have to worry about a vent.

did the one you mentioned have a little vent thingy?

no vent - just acid ... guess sealed is a misnomer ...

3imo · April 12, 2006, 12:03:03 PM

Quote from: MrDan on April 12, 2006, 10:02:32 AM
Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 09:57:43 AM
stupid is as stupid does. - Gump

a sealed batt. could still need the acid added upon purchase, I think. I am gonna run to Advanceauto and ask real quik.

I thought sealed meant you din't have to worry about a vent.

did the one you mentioned have a little vent thingy?

no vent - just acid ... guess sealed is a misnomer ...

yup i was right. some sealed batteries have the screw/holes but are considered sealed/maintenence free.

Per - ADVANCE AUTO.

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 12:10:07 PM

Thanks for clearing that up

Good news is that I tried to give it a jump and it almost turned over ... so my expert conclusion is that it's just a battery issue. Off to walmart tonight and hopefully riding this weekend!!!

3imo · April 12, 2006, 12:22:31 PM

almost turned over?

what'd you try with? if a fresh car batt can't turn over your engine, you got bigger issues my freind.

if you tried a car batt, the engine may be hydrolocked with fuel, although I doubt it, seeing as the bike has been uprite for so long after the fall.

please explain.

badguy · April 12, 2006, 12:28:53 PM

MrDan,

Since you're looking for someone to look it over, I probably wouldn't be the best person to help with that (you probably know as much if not more than I do about the bike).

Good luck, it sounds like you got it figured out anyway.

Mike

MrDan · April 12, 2006, 12:58:48 PM

Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 12:22:31 PM
almost turned over?

what'd you try with? if a fresh car batt can't turn over your engine, you got bigger issues my freind.

if you tried a car batt, the engine may be hydrolocked with fuel, although I doubt it, seeing as the bike has been uprite for so long after the fall.

please explain.

ok ... i just went out and tried using my financee's car (my car battery is actually on it's last legs too). using her car, I had slightly better results. it started to turn over twice and i was so excited i took my thumb of the starter (ugh). i think i just need to try again later when i have some more time. it was nice to hear the engine run for a split second though ... beautiful sound

as for bigger problems, i'm worried that the carbs may have issues but dont really know how to check that. would that have a similar result? or were you thinking something else?

i thought about hydrolocking, but i havent ridden it more than a mile since i last filled it up.

any other suggestions?

Egaeus · April 12, 2006, 05:34:06 PM

Quote from: MrDan on April 12, 2006, 12:58:48 PM
i thought about hydrolocking, but i havent ridden it more than a mile since i last filled it up.

any other suggestions?

I think you're confusing hydrolocking with vapor lock. Hydrolock is when a cylinder fills up with a fluid (gas or oil). It's possible considering that it sat on its side for 2 days. You won't be able to turn it over (it won't crank), and it can very possibly damage your engine.

3imo · April 13, 2006, 06:54:34 AM

what I don't understand is why you would go through the trouble of setting your bike up for a jumpstart and only turn it over twice.

did you crank her twice and she started up twice? or do you mean it only turned two revolutions?

if so, what is stopping you from crankin her up and letting her run for a minute or ten?
It can't hurt the bike, unless your not telling us something.

just morbid curiosity I guess, or I just misunderstood your post.

MrDan · April 13, 2006, 07:43:43 AM

Ok. When I pressed the starter button it started cranking away. Two different times, after it was cranking for 20-30 seconds, it turned over for a brief second and then returned to just cranking. I tried it about 15 different times over 15 minutes and it only happened twice. I had the petcock on reserve/prime/on and the choke on/off/halfway and the various combinations .. it didn't seem to matter.

She never actually started for more than a second or two. I don't know if I got excited and let go of the starter or something, but as soon as it started to run, it stopped. Does that make sense?

Egaeus - I do get those two confused. Would I still have to worry about either if the bike was on it's side for two days and has been upright for 6 weeks since then?

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bike hit and battery question