Walmart Sealed Battery Install Report

[tmckay]

Battery died, jumped the bike for 2 days and got the Walmart battery.  Thanks Sriinath!  (I think the number is ES12BS, Pablo has it on his site)

One install tip that worked for me.  The battery has some freedom to move when it is mounted in on its side.  Rather than use cardboard pieces to take up the empty space, I used the overflow tube from the old battery since it is not needed with the sealed one.  It's one or two feet long, and it pulls out from the bike easily.  If you coil it and slip it in between the battery and the box it snugs it all up nicely.

Trev

[pantablo]

Good tip.

My battery is not original (don't know where PO bought it) but its a sealed type too. Mine moves around as well-I used an old motorcycle glove shoved in there to pin battery in place. No more movement anymore.

[tmckay]

Hmmm, I have a question after the fact.

If the battery cells are not filled completely (they're not, there is some air in there after it is prepped) does having it mounted on its side cause problems?  There are plates that need to be completely covered, right?  Does turning it sideways expose the plates?  Now any air space is running along the longer axis of the cell, instead of across the "top".

Seems to be running fine, just thought I would ask.  Srinath seems to usually  think out implications so my guess is it's fine.

Trev

[The Buddha]

Well Srinath does not think too much...He watches and copies very well and mods it to suit. However the same type battery we have is used by Ducati in the new 998/999 and its on its side as well so I guess its OK. Well if you want me to think...The battery has a absorbant mat thing in it and tht mat is stuffed between the plates. The mat and plates need to have maximum contact for material exchange. Due to gravity there will be more contact if on the side than it its right side up...So sideways is better...Ha ha how's that...ouch my head hurts...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Blueknyt]

sure its not a Jell-Cell battery?

[Toenis]

Is that true that gel-type/sealed batteryes are slightly stronger? For example regular GS battery is 12v 11Ah and Gel type can be like 12v 9Ah... and it still can pull starter quite well?
Or am I missing something here?

[The Buddha]

Those gel batteries are the ones used in those scooters and those motorized skateboards.....Those have a discharge limitation. They will only let out 3-5 amps of current at a time...not the 150-200 we need when we hit the starter...The batteries for bikes are either fibermat or similar technology. That is as far as I know...they are also electronically controlled in some cases. They will charge fast or slow and discharge fast, but they wont discharge very slowly...Rumour I heard I am not sure about it. But they do last a lot longer when left un attended. After 1 year of sitting in storage across the country my GS started up in 8-10 tries...with 1 year old gas and a battery that was never charged. So I guess those batteries are better. The GS system BTW asks for a 10 amp battery which is in reality a 11 amp, and the system puts out 12 amps cos its the same as a Katana 6 which has a 12. Those stoopid suzuki engineers were too lazy to design a battery box that will take the $19 walmart battery.
Cool.
Srinath.

[tmckay]

Well Srinath does not think too much...<snip>...So sideways is better...Ha ha how's that...ouch my head hurts...
Cool.
Srinath.

Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice

Your cite of the Ducati is reassurance enough, thanks.  Is that what you meant by "he watches and copies very well"?

Trev

[The Buddha]

Well I didn't exactly copy ducati...I saw the R-6's battery nearly lying on its back and asked the mechanic about it...( there is a very short list of mechanics I believe ) and he said they can be even upside down. So I got me a battery that was dead and left it upside down for a few weeks in a trough. It never spilled anything. Then I went back and swiped all the old batteries they had in the back. After re charging them a few were alive. I said great and started putting them sideways or any way they fit in my bikes. This was after I modded my battery box to fit a sealed one length wise...I highly recomend against it...To get the battery out the tank has to come off...Bad idea. Then betteries going side ways have appeared on many bikes like the Duc etc...which caught my eye later. Now for all my bikes I only have 2 batteries...The silly virago is the only one that takes a different battery. The rest all have the ES12BS walmart issue. Generic is the name of the game...
Cool.
Srinath.

[makenzie71]

though an old thread, I'd like to know what wal-mart sold sealed motorcycle batteries?  I've never seen such an animal.

[ducati_nolan]

I saw them last time I was there, I forget if they call them sealed or gell cell bateries. A true sealed batt is ready to go when you buy it. The ones sold at walll mart don't have the acid in them yet, you add it like a regular batt except that once it's in there it turns to gell and can't come out. Apparently they work pretty well, I plan on getting one once mine dies. 

[The Buddha]

Its the acid soaked fiber mat battery. They have em.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Cannon Fodder]

I have read numerous mentions of the Wallyworld battery, but I have never come across a picture of how your stating to mount it.  Anyone have a pic?

[jacob_ns]

Resurrecting an old ass post.

I just bought the Walmart ES12BS battery and also would also like a photo of how it's installed in your bikes.

Also, when I added the electrolyte, a moderate amount overflowed from what I assume was too much flow into the battery even when using the funnels provided. Will this negatively impact the battery?

[The Buddha]

Sideways with the negative terminal down ... route the negative line to come through the bottom of the battery box in front if I recall. Cover the positive with some rubber or the original protective red thing. It needs to stay away from the frame ... and when you accelerate it can rock and make contact with the frame. I've in the past run weather stripping around the battery inside the battery box to take up some of the slop.
Cool.
Buddha.