Battery fluid levels

[Boston500F]

Hi,

I have an 04 with original battery.

I just received a Battery Tender Jr. (for Christmas) and it took about a day to fully charge up. It's in "float" mode now.

Some sections in the battery seem like they are below the minimum fill line (I use the word "seem" because it's very hard to tell, can't see clearly through the white plastic battery wall).

I don't know if I need to have the sections leveled off, or if we have a sealed battery, or if it's fine...

I haven't had any problems, I just noticed because the bike is hibernating, and I have the battery out.

Please advise. Thanks!

[Kerry]

Well, IF you have a sealed battery there's not much you can do about it.  How can you tell?  A sealed battery won't have plugs like you see in this picture (mine are yellow):



If your battery does have removable plugs, I would add water to each cell until the level is between the Min and Max fill lines.  For info on the kind of water to use (distilled) and one type of "dispenser"  bottle, see the two sets of photos in [this old thread].

PS - I agree about it being hard to tell where the fill level is.  Sometimes it helps to shine a light through the battery or even directly down the uplugged hole for a given cell.  Since you have the battery out of the bike, the most reliable method may be to hold the battery in front of you and tilt it slightly -- forward and back, forward and back.  You should be able to detect the fill line by seeing it move.

[Boston500F]

Nice pic,

I do not see plugs. There is a black plastic strip which runs across the battery instead of plugs. I suppose I could attempt to pop that strip open, possibly gaining access to the six cells.

However, my better judgment tells me not to. I will assume the battery is sealed, unless anyone else has experience with this set-up.

I can snap a picture and e-mail it (don't know how to post pics) but I'd imagine the '04 and up owners have a visual of what I'm talking about..?..

Thanks!

[gs500f-gaz]

i have that set up but i had no probs with battery so never had to look at it properly. ill try find out for you but im not sure.

[sledge]

I have seen plenty of batteries with the cell-caps moulded into a plastic strip that lifts off but thats no guarantee. Any make or type number on the battery itself that you could cross-reference in an attempt to find out if its sealed?

[simon79]

Nice pic,

I do not see plugs. There is a black plastic strip which runs across the battery instead of plugs. I suppose I could attempt to pop that strip open, possibly gaining access to the six cells.

However, my better judgment tells me not to. I will assume the battery is sealed, unless anyone else has experience with this set-up.

I can snap a picture and e-mail it (don't know how to post pics) but I'd imagine the '04 and up owners have a visual of what I'm talking about..?..

Thanks!

Mine is exactly like this.
And it's not sealed, I can pry the strip open without any tool except my hand.
Done it more than once to check fluid level and top it up if required.

[Boston500F]

Thanks for the advise.

The battery is a: GS CB10L - B2  12V, 11Ah (10 HR)

I actually found a picture of the same battery here (toward the bottom of the page) http://www.cycleconnections.com/articledetail.asp?TypeID=23&ID=612

I just removed the Battery Tender Jr. and tomorrow I'll buy some distilled water and try the "finger over straw method"

Still can't see the fluid level, used a flash light, held it up to the ceiling light, shook it....on the sides it looks full, from the rear it looks quite low, and I can't see at all from the front. It feels full (heavy). I'm hoping it will be easier to judge when I remove the plastic strip tomorrow.

After filling with distilled water, should I let it sit for a week or two or hook up the charger again?

Also, if the fluid levels are low, then it just won't hold a charge as long correct? Have I caused any damage by charging it with low fluid levels?

Thx