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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 04:01:36 AM

Title: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 04:01:36 AM
So there was rust only on the right side of the frame/swing arm when I got my bike from the previous owner. I noticed it was all around where the battery breather came out. Well, I semi re-routed it and it was fine for a little bit. But now it looks like theres acid dropping onto the brake torque bar and eating that too. What causes this? I am assuming I need a new battery, and really plan on getting one regardless.

It sucks, because the left side of my frame is clean and the right side looks like crap. You can also see where its been dripping on the passenger foot peg bracket and even a little on my muffler. How far down do you have to strip the frame to paint it? I was thinking about it since it looks like crap on the one side.

Pics:
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/w00derson/gs500e052708001.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/w00derson/gs500e052708002.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/w00derson/gs500e052708003.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/w00derson/gs500e052708004.jpg)
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: scottpA_GS on May 28, 2008, 06:12:21 AM

How old is your battery? Buy a new one ?
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: Jerka on May 28, 2008, 06:17:35 AM
Get a longer tube (aquarium tubing will probably work) and vent that puppy all the way through the frame so that it comes out near the airbox vent/drain.   :thumb:
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: ben2go on May 28, 2008, 06:25:18 AM
Yep.You need a longer hose and run it out beside the airbox vent.When the battery charges,either with a charger or the charging system,it boils off the water/electrolite solution.Before you begin stripping and painting,neutralize the acid with baking soda and warm water mixed together.1 table spoon baking soda per cup usually works.Maybe more on the white and green areas.I sanded and painted some acid eaten areas on my bike without neutralizing the acid and the paint wrinkled up and cracked.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: ohgood on May 28, 2008, 06:41:14 AM
just like they said, a longer spill tube helps.

then:

check your electrolight levels. add distilled water if it's low. don't over charge the battery.

is your battery comfy in it's spot, and not wiggling around ? cut 1/2 fuel line and stuff it between the battery box and the battery for a nice snug fit. if it wiggles, it's going to spill acid ;)

+1 on the baking soda and repainting
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 04:10:05 PM
Thanks for all of your replies. Where exactly does the air box vent come out at? It seems even then, when it drips it'll blow all over my tire and whatever else. My air box is no longer on the bike, as I replaced it with a K&N lunchbox. Just looking for a general location,  I'll have to check my service manual as well.

Anyway, I bought a new battery, filled all the sections with acid, and it is now on charge (I waited 1.5 hours after adding acid to start charge, before anyone says anything  :thumb: ). Hopefully this one will hold its liquid better than the other. I don't know how long that battery has been in, the previous owner never said.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: beRto on May 28, 2008, 04:21:21 PM
Quote from: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 04:10:05 PM
Thanks for all of your replies. Where exactly does the air box vent come out at? It seems even then, when it drips it'll blow all over my tire and whatever else. My air box is no longer on the bike, as I replaced it with a K&N lunchbox. Just looking for a general location,  I'll have to check my service manual as well.

Anyway, I bought a new battery, filled all the sections with acid, and it is now on charge (I waited 1.5 hours after adding acid to start charge, before anyone says anything  :thumb: ). Hopefully this one will hold its liquid better than the other. I don't know how long that battery has been in, the previous owner never said.

They are referring to the vent hose that should be connected to your battery (not the air box vent). The battery will have a little outlet on which a vent hose gets connected. This hose is important to vent acid vapours away from the frame etc. (your pictures clearly show the consequences otherwise. :(

The vent hose should be routed all the way down to the right footpeg. From your photos, it looks like there may be a brownish-clear hose that was intended for this purpose.  :dunno_white:   If that is in fact the battery vent hose, it is too short; as the other replies have suggested, you should replace it with a longer one.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 07:01:38 PM
Quote from: beRto on May 28, 2008, 04:21:21 PM
They are referring to the vent hose that should be connected to your battery (not the air box vent). The battery will have a little outlet on which a vent hose gets connected. This hose is important to vent acid vapours away from the frame etc. (your pictures clearly show the consequences otherwise. :(

The vent hose should be routed all the way down to the right footpeg. From your photos, it looks like there may be a brownish-clear hose that was intended for this purpose.  :dunno_white:   If that is in fact the battery vent hose, it is too short; as the other replies have suggested, you should replace it with a longer one.

I am well aware of the vent hose and what it does  ;) , I was just asking where the correct place for the end of the hose is. Someone mentioned it should exit by the air box vent. I was wondering where that vent is so I cant put the battery vent by it.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: beRto on May 28, 2008, 07:22:11 PM
Quote from: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 07:01:38 PM
I am well aware of the vent hose and what it does  ;) , I was just asking where the correct place for the end of the hose is. Someone mentioned it should exit by the air box vent. I was wondering where that vent is so I cant put the battery vent by it.

No offense intended  :oops:

The collection of vent and drain hoses should exit ahead of the right foot peg:

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc179/gs_beRto/SuzukiGS500E1995640x480.jpg)
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: bombadillo on May 28, 2008, 07:42:08 PM
Yup, the stocker stuff comes right out from where berto said.  I however took off literally every unnecessary hose to make it run so its all gone with the lunchbox filter and the CA emissions stuff out of the way now.  I have all of like 3 lines on the bike for fuel and vacuum.  Just get a long battery drain hose and drain it out the side somehow.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: lewismug on May 28, 2008, 07:52:29 PM
When I purchased my bike I noticed the same thing was happening to it.  The battery needed to be replaced anyway, so I purchased two of these:   http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)  and installed one of them.  The other is on my shelf waiting.  Works great, doesn't vent acid anywhere and doesn't need a hose!   :thumb:
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: w00derson on May 28, 2008, 08:02:05 PM
QuoteNo offense intended  embarassed

The collection of vent and drain hoses should exit ahead of the right foot peg:

No offense intended on my part either :) Thanks for the pic. So basically run it out of the almost 90ยบ corner in the frame there?

Quote from: lewismug on May 28, 2008, 07:52:29 PM
When I purchased my bike I noticed the same thing was happening to it.  The battery needed to be replaced anyway, so I purchased two of these:   http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)  and installed one of them.  The other is on my shelf waiting.  Works great, doesn't vent acid anywhere and doesn't need a hose!   :thumb:

That looks much cleaner. Too bad I just picked up a new battery.

Looks like I will have to find some longer tubing somewhere.
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: ben2go on May 28, 2008, 09:29:57 PM
Quote from: lewismug on May 28, 2008, 07:52:29 PM
When I purchased my bike I noticed the same thing was happening to it.  The battery needed to be replaced anyway, so I purchased two of these:   http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-2-12V-10Ah-Scooter-Batteries_W0QQitemZ190224786628QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190224786628&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)  and installed one of them.  The other is on my shelf waiting.  Works great, doesn't vent acid anywhere and doesn't need a hose!   :thumb:


?????  Really?How long you been running that battery?Any trouble yet?Has it ever let you down?I'm curious.Sorry for all the questions.  :icon_confused:
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: 08GSSteve on May 29, 2008, 07:50:10 AM
yea thats bad hey.

I would cry if that shaZam! was rusting my bike.

Yea mate longer tubing to where previous user has hose end cluster circled.

I was lucky because after I got the bike home I started the new bike inspection and bugger me the battery overflow hose was NOT connected. :nono: :mad:


Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: lewismug on May 30, 2008, 06:58:10 AM
Ben, the battery has been GREAT.  The exact batteries I purchased are POWERTRON PT1212 12V 12Ah.  They only have two small tabs for each post, so I had to solder some wire to each post and then attach a connector to the end of each wire.  That way, the original battery cable ends on the bike could still be used in case of an emergency where I HAVE to purchase a new battery from, lets say, Wal-Mart.  It hasn't given me any trouble at all, and I don't expect it to for a while.  It has been on the bike since Feb.  Each start-up it has plenty of power!  Here are a few pics of the installed battery.


(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r172/F_O_FUBARREDNECK/IMG_0102.jpg)

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r172/F_O_FUBARREDNECK/IMG_0104.jpg)
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pi
Post by: Kasumi on May 30, 2008, 09:05:29 AM
Sealed batteries are the way forward. Even  my 'H' plate zxr 400 has a sealed battery. Never spill never need refilling either. Great bits of kit :)
Title: Re: Acid coming through battery breather and eating my frame and swing arm?! (Pics)
Post by: Jay_wolf on May 30, 2008, 10:31:20 AM
I have a sealed battery ,. no worrys there