Battery leak

[kivmax]

Holy crap! I got back from riding on my TLR the other day and noticed a brown liquid substance had leaked out onto my left cowl. I pulled the battery cover and my battery was leaking. It ruined the paint on the left and lower cowl. Approximately $550.00 in new plastic. Fortunately BikeMaster is going to warranty the battery and damage (THANK GOD!). This is the first bike I have seen where the battery is on its side, is this a common problem? When my new plastic comes in I would hate for this to happen again, BikeMaster might not warranty $550.00 in plastic twice. Anyone else had a bad battery? What is a good mfg for batteries for the TLR?

[TLSBill]

Yuasa is generally the best..

But I've thought about checking out Westco also, but haven't taken the time.. (Westco is big in sealed batteries, like in my Miata..)

http://www.westcobattery.com/battery_page.php?bid=12&vid=1&mid=197

$58 for the battery and the Miata one has lasted me about 4 years. NO problems at all.

[jupiter33458]

IMPORTANT !!!
When you fill the battery... DO NOT CAP IT right away.

You must let the electrolite be absorbed by the plates.. BEFORE you cap it. This takes 20-40min. You should be no VISIBLE fluid in the battery. Disclamer...PLEASE no NOT use a LIGHTER to check)

This is a problem for those not familure with TL's. Most batteries you can cap rightaway... BUT NOT a TL's!!!

[kivmax]

Battery Leak

Originally posted by jupiter33458
IMPORTANT !!!
When you fill the battery... DO NOT CAP IT right away.

You must let the electrolite be absorbed by the plates.. BEFORE you cap it. This takes 20-40min. You should be no VISIBLE fluid in the battery. Disclamer...PLEASE no NOT use a LIGHTER to check)

This is a problem for those not familure with TL's. Most batteries you can cap rightaway... BUT NOT a TL's!!!

So if I buy ia brand new battery from the dealer and they charge it and give it to me ready to install, then they need to cap it correctly. So maybe it is their fault!

[wardog12b]

How did you contact bikemaster for the warranty and how long did you have the battery?

[kivmax]

Battery leak

The battery was about 3 months old, at least that is what the guy said that i bought it from.
I went to the local dealer, told them I bought it there (they didn't even ask for a receipt; that is service) and they agreed that it should be covered by the battery mfg. They just acted as the middle man and had Bike Master warranty the plastic. So they are not out any money. They ordered me new plastic totalling over $550.00 and Bike Masre is flipping the bill! It will be here in 1 week. I just hope that it doesn't happen again, who knows if they will be so kind again.

[SDTLR]

never heard of that one kivmax. buy a NEW battery next time and this probably wont happen again.


Way to abuse the system they didn't even check the production date on the battery?

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by jupiter33458
IMPORTANT !!!
When you fill the battery... DO NOT CAP IT right away.

You must let the electrolite be absorbed by the plates.. BEFORE you cap it. This takes 20-40min. You should be no VISIBLE fluid in the battery. Disclamer...PLEASE no NOT use a LIGHTER to check)

This is a problem for those not familure with TL's. Most batteries you can cap rightaway... BUT NOT a TL's!!!

Use sealed batteries. I didn't know TL batteries had caps or allowance for fluid to be added :dunno.

I haven't seen a capped battery in a bike for years.


Whack a voltmeter on it with the bike running, you may have a faulty regulator that is boiling the battery from over voltage / charging.

[Ryno]

Originally posted by Steve TLS
Use sealed batteries. I didn't know TL batteries had caps or allowance for fluid to be added :dunno.

I haven't seen a capped battery in a bike for years.


Whack a voltmeter on it with the bike running, you may have a faulty regulator that is boiling the battery from over voltage / charging.

They are sealed, but when they come new there is a strip over the cells that you peel off. You fill it with the electrolite that comes with the battery, then cap it.

[jupiter33458]

Re: Battery Leak

Originally posted by kivmax
So if I buy ia brand new battery from the dealer and they charge it and give it to me ready to install, then they need to cap it correctly. So maybe it is their fault!

Absolutly... IF they are a Certified Suzuki shop and they knew it was going into a TL. I've seen two checks handed out in one year for repairs to a TL. (P.S. The shop mgr. was PISSED to say the least)

[kivmax]

Battery leak

Ok, so if I check the voltage, what should it read while running? I'm not mechanic, but I like to learn all about my bike.

The battery did turn out to be fairly new, I believe they checked the date and it was too new to do what it did. I'm just glad I didn't have to be the original owner to have it covered.

Thanks for the info gents.
Let me know about the voltage, I'll borrow a meter from work.

[Steve TLS]

No manual at work, but you should not see more than about 13.8V from memory, get it up to 2500rpm or so when measuring.

[kivmax]

Battery leak

Originally posted by Steve TLS
No manual at work, but you should not see more than about 13.8V from memory, get it up to 2500rpm or so when measuring.

Thanks!

[Tbird]

You guys got a good place to get yuasa (sp?) batteries?

[Steve TLS]

Jupiter posted this in another thread:

SUZ 7-8
* Remove the service lid and battery cover.
* Start the engine and keep it running a 5k RPM with lighting switch turned on () and dimmer switch turned HI position
Measure the DC voltage between the battery terminaly (+) and (-) with a multi-circuit tester.
* If the tester reads UNDER 13.3v or OVER 14.3v, inspect the generator coil and/or the regulator/rectifier.