bat'ry question

[clutchdust]

A while back the Mrs wanted a little scooter (moped) just to run around town so we bought a nice used one that needed a battery. I bought a brand new battery, it came dry, had to put the acid in it.
Fast forward and as you might guess, the little scooter sat a lot longer than it ever ran. I did start it every month or two and run it so the gas is good but the battery is dead, dead, dead. I'm wondering with such a mechanically new battery, can I just drain the acid out and put fresh in?
The nice thing is that I can still kick start it and once running, it will run fine. So the battery is a relatively unimportant and unnecessarily expense right now.

 

[DeeVeeEight]

How old is the battery? Batteries have a given shelf life - the manufacturers put in just so many lead plates that will dissolve after a few years. The battery is probably junk and needs replacing. Will it not hold a charge from a battery charger?

 

[clutchdust]

Can't remember exactly when I bought it but it was just about two years ago, maybe 2.5 years. Haven't really tried a charger lately, but I did about a year ago. I have driven it for about 30 minutes straight and there is zero sign of the battery accepting a charge. I know the alt, especially a cheap one on a moped, isn't up to charging a fully discharged battery but I mean absolutely no charge at all.

 

[big_G]

The battery is "sulphated". An insulative coating forms on the lead plates after a prolonged discharged state. Some battery chargers have a "de-sulphate" charging mode. Either try that or buy a new battery. Then keep it on an automatic trickle charger when not in use for more than a week.

 

[mrvette]

Can't remember exactly when I bought it but it was just about two years ago, maybe 2.5 years. Haven't really tried a charger lately, but I did about a year ago. I have driven it for about 30 minutes straight and there is zero sign of the battery accepting a charge. I know the alt, especially a cheap one on a moped, isn't up to charging a fully discharged battery but I mean absolutely no charge at all.

Any Digital Volt meter tells the tale, same as a VM on the dash....

so you need charge the bat overnight, then keep the VM on the thing while cranking....anything less than 10.5 volts, AT THE BAT TERMINALS DIRECTLY and you got a bad bat.....

IF the starter drags and Bat voltage dont drop much, you got a bad connection somewhere, posts, grounds, starter....

when it starts, you need see 14.8 at first at the battery.....unless it's really taking a heavy charge, then you need go to the alt output direct, and see what's there....14.8 better be there, as the bat charges, that voltage will drop off slowly, and when running for say 20 minits...it will read like 13.3 maybe up to 13.8.....anything less is not so cool.....

I am ASSUMING this is a 12 volt system like a car...IF it's a 6 volt system, cut all my voltages above in 1/2......

:thumbs::smash:

 

[big2bird]

The battery is "sulphated". An insulative coating forms on the lead plates after a prolonged discharged state. Some battery chargers have a "de-sulphate" charging mode. Either try that or buy a new battery. Then keep it on an automatic trickle charger when not in use for more than a week.

:drink::drink::drink::drink: