Battery shelf life?

[usmalenurse]

Well I figured out how to get my battery nice and charged up over the past few weeks. Just buy another battery! Had been having some issues with the battery since around Christmas. Think the main problem was not riding enough due to the cold and wet winter but even keeping it on the battery tender, if it didn't fire right up the battery wouldn't turn it over but for a few seconds before it was dead. Still have the old type battery and not sure how long it's been in the bike but it had water in the battery so I kept messing with it. If I could get her fired up and let it run for a little while, the next day it would start up nicely. But after it sat up for a little over a week on the battery tender, it failed to start again so I went online and bought an Odyssey battery for it. Got the bike started and put in some fresh gas and Seafoam and took a few small trips with it and now the thing is cranking fine. I rode it down to Augusta Ga this past weekend and had no issues whatsoever with it. I even forgot to turn off the driving lights once on gas break and it fired right up. Not sure now whether to put the Odyssey in or stick with the old one a while longer. Actually think it was more the fault of the hard starting from the bike sitting so long (gas, carbs) than the battery. How long will the Odyssey hold up if I don't put it in the bike right away? Go ahead and change it out? Just want to get a second opinion before I decide....3rd and 4th are okay too...

[HMB Don]

Why wait, when you're out on a ride is when that old battery will fail. Plus your working the Alt a little harder, low voltage is what kills fuel pumps. So save some money and install the new battery.

That old battery was junk, that was the reason you ordered the new battery.

[doug of so fla]

no brainer!! Use the new Odyssey!! It is trying to tell you something!! like Don says it will fail you when you do not want it to. Take the old one to a auto parts place and get a free real Load test and if they fail it you can leave it there or take it home and leave it on a float charger for a emergency spare in case your new one has a defect and fails , it does happen. A battery that is not 100% trustworthy is junk imho!!

[usmalenurse]

Will change it out in a few days and get the battery checked. I've read where you need to ?short out the battery warning light if you go with a sealed battery. Just clip the wire and attach to the positive post or "hot" wire???

[doug of so fla]

correct on the hot wire, the orange wire on left next to battery on the turn signal relay works easy..

[SgtSlag]

There are battery monitors (simple LED's give you an up/down notice on condition of battery/charging system, or more complex units are available, as well), or a voltmeter -- both will monitor your charging system (including the battery) in real time. These will forewarn you that your battery is running down (charging system is not working), before your bike dies -- if you pay attention to them.

A smart charger, such as the Battery Tender Jr., will top off your battery, if you connect it after each ride (this prevents sulfation of conventional batteries, as well). I did this on my '79 Honda, with a flooded, standard battery. After I started doing it, I noticed that the engine started faster, with more cranking power, than it had without the Tender connected. They claim it will extend the life of the battery (all types, including AGM and Gel) if you connect after each ride. They are microprocessor controlled, and they have 4 charging modes, which switch automatically, to keep your battery topped off, at 100% full charge, without over-charging. My Tender is around 5+ years old, no issues. Cheers!

[usmalenurse]

Already have one of the voltmeters on the bike and it stays in the "green" while the bikes running. Have never noticed it dropping down under green unless I was letting the bike idle and had driving lights and heated gear going. And always keep the battery tender going if it's going to sit over a couple of days. That's what prompted me to think the battery was shot to begin with. It had been on the battery tender but after trying to start the bike for a bit, the battery was dead. Going to go ahead and change it out since the Odyssey is sitting there anyway.