Wet cell battery maintenance for a motorcycle

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I bought a new battery yesterday and filled up the cells with the sulfuric acid solution. I charged the battery overnight (about 15 hours, according to the instructions) and left it in my garage during the day while I was at work.

The liquid level was between the "minimum" and "maximum" lines when I started charging the battery last night. It was actually slightly higher this morning when I finished charging (due to gas bubbles maybe?). But when I got home this evening, the cells were about half empty.

Where did the electrolyte go in the 10 hours in my garage after I took it off the trickle charger? Did the fluid evaporate? If the fluid is gone that quickly, then why wouldn't I have to fill it every couple days when its actually attached to the motorcycle?

Any advice or comments would appreciated.

 

[TKHDebater]

I used to hate those batteries in my jet boat, be glad your motorcycle only takes 1, not 2. Was your garage hotter than normal or anything? You had the tops of the cells closed right, with the little exhaust tube/hole as the only source of fresh air? Good luck, sorry I don't have any advice...

 

[The Stigenator]

fill up and charge.. for 4 hrs

 

[Greyd]

u probably didnt cover the holes

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: TKHDebater
I used to hate those batteries in my jet boat, be glad your motorcycle only takes 1, not 2. Was your garage hotter than normal or anything? You had the tops of the cells closed right, with the little exhaust tube/hole as the only source of fresh air? Good luck, sorry I don't have any advice...

Yea, the only source of air was the single vent on the side - the holes on top above each cell were closed. It was pretty warm yesterday, about 70 degrees F, but the garage rarely gets warmer than it is outside.

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
fill up and charge.. for 4 hrs

You mean fill with distilled water, right? I will try this. Have any ideas why the fluid level would have dropped so much in a single afternoon?

I'll keep the battery in the house until I get it hooked up to the bike later this week (hopefully tomorrow/Wednesday).

 

[Eli]

If so much electrolyte is really gone, you will lose capacity if you just refill with distiled water. Not so much if it just evaporated.

Sounds strange tho, dunno.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Bump for the afternoon crowd.