Generator Battery!

wacnstac · 04-10-2007, 07:52 AM

I took my generator battery out of my Honda 3000i generator at the beginning of this winter and kept it down my warm basement on trickle charge most of the winter. The battery is 1 1/2 years old. I put it in the generator fully charged this weekend and it wouldn't even turn the gen over. Is this the typical life of a generator/motorcycle battery? Anybody have a source of cheap replacements?

markdoane · 04-10-2007, 08:45 AM

I like Batteries-Plus. Don't use Batteries.com, they have poor security for online shopping.

I'm sure you've done this, but did you try starting using the recoil starter, to make sure it's not flooded?

I replaced two lawn tractor batteries before I found out the carbuerator was leaking down and filling the cylinder with raw gas.

wacnstac · 04-10-2007, 09:22 AM

Starts fine with the recoil starter.

raebaker06 · 04-10-2007, 09:51 AM

Perhaps the trouble might be the starting system try it with a car battery.
I have not had luck with motorcycle batteries. They seem to be poor at any case.
Have a load test done at a service station.

Rae

Spiffy Gem · 04-10-2007, 10:19 AM

Please tell us you didn't have the battery stored on concrete . . .

wacnstac · 04-10-2007, 10:39 AM

Nope, up on a shelf.

wacnstac · 04-10-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

I like Batteries-Plus. Don't use Batteries.com, they have poor security for online shopping.

I'm sure you've done this, but did you try starting using the recoil starter, to make sure it's not flooded?

I replaced two lawn tractor batteries before I found out the carbuerator was leaking down and filling the cylinder with raw gas.

Batteris-Plus is just a bunch of links to other battery websites. Is that the site that you meant?

markdoane · 04-10-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacnstac

Batteris-Plus is just a bunch of links to other battery websites. Is that the site that you meant?

Try it with an 'e' between the i and s. They have a store locator, lots of locations.

When you tried the recoil starter, did it pull real hard on the first pull? Sometimes the first pull will push the gas out and then it will start ok. Try again with the battery after you have run it with the recoil starter.

Fyrzowt · 04-10-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiffy Gem

Please tell us you didn't have the battery stored on concrete . . .

From information I've received, this is no longer an issue with today's battery case materials.

wacnstac · 04-10-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

Try it with an 'e' between the i and s. They have a store locator, lots of locations.

When you tried the recoil starter, did it pull real hard on the first pull? Sometimes the first pull will push the gas out and then it will start ok. Try again with the battery after you have run it with the recoil starter.

I did exactly that. It wasn't hard to pull at all. I let it run for a while with the battery connnected. Then I tried to restart with battery and only got a faint click.

markdoane · 04-10-2007, 11:52 AM

Yep, sounds like a bad battery.

I just wanted to make sure you didn't repeat my mistake with the lawn tractor.

**overlander63** · 04-10-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

From information I've received, this is no longer an issue with today's battery case materials.

That is correct. It ceased being a problem when batteries were no longer manufactured with tar tops.
Also, about a year is all a motorcycle battery can be counted on. If you use it regulalry, you may get two years out of them.

Spiffy Gem · 04-10-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

That is correct. It ceased being a problem when batteries were no longer manufactured with tar tops.

Have you tested that by placing a new type motorcycle battery on a concrete floor for a few days?

rseagle · 04-10-2007, 02:02 PM

The battery may be sulfated. A Battery Minder Plus (#31590) from Camping World might revive it. $44.99 President's Club price