Motorcycle.com

gowings96 · 10-25-2007, 06:10 AM

Okay, I tried searching for a thread that addressed this because I know this has to be a frequent question but...here goes.

Looks like it is nearing the time to store my battery for the winter. I have a Battery Tender Jr as well as a Battery Charger of some sort, I'll have to look at the box again. Anyway, is it okay for the battery if I hook it up to the charger and leave it in the garage? It gets cold out there, it isn't heated so it will get to freezing. Will it damage the battery if it is out there in the freezing cold but hooked up to the charger?

I'm hesitant about hooking it up in my warmer basement because of gases coming from the battery.

longride · 10-25-2007, 06:38 AM

Just leave the Tender Jr. on it in the garage. The cold won't hurt a thing. Just a reminder, fill the gas tank to the top (prevents condensation) and add some fuel stablilizer to it so you won't be one of the 100 people that post here that their bike only runs with the choke on.

seruzawa · 10-25-2007, 06:50 AM

You don't worry about your car battery do you?

It's got to get AWFUL cold to freeze sulfuric acid solution. Winter battery maintenance is as simple as disconnecting the ground terminal when you park the bike and then charging the battery with a one-amp charger overnight once in the middle of winter. If your battery can't survive that way it's time for a new one anyhow.

More than once I've neglected my bikes completely for 3-4 months of winter. No charging, no stabilizer, half empty tank, etc. Though usually I make a point of going out and running them at the half way point in January. They always start after the float bowls fill up, even after 4+ months. Winter storage is an overblown "problem".

Long term storage, years, is something else.

sarnali2 · 10-25-2007, 11:12 AM

The guy I bought my Bandit off had it sitting for three years with stabil in the tank and a battery tender on it. All it took was a couple of tankfuls to flush the system of old gas and the stabil and it ran like a raped ape. I was impressed how well that worked.

Kenneth_Moore · 10-25-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowings96

Looks like it is nearing the time to store my battery for the winter.

Smother the battery with Kramp Easy Lube. Discard the battery.

gowings96 · 10-26-2007, 07:50 AM

Has anyone used this charger: Vector 2/10/15 Amp Smart Battery Charger - 12 Volt, Model# VEC1089A

It says it goes automatically to float mode. I bought this brand new as a charger last spring for a battery that was too dead to save. I didn't realize it has a float feature.

I called the company just to see if I could leave the battery on for several months and they answered, "Thank you for calling Black and Decker customer service."

The voice response kept trying to steer me towards telling it that I wanted warranty information so I just started insulting it until it gave up and gave me a real person. Childish but effective.

seruzawa · 10-26-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowings96

Has anyone used this charger: Vector 2/10/15 Amp Smart Battery Charger - 12 Volt, Model# VEC1089A

It says it goes automatically to float mode. I bought this brand new as a charger last spring for a battery that was too dead to save. I didn't realize it has a float feature.

I called the company just to see if I could leave the battery on for several months and they answered, "Thank you for calling Black and Decker customer service."

The voice response kept trying to steer me towards telling it that I wanted warranty information so I just started insulting it until it gave up and gave me a real person. Childish but effective.

.... is waaay too much to float a motorcycle battery and will boil it dry. 100 milliamps is more like it. How about one of those solar cell chargers?

longride · 10-26-2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seruzawa

Winter storage is an overblown "problem".

Long term storage, years, is something else.

I don't think the winter storage thing is 'overblown' here. You can't believe how many bikes that people put away, don't start them for 5 months, and then can't believe that it doesn't start in spring. Gummed up carbs are quite common here, and lack of winter prep is always the problem. Tank corrosion is pretty common here too. It ain't that hard to fill the tank and throw in some StaBil. An ounce of prevention man.

seruzawa · 10-26-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longride

I don't think the winter storage thing is 'overblown' here. You can't believe how many bikes that people put away, don't start them for 5 months, and then can't believe that it doesn't start in spring. Gummed up carbs are quite common here, and lack of winter prep is always the problem. Tank corrosion is pretty common here too. It ain't that hard to fill the tank and throw in some StaBil. An ounce of prevention man.

Maybe we could start a "winter storage service" for the rubes. A squirt of stabil and a full tank and disconnect the ground lead. Show up in January and charge the battery for an hour. Show up in March and reconnect the battery. Charge 'em $100 bucks. BMW suckers spend $2K on a simple service interval. I'd bet we could rake it in and put Buz to shame.

ejis · 10-26-2007, 09:47 AM

Store a bike for winter? Put on some layers and ride, poser!!!

(sorry, someone had to)

10-25-2007, 06:10 AM	#1
gowings96 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 10	Winter Battery Storage / Charging Okay, I tried searching for a thread that addressed this because I know this has to be a frequent question but...here goes. Looks like it is nearing the time to store my battery for the winter. I have a Battery Tender Jr as well as a Battery Charger of some sort, I'll have to look at the box again. Anyway, is it okay for the battery if I hook it up to the charger and leave it in the garage? It gets cold out there, it isn't heated so it will get to freezing. Will it damage the battery if it is out there in the freezing cold but hooked up to the charger? I'm hesitant about hooking it up in my warmer basement because of gases coming from the battery. __________________ Mark 1983 Honda VT750 Shadow 2002 V Star 1100 Classic

10-25-2007, 06:38 AM	#2
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 10,484	Just leave the Tender Jr. on it in the garage. The cold won't hurt a thing. Just a reminder, fill the gas tank to the top (prevents condensation) and add some fuel stablilizer to it so you won't be one of the 100 people that post here that their bike only runs with the choke on. __________________ I'm a knucklehead

10-25-2007, 06:50 AM	#3
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	You don't worry about your car battery do you? It's got to get AWFUL cold to freeze sulfuric acid solution. Winter battery maintenance is as simple as disconnecting the ground terminal when you park the bike and then charging the battery with a one-amp charger overnight once in the middle of winter. If your battery can't survive that way it's time for a new one anyhow. More than once I've neglected my bikes completely for 3-4 months of winter. No charging, no stabilizer, half empty tank, etc. Though usually I make a point of going out and running them at the half way point in January. They always start after the float bowls fill up, even after 4+ months. Winter storage is an overblown "problem". Long term storage, years, is something else. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain. Last edited by seruzawa : 10-25-2007 at 06:54 AM.

10-25-2007, 11:12 AM	#4
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,132	The guy I bought my Bandit off had it sitting for three years with stabil in the tank and a battery tender on it. All it took was a couple of tankfuls to flush the system of old gas and the stabil and it ran like a raped ape. I was impressed how well that worked. __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "All the BMW riders in the room, I want you to leave. Now. Out. "

10-26-2007, 07:50 AM	#6
gowings96 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 10	Has anyone used this charger: Vector 2/10/15 Amp Smart Battery Charger - 12 Volt, Model# VEC1089A It says it goes automatically to float mode. I bought this brand new as a charger last spring for a battery that was too dead to save. I didn't realize it has a float feature. I called the company just to see if I could leave the battery on for several months and they answered, "Thank you for calling Black and Decker customer service." The voice response kept trying to steer me towards telling it that I wanted warranty information so I just started insulting it until it gave up and gave me a real person. Childish but effective. __________________ Mark 1983 Honda VT750 Shadow 2002 V Star 1100 Classic

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10-26-2007, 09:47 AM	#10
ejis Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 285	Store a bike for winter? Put on some layers and ride, poser!!! (sorry, someone had to)