exploding battery

last week i took a ride into town, was out on the bike for around an hour, mainly mooching in traffic, i could smell somthing when stopped at lights, and when i got home discovered the battery had swollen and split open,

now there is no extra load on the battery like heated grips or somthing, i thought it might be down to the chopped up back end reducing air flow, combined with what might be an old battery it just overheated and gave up.

are the other possibilities save me fitting a new battery and the same thing happening again, something to do with the rectifier, or can the alternator overcharge? any ideas?

Check the reg/rec. Sounds like it wasn't regulating the voltage correctly and it's boiled the battery.

Originally Posted by Neeja

Check the reg/rec.

how can i check its workin?

http://www.offwidth.co.uk/bike/gener...lt_finding.pdf - run through that. Job's a good'un.

If you've got a second battery, you can also connect it up and start the bike briefly. If you get a reading of much over 14.5v at any point the reg/rec is fried. To make a battery melt it's probably higher than that.

[punyXpress]

Whatever else you do, make sure you get all traces of battery acid washed off!

The battery was overcharging, which boiled it essentially. You'll need to buy a new battery now probably.

To test if the reg/rec is working properly, get a multimeter and test across the battery terminals. With the engine off, ignition off, you should get around 12 V (for a 12 V battery). Engine on, idling, it should be a little over 12 V . Run the bike at 5000 rpm, the voltage should go up to no more than 14.5 V. If its over this, then your regulator/rectifer is not regulating the voltage from the alternator, hence its cooking your battery. Replace the regulator/rectifier (if you have a 1999-2002 SV, then it'll be on the subframe by the pillion seat area, you'll have to take the seat plastics off to see it...its on the right hand side as if you where sitting on the bike)

[yorkie_chris]

Get a gallon of water and a pack of baking soda and neutralise all rse end of bike.

Probably reg rec has failed by charging it at 100v or something stupid.

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

With the engine off, ignition off, you should get around 12V (for a 12V battery). Engine on, idling, it should be a little over 12V

A 12V battery doesn't actually put out 12V - it puts out approx. 12.6V. For a fully, freshly charged, healthy battery it should put out between 12.6V and 12.8V with the engine and ignition off. Engine on and idling with no lights on it should be 12.6-14V or so, lower with the lights on, obviously. If it's above 15v at any point, you've got a major problem. If it drops below 12.2V or so at any point, you've also got a problem, but this would lead to the battery flattening itself over time if you spend a long time idling and don't charge it regularly.

[appollo1]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Get a gallon of water and a pack of baking soda and neutralise all rse end of bike.

what do you mean by that chris?

Originally Posted by appollo1

what do you mean by that chris?

baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) = alkaline, make an alkaline solution, neutralise the battery acid (sulphuric acid I beleive)

battery acid on your skin causes some serious burns