Cold battery revival method needed
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Cold battery revival method needed
My bike has been stored since November in an unheated garage without my batter tender connected. In Pennsylvania and it has been very cold.
I am picking it up and trailering it to my home in NY next week. My garage is semi- heated. Not below 32 degrees.
When I get it home what should I do?
Maybe just connect battery tender until light turns green?
Or let the bike warm up a little first in my garage?
Or put on my winter gear and take it for a ride? If it starts.
I wonder if the battery is ruined?
I am picking it up and trailering it to my home in NY next week. My garage is semi- heated. Not below 32 degrees.
When I get it home what should I do?
Maybe just connect battery tender until light turns green?
Or let the bike warm up a little first in my garage?
Or put on my winter gear and take it for a ride? If it starts.
I wonder if the battery is ruined?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
all of Canada has vehicles parked outside.
and the batteries work below 32ş
Get the bike home and hook up your tender ( a real charger would be better if you have one)
only start the bike if you have full intentions of riding the machine up to normal operating tempertures.
otherwise you are warming it just enough to cause condensation inside the cases and exhaust system- the moisture can cause corrosion
mike
and the batteries work below 32ş
Get the bike home and hook up your tender ( a real charger would be better if you have one)
only start the bike if you have full intentions of riding the machine up to normal operating tempertures.
otherwise you are warming it just enough to cause condensation inside the cases and exhaust system- the moisture can cause corrosion
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
Most importantly, is your battery acid FROZEN inside the battery.
IF it is frozen, put the battery in a place when it can fully thaw before hooking it up to any type of charger.
Some of the newer battery chargers (not tenders) have de-sulfating ability, which I would advise before the charging attempt.
You may be better off to take the battery to the dealer and get their opinion and possibly they may be able to charge your battery.
IMHO, if your battery is frozen or if it is more than 2 years old, you're gonna need a new battery.
Good luck.
IF it is frozen, put the battery in a place when it can fully thaw before hooking it up to any type of charger.
Some of the newer battery chargers (not tenders) have de-sulfating ability, which I would advise before the charging attempt.
You may be better off to take the battery to the dealer and get their opinion and possibly they may be able to charge your battery.
IMHO, if your battery is frozen or if it is more than 2 years old, you're gonna need a new battery.
Good luck.
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
Just let the bike sit in the garage for a day then put a full charge on it and then hook up your tender. If your battery had a full charge the last time you ran it things should be fine. Cold weather isn't as hard on a battery as hot weather is. The reason people have a harder time starting a vehicle in cold weather is because the oil stiffens up and it takes more amps from the battery to turn it over.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
All good advice above. Personally I would take the battery off the bike and into the house to charge it with a conventional battery charger in the warm, then use a tender until riding season comes round. I don't have any qualms about starting a bike and not riding it, as long as that is an occasional, not regular thing. In almost 40 years of riding I have never had any problems doing that!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Bedford is almost tropical, no?
palm trees, olive groves etc.
Kidding, but your typical temps IF they dip below freezing may only do so for a few hours here and there
We are considering sustained freezing and sub-zero ( şF) temperatures
Where you really do not want any moisture build up in the machine
mike
palm trees, olive groves etc.
Kidding, but your typical temps IF they dip below freezing may only do so for a few hours here and there
We are considering sustained freezing and sub-zero ( şF) temperatures
Where you really do not want any moisture build up in the machine
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jan 3, 2014 at 11:09 AM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Bedford is almost tropical, no?
palm trees, olive groves etc.
Kidding, but your typical temps IF they dip below freezing may only do so for a few hours here and there
We are considering sustained freezing and sub-zero ( şF) temperatures
Where you really do not want any moisture build up in the machine
mike
palm trees, olive groves etc.
Kidding, but your typical temps IF they dip below freezing may only do so for a few hours here and there
We are considering sustained freezing and sub-zero ( şF) temperatures
Where you really do not want any moisture build up in the machine
mike
Wrong on all counts! And writing from Phoenix?! I have family living there. We don't get sub-zero F temps but do occasionally get periods of sub-zero C. But what's that to do with basic care of a battery?!
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,774
Likes: 2,606
From: san antonio
Very unpredictable; only one way to know for sure. Pull the battery, warm it up, full charge and take it an auto parts house for a load test. If it passes the test, install in bike and hook up tender. If the battery fails the load test, new battery.
Having said that, I have had batteries pass a load test, hold a charge if hooked up to a tender and work great for a few weeks and die.
Having said that, I have had batteries pass a load test, hold a charge if hooked up to a tender and work great for a few weeks and die.