Bought a new battery.

[custom1]

Finally found some time to spend on the bike. Original owner said it would probably need a new battery. Well he was right. I have had it on a battery tender off and on all winter and it is pretty much dead.
Found a bunch of links here about batteries. Settled on a walmart one cause it was right there on the shelf, and the price was alright, and it is AGM style. Read on here where some have had good luck with them and some not. I decided to stick to the activation instructions to the letter and see how it goes. One thing I did see in the instructions that I haven't read on here is this. It says that the acid has to be a certain temp before you put it in. Maybe that is something that is missed by some?? It is smaller print...?



Also found that the acid was marked a different model # than the battery GTX14bs. No big deal I know. Says distributed by Johnson Controls. Made  in Taiwan. Probably sold under a few different labels.    Anyway., filled it up and let it sit for an hour.



Charged her up for about 7 hours on the smart charger.



The green light came on. Disconnected the charger and letting it set over night and see what the voltage is in the morning. If it's a least 12.8 I'm good to go. 

[Gryphon Rider]

When I replace my battery I label my new one with the date installed and the charging information (e.g. 1.4A for 5-10 hours or 6.0A for 1 hour).  This way I don't have to go looking for receipts or owner's manuals.

[BradValk48237]

Just curious... How much was the Wally cost? I just bought a sealed battery (charged and ready to go) online for $61 shipping n all. Its a "Stinger"... from China.

B

[Ricky-D]

I'd charge that battery before installing it!

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[upjeeper]

i put a new battery in about 2 weeks ago. same looking instructions, different label on the battery itself.

don't think i ever checked my voltage last year, but the valk starts amazingly better this year.

i did charge mine over night on a smart charger after doing the fill and letting it sit for an hour

[BradValk48237]

The instructions said to NOT charge it... that it was fully charged..... It was 12.5 out of the box......


I do have it on a tender though....

B

[custom1]

Just curious... How much was the Wally cost? I just bought a sealed battery (charged and ready to go) online for $61 shipping n all. Its a "Stinger"... from China.

B

It was $65 plus tax. And a $9 core charge. I have seen some cheap on e-bay. One is $22.50 and $20 shipping. I don't think it's AGM tho. Some of them are only rated 160 CCA.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-ATV-FOREMAN-500-450-400-TRX500-BATTERY-YTX14-BS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a0fab1f3dQQitemZ180651499325

And even cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YTX14-BS-Motorcycle-Scooter-ATV-Battery-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem415868e4aaQQitemZ280656143530QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

They couldn't tell me the CCA rating at the store but I found online it is 200. Saw one online somewhere that was 220CCA but can't seem to find it now. And there is one with an "H" in the model# that was 240CCA but I don't think they make it anymore.
I could have got a Yuasa at the local Leather and Chrome accessory shop. They take 20% off and it would have been $79. But they had to order it and take 5 days or so to get. If this one dies early I'll go that route next time.

Mine reads 12.96 volts this morning. I'll get it in and maybe finally get to go for a ride tomorrow. Still have a couple other things to button up.

[PMsteve]

Has anyone but me ever used a Sears Die Hard M/C Battery?

My 97 Standard had a new one installed by the previous owner when I bought it with 23K in 2002.

I brought the Valk from SoCal to Central Nevada and it still has the same batt. The Valk has never been kept indoors and has only had a canvas cover for protection during the winters where temps here reach 20 - 30* below zero for a time. It has never been on a tender / charger and in the spring time, still starts on the first try.

This is like my 19th M/C over 50+ years and I have NEVER had a battery last like this. I'd buy another if this one ever wears out. I'm beginning to think it's magic. 

[Chrisj CMA]

Has anyone but me ever used a Sears Die Hard M/C Battery?

My 97 Standard had a new one installed by the previous owner when I bought it with 23K in 2002.

I brought the Valk from SoCal to Central Nevada and it still has the same batt. The Valk has never been kept indoors and has only had a canvas cover for protection during the winters where temps here reach 20 - 30* below zero for a time. It has never been on a tender / charger and in the spring time, still starts on the first try.

This is like my 19th M/C over 50+ years and I have NEVER had a battery last like this. I'd buy another if this one ever wears out. I'm beginning to think it's magic. 

That sounds like you got a good one, but.....these little battery die quick with little warning sometimes....and....for a time near the end of their life they can put excessive stress on your alternator keeping that old thing going.  I dont believe its good to ever wait until a battery dies.  The ones from Walmart......I get rid of it every 3 years or so....or when it stops holding a full charge inbetween rides, which means a volt meter on the bike is very helpful.

Bottom line.....Id replace that battery, but I too thought about those sears ones, I may go that route next time and see if I can get more than 3years

[PMsteve]

Folks look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that my battery is almost 10 years old. It still starts strong. I had a voltmeter on it about 2 weeks ago. Static volts were 12.1 and at idle 13.6 vdc.

[hubcapsc]

amazon has a $39 two-year-guarantee battery for Valkyries...



I don't have one, I'm just amazed sometimes about what you can get from Amazon...

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

Folks look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that my battery is almost 10 years old. It still starts strong. I had a voltmeter on it about 2 weeks ago. Static volts were 12.1 and at idle 13.6 vdc.

I dont think you are crazy.....just making your alt work a bit harder.........near 13V static is more like it, and unless you have a on-board volt meter, that 12.1 reading can change quickly

[dwreefs]

I picked up a walmart battery last year.At our walmart they are labeled energizer batteries .It has been real good so far. I also found a 5 watt coleman solar panel on sale for 25 bucks and it has kept the battery topped up great all winter.I installed a power point in the trunk to plug into so I just have to remember to unplug before takeoff

[Farther]

Central Nevada......where temps here reach 20 - 30* below zero....

Where in Central Nevada does it get 30 below zero?

[GOOSE]

if you look at interstate batteries...... give your yuassa number to match up to interstate number....when you open the box there is a yuassa battery inside....they (interstate) sell yuassa batteries, which are made in the good ole USA.  just another choise over china, etc..

[Rio Wil]

My battery says right on the side ...mfg by Yuasa/Exide USA....

[bigfish_Oh]

I have had good luck with diehards in the past.

I just replaced the original '99 battery with a AGM Mat free Powersport 12AH  260, 89. shipped

[Mildew]

Batteries plus $69 1 yr $99 2yr. Same battery but warranty different. Fully charged.

[BigChris99]

Can someone give me some battery numbers? I just replaced the battery in my KLR with a DEKA AGM battery from Batterymart. I'd like to go that route with the Valk too. The battery was in there when I purchased the bike two years ago, previous owner has since moved out of state. I will look at the battery in a couple of days to see whats in there, but until I can get  at it, some  names and numbers of good batteries would be helpful.

[flcjr]

I bought my new battery for the valk at carquest they are new agm sealed and 220cca price was ok and seems to be a good one. I just bought another this spring for the my atv.

[Ricky-D]

Instructions: "do not charge"
The battery:  "12.5 volts out of the box"

According to this chart:



The battery @ 12.5 volts is only at about 75% of fully charged!

The new battery should be at close to 100% of charge before installing in the bike.

That is to hopefully get the full potential from the battery.

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