Battery Tender Issues

Tenchi · Post by **Tenchi** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:58 pm

After sitting for a week, my Kymco Super 8 wouldn't start without some serious kicking. I bought the battery tender, charged up the battery and once again it lasted for about a week. I just plugged the tender in again (electric starter cranked a couple of times, but no go before I hooked up the tender) and after about ten minutes it flashed green, saying the battery was up to 80% charged..sounds fishy to me. Could the capacity of a battery be so small that a ten minute charge would restore it to life?

Shane Wilson · Post by **Shane Wilson** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:04 pm

It sounds like your battery is bad.

That's how it generally goes with a battery that is on its last leg.

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:51 pm

Wow, just had the same issue with the Blur. Wouldn't kick start, and could barely crank it, yet the trickle charger indicated a full charge almost immediately.

I pulled the battery and it tested as being 11.0 volts. So, ignoring that "this battery requires no maintenance - do not open" stuff, I carefully pried off the seal strip and saw that the cells were bone dry. Got some distilled water and put about 2 soda cap fulls in each cell. The battery then tested as being 12.0 volts. Hooked it up to the trickle charger. This time it took a couple of hours to get a green light. When I checked the battery, it was up at around 13 volts.

Gonna put it back in the scoot tonight and give it a whirl. If things go well, and the battery holds up for any reasonable length of time, then I guess that those maintenance-free batteries ain't so maintenance-free after all.

I'll keep you posted as to the results.

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:04 pm

Worked like a charm. As a matter of fact, the engine fired up with barely a touch on the starter switch; something it hasn't done in quite a while.

So, short-term, it looks like low electrolyte level was the problem. Long-term results remain to be seen.

Just a word of advice: if you do decide to try this (and this is not a recommendation that you should), be very careful. Work in a well-ventilated area away from any open flames or sparks. Eye protection is an absolute must. And always be sure to use distilled water - regular tap water contains minerals and stuff that could shorten the life of the battery.

Tenchi · Post by **Tenchi** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:16 pm

It was very warm to the touch after 8 hours of being plugged in. I am guessing that the battery must have an internal short and it's self-draining. Anyone else got an idea, or is it normal for the tender to get really warm?

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:45 am

Check the voltage of the battery before and after charging. As charlie55 points out, putting a battery tender on a battery that won't accept a charge will not get you anywhere. A dead battery is one that will no longer accept a charge. You can't solve that problem with a battery tender.

mojobuddy70cc · Post by **mojobuddy70cc** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:51 am

,,i have found batteries+ or a store like that is great for me>(local) 1 mi, i can drop it off, good for 1 yr of free charging. be it`s a hassle to pull it and take it, the charge they put on it seems to work since it is a slow deep charge, so i was told. but it has kept mine solid. it seems once batteries loose charge
they are hard to bring back to life. i have to say my Buddy does a great job
charging from daily use/riding., ok there batteries are in the $40 range.

Shane Wilson · Post by **Shane Wilson** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:22 pm

Also keep in mind that a batteries voltage is only part of the equation.

A bad battery can still indicate proper voltage.

The trick is, what does the battery do under a load?

A battery can have proper voltage but weak amperage.

Tenchi · Post by **Tenchi** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:53 pm

Three days after charging, 50 degree weather, woudn't turn over....and not under warranty, I am told. $35 bucks down the drain. Sheesh. My old Honda elite would sit for weeks without being ridden, and one touch of the starter came to life.

Shane Wilson · Post by **Shane Wilson** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:57 pm

What $35?

For the Battery Tender?

It's not the Tender's fault.

It's a BAD BATTERY.

It's not a reflection on the Kymco or the superiority of your old Honda.

Your battery died.

Now, if you're saying you bought a new battery for $35 and it still won't turn over, that's something else entirely.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:06 am

As everyone has said - you are most likely working with a dead or near dead battery here. If that is true, a battery tender will not help. A better question is how the battery went dead. Has the scoot sat without riding for an extended period? Have you ridden nothing but very short trips for an extended period? Is there some indication that the stator is not charging the battery when you ride (i.e. low/no amperage output from the scooter's charging circuit)? My guess is that you will need to replace the battery, but you don't want the new one to go the same route as this one. (And, no, you did not waste your money on the battery tender. Use it to keep the battery at full charge during winter or other periods when the scoot is not being ridden for a month or more.)

Modern Buddy

Battery Tender Issues

Battery Tender Issues

Battery tender got hot!

future battery

Yep, the battery croaked....