Battery - APRILIA RS 50 Workshop Manual

Routine maintenance operations

BATTERY

Read carefully (GENERAL PRECAUTIONS AND
INFORMATION).
Two types of batteries are sold for motorcycles:
conventional, which has a removable cap on each
cell, and maintenance free, which has no removable
caps and cannot be inspected.
CAUTION
This motorcycle is equipped with a conventional
type battery. Do not replace it with a maintenance
free battery. Doing so will damage the electrical
system and could lead to a dangerous explosion.
Check the electrolyte level and the tightness of the
terminals after the first 500 km (312 mi) and thereafter
every 4,000 km (2,500 mi) or 8 months.
WARNING
Batteries, when charged, give off hydrogen gas,
which is highly explosive. Therefore, do not smoke
while working on or around the battery, and keep
naked flames or sparks away from the battery.
Keep gasoline and other flammable substances well
away from the battery, since a battery spark could
easily ignite them and cause a devastating fire.
Battery electrolyte is toxic and caustic and can
severely burn your eyes or skin. Always wear tight
fitting goggles and protective clothing when han-
dling battery electrolyte. It is particularly important
for you to protect your eyes since even a minuscule
amount of battery acid could destroy your vision.
Should you accidentally get even the smallest
amount of battery electrolyte on your skin or eyes,
immediately flush with large quantities of clear cool
water and immediately seek professional
medical attention.
If someone should accidentally swallow battery
electrolyte, drink a large quantity of milk or cool
clear water and continue with milk of magnesia or
vegetable oil. Seek professional medical assis-
tance immediately.
Since the battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas,
especially when it is being charged, when you are
charging a battery, make sure that the room is
properly ventilated. Do not inhale the gases re-
leased during charging. Do not permit any open
flames, sparks or cigarettes or any other source of
heat anywhere near the battery while it is charging.
Do not tip the motorcycle too much, or tip the
battery too much, to avoid electrolyte leaking out.
Should you accidentally spill battery electrolyte on
any part of your motorcycle, immediately wash it
off with lots of cool clear water.
Spills may be neutralized with a mixture of baking
soda and water, as well. This is particularly impor-
tant, as the battery electrolyte will severely corrode
metallic parts and destroy the finish of plastic and
painted parts.
CAUTION
Never switch the battery cables. Observe the
proper polarity of the battery. Incorrectly attaching
the battery to your motorcycle will irreparably
destroy the electrical system of your motorcycle.
Connect and disconnect the battery only with the
ignition switch (1) in the " " (OFF) position.
First connect the positive cable (+), then the
negative (–). Disconnect the negative cable (–)
first, then the positive (+).
2-6
Release 00 2001-03
1
ch. 2
RS 50