Honda Shadow TA200 2001 Manual page 248

15
•
BATTERY/CHARGING SYSTEM
SYSTEM DIAGRAM 15-0
SERVICE INFORMATION 15-l
TROUBLESHOOTING 15-3
BATTERY 15-5
CHARGING SYSTEM INSPECTION 15-6
ALTERNATOR INSPECTION 15-7
REGULATOR/RECTIFIER 15-8
SERVICE
GENERAL
-
INFORMATION
• The battery gives off explosive gases; keep sparks, flames and cigarettes away. Provide adequate
ventilation when
charging.
• The battery contains sulfuric acid (electrolyte). Contact with skin or eyes may cause severe burns. Wear
protective
clothing and a face shield.
If electrolyte gets on your skin, flush with water.
If electrolyte gets in your
eyes,
flush with
water
for at least 15 minutes and call
a
physician.
Electrolyte is poisonous.
If swallowed, drink large quantities of water or milk and follow with milk of magnesia or vegetable oil
and call a physician.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Always turn off the ignition switch before disconnecting any electrical component.
CAUTION:
Some electrical components may be damaged if terminals or connectors are connected or disconnected while
th•
ignition switch is ON and current is present.
• For extended storage, remove the battery, give it a full charge, and store it in a cool, dry space. For
maximum service life,
charge the stored battery every two weeks
•Fora battery remaining in a stored motorcycle, disconnect the negative battery cable trom the battery
terminal.
CAUTION:
__________IUliillll
The battery caps should not be removed. Attemping to remove the sealing caps from the cells may damage the
battery.
• The battery can be dam.aged if over charged or undercharged, or if left to discharge for long period.
These same conditions contribute to shorting the "lite span"
ot:
the battery. Even under normal use, the
performance of the battery deteriorates after 2-3 years.
• Battery voltage may recover after battery charging, but under heavy load, battery voltage will drop
quickly and eventually die out. For this reason, the charging system is often suspected to be the problem.
Sattery overcharge often results from problems in the battery itself, which may appear to be an overcharge
symptom. If one of the battery cells is shorted and battery voltage does not increase, the
regulator/rectifier supplies excess voltage to the battery. Under these conditions, the electrolyte level
goes down quickly.
• Before troubleshooting the charging system, check for proper use and maintenance of the battery. Check
if the battery is frequently under heavy load, such as having the headlight and taillight ON for long
periods of time without riding the motorcycle.
• The battery will self-discharge when the motorcycle is not in use. For this reason, charge the battery
every two weeks to prevent sulfation from forming.
15-1