Battery Inspection - BMW R850 Maintenance Manual

Battery Inspection

Tools
flashlight, minimag
phillips screwdriver
hex socket – 6mm
ratchet
Quick Check Method
1. Place the bike on the centerstand.
2. Remove the front seat.
3. Hold a minimag flashlight right up against the battery, at the expected
electrolyte level, and next to the cell you are checking.
Note: I have a 4 cell minimag type flashlight that is brighter and works somewhat
better than a minimag.
4. Gently rock the bike so that the battery electrolyte sloshes back and forth. It is
this movement of the electrolyte that you are able to see.
5. Repeat for the other cells.
6. If the electrolyte level is low, follow the Standard Method below.
7. Reinstall the front seat.
Standard Method
1. Remove the seats.
2. Remove the right side black plastic panel below the fuel tank.
3. Remove the fuel tank bolt, 6mm hex socket, right side of fuel tank – be careful
not to lose the nut on the inside and the bushing in between.
4. Slide the tank straight back as far as it will go.
5. Check the battery electrolyte level from in front of the tank.
6. Fill to the max level with distilled water only – use a squirt bottle with a small
hose attached.
7. Clean and grease the battery terminals.
8. Reinstall the fuel tank being sure the black rubber connectors at the front of
the tank are in place.
9. Buy a sealed maintenance free battery and skip steps 1 – 8.
10. Leave the tank off if you are doing a fuel filter change.
Warning: On bikes with Motronic 2.4 (1150), when you disconnect the battery or
the battery dies, settings that are stored in the Motronic 2.4 memory are lost.
After disconnecting the battery or removing the Motronic fuse (#5), switch on the
ignition and then fully twist the throttle all the way open once or twice. This will
restore the throttle valve settings to the Motronic memory. This does not apply to
Motronic 2.2.
Parts
distilled H
17
O
2