Battery Maintenance; Battery Discharge; Battery Discharge During Storage And Infrequent Use Of The Motorcycle - Triumph America Handbook

Battery Maintenance

Clean the battery using a clean, dry cloth. Be
sure that the cable connections are clean.
Warning
The battery acid is corrosive and poisonous
and will cause damage to unprotected
skin. Never swallow battery acid or allow it
to come into contact with the skin. To
prevent injury, always wear eye and skin
protection when handling the battery.
The battery is a sealed type and will not
require any maintenance other than checking
the Voltage and routine recharging, such as
during storage.
It is not possible to adjust the battery acid
level in the battery; the sealing strip must not
be removed.

Battery Discharge

Caution
The charge level in the battery must be
maintained to maximise battery life.
Failure to maintain the battery charge level
could cause serious internal damage to the
battery.
Under normal conditions, the motorcycle
charging system will keep the battery fully
charged. However, if the motorcycle is
unused, the battery will gradually discharge
due to a normal process called self discharge;
the clock, engine control module (ECM)
memory, high ambient temperatures, or the
addition of electrical security systems or other
electrical accessories will all increase this rate
Maintenance and Adjustment
of battery discharge. Disconnecting the
battery from the motorcycle during storage
will reduce the rate of discharge.
Battery Discharge During Storage
and Infrequent Use of the
Motorcycle
During storage or infrequent use of the
motorcycle, inspect the battery Voltage
weekly using a digital multimeter. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions supplied with the
meter. Should the battery Voltage fall below
12.7 Volts, the battery should be charged
(see page 84).
Allowing a battery to discharge or leaving it
discharged for even a short period of time
causes sulphation
Sulphation is a normal part of the chemical
reaction inside the battery, however over time
the sulphate can crystallise on the plates
making recovery difficult or impossible. This
permanent damage is not covered by the
motorcycle warranty, as it is not due to a
manufacturing defect.
Keeping the battery fully charged reduces the
likelihood of it freezing in cold conditions.
Allowing a battery to freeze will cause serious
internal damage to the battery.
of the lead plates.
83