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

Maintenance and Adjustment

Battery Disposal

Should the battery ever require replacement,
the original battery must be handed to a
recycling agent who will ensure that the
dangerous substances from which the battery
is manufactured do not
environment.

Battery Maintenance

Clean the battery using a clean, dry cloth. Be
sure that the cable connections are clean.
Warning
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 does not
require any maintenance other than checking
the Voltage and routine recharging when
required, such as during storage (see the
following paragraphs).
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.
92
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)
pollute the
memory, high ambient temperatures, or the
addition of electrical security systems or other
electrical accessories will all increase this rate
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 93).
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.