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In this article, We are going to discuss the process of how to recondition a dead motorcycle battery in a step-by-step method. The motorcycle is the favorite means of transport for many people as with the help of a motorcycle you can travel to any place. And no need to mention that batteries are an important part of motorcycles.
Batteries are not everlasting, so they can fail if care is not taken properly. Also, you don’t like to go again and again to the shop for the replacement of the battery. The article will make you efficient in reconditioning your motorcycle battery.
If your battery has passed the reconditioned time, that means it cannot get refurbished. So, you have to replace it with a new battery.
Motorcycle batteries are six volt or 12-volt lead-acid batteries. These are small versions of the batteries used in automobiles. The article will show you how to revive a dead motorcycle battery step by step.
By learning to recondition, you are not only helping your motorcycle battery but also saving your bank account and the environment because the disposal of the battery not only harms the environment with chemical release in the air but also wastes your money every 6 months.
Access Now: Dead Simple Trick To Bring Any Battery Back To Life
How to Revive a Dead Motorcycle Battery?
The reconditioning of the motorcycle battery required basic tools and a multimeter to measure the voltage of the battery. The most important are the gloves and goggles as the liquid in the battery is sulphuric acid, and it can burn your eyes and hands.
You can revive a dead battery by draining the electrolyte solution and replacing it with Epsom salt. If your dead battery is not taking charge, that means that there is sulfation in the battery, which happens when the sulphuric acid begins to break down.
So here we will discuss the safety equipment you need to have access to and the steps you need to follow and learn before doing or starting the reconditioning of your dead motorcycle battery.
What Are the Different Types Of 12v Motorcycle Battery?
You will find two types of 12V batteries in your motorcycle, and the most common is Flooded Lead Acid Batteries. These batteries can be seen either with open access to the cells for maintenance and topping up or might be sealed, which is known as Sealed Lead Acid.
These batteries are considered to be maintenance-free but can be accessed to the cell caps or cells by removing the cover on top of the battery.
The other main types of motorcycle batteries are AGM or GEL-type batteries, and these batteries are known as maintenance-free batteries. These types of batteries are not engulfed with electrolytes but filled with fiberglass mesh or a silica dust gel substance.
Reconditioning of motorcycle battery is an easy task if you follow the steps correctly and remember the difference between a sealed Flooded Lead Acid Battery or an open battery.
These batteries can be easily reconditioned by replacing the electrolyte in the battery. AGM and GEL style batteries need to be rebuilt, and the task is time-consuming and expensive.
Required Tools to Recondition A Dead Motorcycle Battery
Safety Equipment
- Chemical resistant gloves or neoprene.
- Safety glasses or goggles.
- Chemical-resistant apron.
Motorcycle Battery Reconditioning Tools
- Flathead/Philips screwdrivers
- Adjustable wrench
- Digital Multimeter
- Plastic Bucket
- Baking Soda (16oz)
- Warm Distilled water 1L
- Epsom salt 0.5 (16oz)
- Mixing bottle/Flask or Pan 2L
- Plastic Funnel or syringe
- Battery Charger (Smart chargers are best)
- Battery load tester
- Battery hydrometer
How to Recondition a Flooded Lead Acid Motorcycle Battery?
The below steps will help you to recondition the motorcycle battery. The below steps are for Flooded Lead Acid motorcycle battery.
Step 1 – Remove the Battery and Clean the Posts.
The first step to recondition the motorcycle battery is to remove it from the motorcycle, make sure the battery is cooled before removing it from the motorcycle.
Now take the screwdriver or adjustable wrench and remove the negative cable before removing the positive cable.
If there is corrosion on the battery posts, then clean it with steel wool along with baking soda and distilled water paste.
The cleaning process can take some time if the corrosion is very hard. If you do not have steel wool, then a toothbrush can also be used to clean the corrosion from the battery.
Step 2 – Check Battery Open-Circuit Voltage.
When you cleared the battery ports, and the corrosion is completely removed, you have to use a voltmeter to read the voltage of your motorcycle battery.
For this, you have to be equipped with a Multimeter in DC voltage mode. The red probe should be placed on a positive port, and your black probe should be placed on a negative port of the battery.
After this, you should get a voltage reading on your meter. This is known as an open-circuit voltage test because nothing is connected to the battery apart from the meter. The reading of a healthy motorcycle battery will be or more than 12.6V.
The reading of the refurbished battery will be 7.5V, and if the battery needs to be replaced, then the reading will be between 0 to 7.5V. The reading between 0 to 7.5V says that the battery is severely damaged and cannot be reconditioned, and need a replacement.
Step 3 – Check Cell Voltage and Health
You should check each cell voltage with your multimeter. Use a battery hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte of the battery. If you do not have a battery hydrometer, then you can use a digital multimeter for measuring.
If the reading comes over 12V, then there are chances that the cells are in working condition. Now carefully remove the caps covering the cells if the battery is sealed SLA battery.
Now you have to expose the caps of the cells by removing the plastic cover on top of the battery. Now place your negative probe on the negative terminal and dip the end of your red probe into each cell’s electrolyte. Now get a reading on DC voltage mode.
If the reading comes under 1.50V, then it means that the cells are weak, and if the reading comes under 1V or 0V, the cells are heavily desulphated. If the battery is heavily desulphated, then you have to replace it because it will not be able to recondition.
Step 4 – Refill Cells with Epsom Salt.
Now, if the battery is ready to recondition, then carefully empty cells into a plastic bucket. The sulphuric acid from the battery will get poured into the bucket. Make sure to wear gloves, goggles, and an apron while doing this. Now remove cell caps and tilt the battery liquid slowly in the bucket.
Once the liquid has been drained from the battery, add some baking soda to the bucket, which will neutralize the acid.
The next step is to boil 1 quart of distilled water and add 8oz of Epsom salt. You have to stir and shake the mixture until the Epsom salt is dissolved in the liquid and the liquid becomes completely transparent.
When the liquid becomes cool, take the help of a funnel or syringe to fill the Epsom and distilled liquid in each cell up to the maximum limit.
Make sure that the battery remains cool during the process. It is important to now make sure you leave your cell caps off for the next step.
Step 5 – Fully Charge the Battery
After leaving cell caps off, you take the motorcycle battery and put it in to charge. It is better if you take the help of a smart charger, but if you do not have a smart charger, then no worries, you can use the 2-amp trickle charger setting.
The reconditioned battery needed to be charged for at least 18 hours and a maximum of 24 hours. The trickle charger will get your battery charged within 16 hours.
The charging capacity is dependent on the type of charger you use. It is advisable to leave the cell caps off while the battery is on charge. Otherwise, pressure may build in the cells, causing safety problems, and the liquid will spill out from the battery due to heat.
Step 6 – Now You Have to Repeat the Open Circuit Voltage Test.
If the time of 18 hours is passed, then you can take your battery off the charger. You should take another voltage reading to check whether the battery is fully charged or have to be charged for more time. This reading is known as open circuit reading in which only a multimeter should be attached to the battery.
Now measure the voltage across the negative and positive port through a DC volt mode. Now, if the battery is fully charged, then the battery will be seen as 12.6V to 12.7V.
Step 7 – The Last Step Is the Motorcycle Battery Load Test.
The next and important step is the battery load test. You have to use a battery load tester to measure the cold-cranking amps your battery has. The battery load tester will give you an idea about the healthy reconditioned motorcycle battery.
Now you have to Fit your newly reconditioned motorcycle battery back into your bike and reconnect the positive jumper lead to the positive port first and negative cable to the negative port to ensure that your battery is fully connected. You can also do the last test on the multimeter, and it should come at 12.6V for a fully charged battery.
And by using a multimeter you should check the voltage reading on your battery that shouldn’t fall below 9.5 volts at any point when you are attempting to start the bike.
And if the bike starts, the battery didn’t fall under 9.5 volts means then you’ve got successfully reconditioned a motorbike battery.
Suppose if the battery fall under 9.5 volts then I suggest you complete a charge cycle by draining it and recharging it again. Then retry the load test. If it continues to fall below 9.5 volts then the battery should be replaced sooner instead of later.
If it is less than 6v on the testing process then the battery is dead and unfortunately, you’ll need to replace the battery.
Now if have followed all the above steps correctly, then the battery is ready to get used for several months or years, depending on the capacity of the battery.
Dead Motorcycle Battery Reconditioning Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I Use Vinegar in Place of Baking Soda?
No, only use baking soda to clean corrosion from the battery.
What Is the Normal Reading That Will Tell the Correct Battery Voltage?
The healthy battery will read 12.6V or more than 12.7V.
How Much Time Is Needed for The Battery to Recharge?
The battery is charged up to 18 hours or 24 hours, depending on the chargers you use. A trickle charger can charge the motorcycle battery in 16 hours.
Is It Necessary to Recharge the Battery to The Full Limit Before Plugging in The Motorcycle?
It is very necessary to charge the battery to full before plugging it in back in the motorbike.
Can A Completely Dead Battery Get Recharged?
Yes, the dead battery can get recharged if you follow all the steps given in the above article.
Should I Ride My Bike to Charge the Battery?
Yes, if you want, you can also ride the motorcycle to charge its battery.
What Is Battery Reconditioning?
Battery recondition means bringing back the life of a dead battery, which means the full capacity of charging and electrolyte level. Any battery can get reconditioned if it is not on the verge to be labeled as Damaged.
What Are the Pros of Reconditioning A Dead Battery?
The pros of reconditioning a dead battery are as follows:
- It is an easy task if learned properly.
- It helps save the environment.
- It helps save money.
- It increases the lifespan of the battery from several months to years.
Conclusion
The best reconditioning of your motorcycle battery is done when the battery is not completely damaged. There is no risk to try the reconditioning of the battery if you are equipped with the correct tools and safety equipment. The motorcycle battery dies very fast because of dehydration, improper charging, or slow charging.
The reconditioning of the battery will buy you some extra months, and it is not a permanent solution to your battery problem.
After some time, your battery will not be able to get reconditioned, which means that the battery will be completely damaged, and you have to replace it with a new battery.
After carefully following the steps that are described in the above paragraphs, you can also recondition your motorcycle battery at your home, but everything should be done with complete safety and precautions.
Also, you can learn the reconditioning process of your battery from courses like the EZ Battery Reconditioning Program. Once you learn the process, you can do it safely without any hassle.
