RSRBob, thanks for the educated response. It makes sense to me now and yes a
comparable non-sealed battery has 190 cold cranking amps vs. our 200.
What do you expect from Steve's place/All Sport :((- This battery was
supposedly replaced under warranty right before I bought my GTS. From
knowing them, if corners can be cut they will do it and buyer be damned.
The question now is who do I buy from? Are you saying that I can mail order
a sealed battery and do the procedure myself? Maybe I can ride up to Sloans.
I'll try to call you this morning while driving to work.
Thanks again
George
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 9:50 PM
Subject: Re: Battery question
> George,
> My experience and observation has been that sealed batteries do last
longer.
> HOWEVER, one very important step in ensuring a battery will live as long
as
> possible is putting it into service correctly the first time. These sealed
> batteries are shipped to the dealer dry. They come with their own
electrolyte
> that is a different specific gravity from a lead acid battery electrolyte.
It
> is also an exact quantity of electrolyte. The key to servicing a battery
> properly is following the instructions. The electrolyte container must be
> allowed to stay on the battery in the drain position for 20 minutes. Then
the
> battery is supposed to be left sitting open for 20 minutes, then the
battery
> is supposed to be charged. This procedure is time consuming and
> counterproductive in the eyes of most shops or individuals selling the
> batteries. Battery warranties represent one of the highest warranty costs
to
> manufacturers. BMW, who seemed to be warrantying batteries left and right,
> cut back on their warranty policy for economic reasons. Honda Europe now
> requires its dealers to purchase a $500 battery charger to make sure the
> batteries are serviced properly. BTW, that $500 charger charges one
battery
> at a time....... but it is trick!
> The examples go on, Suzuki has sent instructions similar to a tech
bulletin
> to their dealers again reminding them of the proper procedure to service a
> new battery.
> As far as brands, I like Yuasa. Generally, as you eluded to, lead acid
> batteries do not physically fit in the same space as a sealed battery. I
> believe this is to discourage using a different style of battery. My
> recollection is also that the sealed batteries have more reserve amps than
a
> comparably sized lead acid battery.
> If I were buying a battery tomorrow, I would buy a Yuasa stock
replacement,
> and service and charge it myself. I think we did a survey on battery life
> once before and more than a few people mentioned getting 5 years out of a
> battery, and most got at least 3. If you only got 2.5 years out of yours,
I
> would suspect you got flat rated on the servicing of the battery where you
> bought it.
> RSRBOB
>
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