[KaraokeGreg]

On my way home from work (approx. 50 miles) the other day, at two miles from home, my bike started smelling like rotten eggs ( battery acid / sulfur). I threw a volt meter on the battery while it was running to check the voltage but it seemed normal between 13.8 to 14.2 volts, even when I revved the engine up. I removed the battery using a rag, as it was so hot I could not touch it. The outside of the battery case was melting inward.
Also both headlight blew out some time the previous week. coincidental?

Can anyone tel me what to look for first. Is it possible just the battery went bad? It is a one or two year old Walmart battery that was starting to go dead and would not hold a charge more than a few days. I kept it on a trickle charger when it was not in use.
Or is it something more serious? if so what?

I was planning on buying a new battery and checking the voltage again.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Greg

 

[Dave_J]

It sounds like an internal short inside the battery. When it started to lose its capacity and you had to have the trickle charger on it, it became sulfatied and its life was done. If the charging output is steady and within spec's I'd just put another battery on it.

When a battery internal shorts, the charging system will try to keep piling on the power to charge it, only to melt or blow up and burn down the whole vehicle or worse. Imagine 100 cars parked in a tight parking garage when the car in the center battery shorts out and catches fire.

 

[MJR]

I would change out the battery and check it again. Like Dave said the battery most likely has an internal problem. Its probably not coming up to/resisting being charged and thats why the battery is getting hot.

 

[peelbrow]

I would change out the battery and check it again. Like Dave said the battery most likely has an internal problem. Its probably not coming up to/resisting being charged and thats why the battery is getting hot.

+ 2 Get a Yuasu battery as replacement.

 

[KaraokeGreg]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll be getting a new battery this weekend and giving it a try, I'll let you know how it works out.

Any reason for suggesting the Yuasu battery?

Greg

 

[MJR]

The battery of choice for most here seems to be the MotoBatt. I haven't tried on yet but figure I might in the future.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=60783&p=565179#p565179

 

[QuantumRift]

BAD battery.

Wal mart batteries have no warranty. They suck.

It failed - replace it. MOTOBATT!!!

On my way home from work (approx. 50 miles) the other day, at two miles from home, my bike started smelling like rotten eggs ( battery acid / sulfur). I threw a volt meter on the battery while it was running to check the voltage but it seemed normal between 13.8 to 14.2 volts, even when I revved the engine up. I removed the battery using a rag, as it was so hot I could not touch it. The outside of the battery case was melting inward.
Also both headlight blew out some time the previous week. coincidental?

Can anyone tel me what to look for first. Is it possible just the battery went bad? It is a one or two year old Walmart battery that was starting to go dead and would not hold a charge more than a few days. I kept it on a trickle charger when it was not in use.
Or is it something more serious? if so what?

I was planning on buying a new battery and checking the voltage again.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Greg

 

[KaraokeGreg]

Motobattry is out of stock, Walmart is the only game in town as usual, as I need it now. ugh!
Oh and they do have a whole 3 month warranty. hope it last longer than that lol!

 

[TechArtGuy]

You can get motobatts on amazon and ebay as well if you don't mind the wait for several days.

 

[peelbrow]

Any reason for suggesting the Yuasa battery? Greg

It's just a case of experience as I have used Yuasa batteries since about 1978. I talked to a man in 1960 who actually manufactured batteries. He saw my Yuasa and said "I wish I could make one as good as that"
I have never had a problem with them bikewise. The last one lasted over 10 years on my honda Deauville and when I bought my used Burgman in 2010 I especially asked for it to be fitted with a new Yuasa. I have always had them hooked up to a battery tender.

 

[KaraokeGreg]

Thanks for all the advise from everyone.

Here's an update.

Before purchasing a new battery, I put the old one back in, and once again through a volt meter on it, all seemed normal for the first 8-10 minutes, at idle around 13.8 volt, and when I brought the RPM's up to around 4,000-5,000 it would drop to around 11-12 volts which I assume was do to the trans CVT unit using some volts, I thought that it should have stayed above 12 volts though.
Then after sitting at idle, now about 10 min. into test the voltage started to climb for the next two minutes, until it reach 16 volts when I turned it off and removed the battery which was getting warm.

Next I decided to try it with the good battery from my other scooter, and same thing after eight minutes it started to climb back up to 16 volts.
So I figure the problem is not the battery, which I suspected as it was less than a year old.

Now I need some help as what to look for now.
It looks like my riding season may now be over before it ever really got started.
Now that my warranty has expired I guess I'll be getting to know my Burgman even better.

I hope someone can give me some good advise, Thanks in advance.
Greg

 

[Buffalo]

You may have a problem with the regulator/rectifier. You can test it with the diode setting on a multimeter. You will have to remove the left rear frame cover to gain access to the plugs to do the test. The plugs are located behind that cover right in front of the gas filler neck.

You can also test the output and resistance of the stator in the generator while you have the cover off and have access to the plugs.

The procedures for testing them are in the electrical system section of the service manual. Pages are 10-9 and 10-10 in my version of the manual.

 

[ErikDK]

But remember:

Without a good battery, you don't get reliable measurements of the charging system in action.

You'll need a good battery anyway.

 

[TheBlackMoon]

To make a suggestion, wait for the MotoBatt... I invested in one a few months ago, and it's wonderful. :cheers:

First off, it comes with a 2YR Warranty. 2nd, and in my opinion, best and most unique, it is a 4 POST battery, having 2 negative and 2 positive posts. The great thing about that is all of your accessories, power additions, heated gear plugs, etc... can be connected to the second set of terminals, thus keeping everything away from the OEM starter/Stator connections. When the need comes to test power connections for the bike, or the accessories, you won't need to keep disconnecting the starter/stator and you reduce the possibility of breaking it's wires, or causing shorts and bad grounds, which could be detrimental to the bike.

Lastly, shipped, it wasn't much more than the 1yr (expected LIFETIME!!!) "normal" battery that goes in the bike.

Oh, btw, make sure that the "good battery" you are swapping from your "other scooter" is of the same amp/hr (ah) rating and voltage your Burg uses. It does NOT use a typical 9ah "scooter" battery. It uses a 12-14ah (depending on the manufacturer) MOTORCYCLE battery, the same used in a Goldwing, in fact.

 

[KaraokeGreg]

Just an update in case anyone wants to know.

The overcharging problem was the rectifier/voltage regulator.
I purchased and installed it my self with help from Ledudes web site (for removal of Tupperware)
Purchase from:
http://www.partzilla.com/
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/p ... 10G00.html
Suzuki - 32800-10G20 Superseded number ( old number 32800-10G00)
RECTIFIER ASSY
$143.83
FYI: I can no longer find this part# on their web site it now comes up as the old number -10G00

Hope this helps someone out in the future.

Thanks everyone for your help, Greg

 

[MJR]

Glad you got her sorted.

 

[NormanB]

Thank you for feeding back.