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john
Member
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 03:28 am | 1st Post |
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hi,
why do i get a white residue on my battery posts and what is the best stuff to clean them with. Should i be getting new bolts and nuts ?
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John H 1984 Interstate
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SHREK snr
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 05:04 am | 2nd Post |
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John clean with a wire brush and then put a lite coat of Vaseline on the the terminals.
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1982 Wineberry 1100 Interstate
1988 Panzer gray 1500/6
Chrome wont get you home. / Skype goldwingnut /RBLR . "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow we gave our today
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walt_k
Member
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 08:03 am | 3rd Post |
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| Vinigar and baking soada cleans batteries real well
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96aspencade
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 10:48 am | 4th Post |
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No need to clean replace anything unless they are breaking John. Follow the above maintenance tips & enjoy the ride. You can get everything at CTC
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GWRRA # 155014
' ?? Suzuki 80 (Gone)
'70? KE-125 (Gone)
'83 Shadow 500 (Gone)
'85 Apsencade GL1200 (Gone)
'96 GL 1500 SE (Present)
http://www.drivingskills.on.ca
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ARKnapp
Senior Guru
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 01:04 am | 5th Post |
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Don't use vinegar on the exterior of your battery. It is a mild acid, and from the sounds of it you are leaking acid onto the exterior of your battery. Pull the battery off the bike, washed the exterior casing with water and make sure the exterior is clean. Any common areas with white residue, wash them with baking soda. also wash the battery case hold their on the bike, when dry spray the area with WD-40. Rinse the battery clean, and make sure the exterior of the battery is completely dry before reinstalling. Clean off the terminals with a circular type cleaner. Do not put Vaseline on the terminals, in fact, do not use any type of grease. Clean the wire terminals. With the battery still on the bike, do a voltage check from the negative post to the nearest cell. Then check each cell n addition. you should get from the negative post to the first cell at least 1.84 V. The next cell 1.84 x 2, then 1.8 x 3 all the way to all 6 cells. the minimum is 1.84 V. The maximum could be up to 2.3 V. the total voltage across the battery should be around 12.5 to 12.7 V DC. I suspect that the battery is never getting fully charged and thus the sulfates are leeching out. you should take a hydrometer and check the specific gravity of each cell also, should be around 1.2 as a minimum. If the specific gravity is too low, and the battery cannot be read charged. You may want to equalize the battery as a trial before you junk it. At least, after equalizing. You may keep it out of the landfill. Equalize by overcharging the complete battery at between 30 and 50 amps for about two or three minutes. Be sure not to leave the battery charged when equalizing.
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P Yanney
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 12:38 am | 6th Post |
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| John, I've tried Vaseline, grease, all kinds of things and I actually had the terminals disintegrate off one battery. Since then, I leave everything dry. It probably is your battery having the problem. As for cleaning, Coke (the soft drink) works the best. Just rinse everything off and let dry. I've had no issues for the last few years. Paul
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87 GL1200I 48,000 mi
75 CB750K 19,000 mi
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exavid
Top Poster
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 12:50 am | 7th Post |
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| I gotta mostly agree with ARKnapp, a good battery cleaning is needed. You can't get corrosion like that unless acid is leaking or acid vapor is seeping out. Best bet is to wash it down as ARKnapp mentioned and then wash down the battery box area on the bike with a strong mixture of baking soda and water. Rinse with fresh water. Baking soda is a base and will neutralize the suphuric acid and help prevent rusting and accelerated corrosion of the battery box and frame in the battery area. Also make sure your vent tube is connected to the battery and not plugged up. The best way to prevent the white gunk is get a battery like an Odyessy. No vent manifold, no leaking acid, better cranking power, and longer life.
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If you can't ride, fly or sail it, why bother?
Paul W. 1993 Aspencade 1982 Aspencade
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Dusty
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 02:47 am | 8th Post |
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As for cleaning, Coke (the soft drink)
Even if it is the other coke it is better for you helth to put it on the battery.  
Dusty
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250 cc Husky sold
2000 Harley 1200 Sportie sold
1981 GL 1100 sold
1984 Aspencade gl 1200 Present bike
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exavid
Top Poster
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 05:14 am | 9th Post |
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| I wouldn't use Coke, the stuff contains phosphoric acid so it's not going to neutralize and acid on the outside of the battery. The sugar that's left behind isn't too good either.
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If you can't ride, fly or sail it, why bother?
Paul W. 1993 Aspencade 1982 Aspencade
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Gofastandfalldown
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 05:55 am | 10th Post |
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| I use a battery terminal cleaner spray. It sprays on and cleans the white stuff off and neutralizes the acid in one step. I don't think it is expensive. I've had this can for probably 10 years. After all, how much of the stuff do you need in a year? Available at auto stores and in Canada at CTC .
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1978 GL1000
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy" George Carlin R.I.P.
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