Battery fitting R1200GS 2011, battery knackered on trickle charge be aware..

[mpgscott]

Think i managed to kill my Motobatt MBTX12U with having my CTEK trickle charger on over the winter. Hadnt occured to me that this would be an issue and thought it better to keep a feed to it over the winter months.

So when went out a few weeks back had the acc on for a few mins while messing around getting ready and it wouldnt start. So charger on and away she went, alternator fine charging no problems so be aware..

Anyway, couldn't get another MBTX12U in time for going away the other day so got an ETZ14-BS from Tayna for like £30 delivered so happy days. When i took the olde one out it just didnt have much holding it in place. So i got a piece of wood cut to fit under the securing bracket to locate it in place. Will see how it goes will get another Motobatt ordered and this one can go in the mower if needs be.

What's everyone else using? The battery chrome bracket has multiple angled steps to secure a battery but they are way higher than what the height of the battery old and new are.

Im thinking i will place a piece under the battery to lift it up when i change again.

Thanks Mark

 

[Robbieben]

A battery should never be left on charge, not even with an optimate or other type of trickle charger, they will eventaully damage the battery, read the small print that comes with the instructions. 24 hrs a month is all I ever do with bikes stood over winter and that keeps them topped up perfectly well.

 

[botus]

Think i managed to kill my Motobatt MBTX12U with having my CTEK trickle charger on over the winter. Hadnt occured to me that this would be an issue and thought it better to keep a feed to it over the winter months.



Thanks Mark

if you had the ctek set correctly it should be 100% good - batteries wear out - I have two bikes on perm using ctek chargers - never an issue
that said a mate had a Motobatt and his died using an optimate all the time, but it was old and they don't last forever...

the whole idea of the modern decent chargers is they know how to work left on all the time... in most cases it looks after the battery better


the ctek chargers have a terrible design for switching between modes - make sure its on the correct setting
1) a little bit for bikes,
2) more for cars,
3) a third loads of grunt,
4) the the older gold ctek's have a forth destroy any AGM battery setting. The manual makes it abundantly clear to never use that setting with an AGM battery

as for the battery height - buy the taller ones that have more grunt and likely take more charging abuse

 

[seahorse]

The Motobatts I have bought always came with a spacer. I have some spare ones I think.

 

[mpgscott]

if you had the ctek set correctly it should be 100% good - batteries wear out - I have two bikes on perm using ctek chargers - never an issue
that said a mate had a Motobatt and his died using an optimate all the time, but it was old and they don't last forever...

the whole idea of the modern decent chargers is they know how to work left on all the time... in most cases it looks after the battery better


the ctek chargers have a terrible design for switching between modes - make sure its on the correct setting
1) a little bit for bikes,
2) more for cars,
3) a third loads of grunt,
4) the the older gold ctek's have a forth destroy any AGM battery setting. The manual makes it abundantly clear to never use that setting with an AGM battery

as for the battery height - buy the taller ones that have more grunt and likely take more charging abuse

Yep, mines definitely set for the bike. I have two of the CTEK one of the smaller ampage for the bike and larger for the car. So thoughts were that the smaller one would be fine on all the time.

This was my understanding that the CTEK could be left on all the time. Im away from home a lot so wanted to be able to plug and walk away. https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/xs-0-8-uk this is what i had on over winter. According to the manual you plug and forget leave it on to maintain.

Probably the battery age, i tested and its toast with the load tester.

 

[mpgscott]

A battery should never be left on charge, not even with an optimate or other type of trickle charger, they will eventaully damage the battery, read the small print that comes with the instructions. 24 hrs a month is all I ever do with bikes stood over winter and that keeps them topped up perfectly well.

XS 0.8 UK

56-833

www.ctek.com

This is the one i use on the bike (got the larger 5A one for the car) According to the CTEK information you plug it in and leave it on, mine simply must of been an old battery me thinks..

 

[botus]

my KTM 1290 came with Yuasa gell thing at 30 months and 4 k miles it was dead... I suffered with it for another 2 years then gave up and bought one

all four of my BM bikes

57 plate GS OEM battery fine for 5 years, then magically dropped dead overnight
2010 K13 OEM battery fine for 6 years, then magically dropped dead overnight
2011 GSA OEM battery struggled like hell to 11 years - still trying, but it hates life, 1/3 of its size missing compared to std 2007 GS battery
2019 K16 OEM is half the size of the GS replacement, struggles all the time, needed swapping two years back

charging them is no longer a long term solution they just aren't made right anymore...

 

[er-minio]

If the charger is properly set, and works properly, it can be left on.
It will help prolonging battery life. Did you set up the CTEK for the proper chemistry of your battery? They all have slightly different charging voltages.
If I remember correctly the CTEK has to be manually adjusted for AGM, non AGM.

 

[Steptoe]

I’ve had my old Guzzi on an optimate for 5 years,
Always starts for its once a year use on the Distinguished Gentle Man’s Ride

 

[mpgscott]

If the charger is properly set, and works properly, it can be left on.
It will help prolonging battery life. Did you set up the CTEK for the proper chemistry of your battery? They all have slightly different charging voltages.
If I remember correctly the CTEK has to be manually adjusted for AGM, non AGM.

The smaller CTEK doesn't allow a change between chemistry of the battery, simply covers all in one. The car one at the higher ampage does allow to choose.