Battery replacement time?

[simonsGSA]

2008 GSA 1200. I think the battery MIGHT be original, certainly not been replaced in the last 6 years and I have no bill for one prior to my ownership, seems a bit old though!

Just recently its been a bit sluggish to turn over, fires but is turning over pretty slow, it could be just the cold weather? Seems to be the same even on a hot start though.

Battery is showing 12.48v after been sat overnight in the garage.

Before I go and splash out on a new battery are there any weak points worth checking first, maybe corrosion on starter cables or earth strap? Battery is the most likely candidate though I suspect.

 

[Pukmeister]

It can be worth stripping down the starter motor and cleaning the carbon dust from the commutator, checking/replacing the brush pack and stripping/greasing the planetary gears. I recently bought a new brush pack for mine on eBay, cant recall the seller but a forum search should reveal all:

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/555003-Slow-cranking-but-always-starts/page3

Also worth checking the wiring connections are clean between the starter pilot wire and connector, battery terminal and starter motor terminal.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

At least 6 yr old, possibly (probably) 14.
Change it. Batteries are consumables.

Try measuring battery voltage during crank.

 

[simonsGSA]

During crank it seems to drop to about 6v, that might be my DVM. I will try and hook my Harley battery up via jump leads and see if it is less sluggish. But I think you are right, my battery might be on borrowed time!

 

[iain1067]

I would say so my battery was down at 9 volts on crank and then wouldn't really hold a charge, so new one in it was

 

[GSADavidZH2]

I had a similar issue when my bike was 5 years old, my DVM showed 9 volts when trying to start. So installed a new Motobatt and problem solved.

 

[simonsGSA]

Fitted a motobatt. Will see how that goes, 14 years is not a bad innings for a battery!

 

[jefformston]

Fitted a motobatt. Will see how that goes, 14 years is not a bad innings for a battery!

Hope you have better luck than me, tried 2 in my 1200 both failed quickly so went back to OEM, much longer lasting and better performance.

 

[simonsGSA]

I have a motobatt in my Harley, a few years old and seems to be OK. Gets a lot of heat and vibration in an old shovelhead!

 

[richtel]

Just take the bike to a local battery centre and ask them to test it. Quick and easy and it will give you a reasonable interpretation as to the health of the battery. It's the health of the battery you care about, not the state of charge. 2008? You're like on borrowed time anyway.

I had an Odyssey PC535 in my 2005- it was still very healthy at 10 years old.

 

[Greenman14]

Don’t take a chance. I had two batteries go from ok to useless in a very short time; if it’s 6 years old and you think it might be on its way change it. And do the other stuff as well.

 

[simonsGSA]

Replaced battery and it instantly feels like I don't need to hold my breath every time I hit the starter

 

[Ibex]

Fitted a motobatt. Will see how that goes, 14 years is not a bad innings for a battery!

My Last Motobatt - not more than 2 years old, has cracked at one end - from top to bottom and bled it's contents down the frame! For most of its life the battery has done nothing due to bike inactivity over Covid. I shall certainly not be buying another!

 

[bobsnew]

My 2012 GSA has been suffering from slow cranking for a few years, i did replace the battery about 3 years ago with no significant improvement, it never failed to start but my heart was in my mouth each time, a couple of months ago I took the starter to a local specialist who I have faith in who reported that he had cleaned and greased the starter motor and no components needed replacing and was otherwise is in good working condition, i did find initially it was cranking over a little quicker but i still had concerns, I bit the bullet last week and i purchased this MBYZ16HD MOTOBATT Quadflex AGM Bike Battery 12V 16Ah, from Tanya Batteries at a little under £70. delivered, 2 yrs warranty. What an amazing difference, it flies to a start now. If you go down this route be sure to register the purchase with Motobatt.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

My Last Motobatt - not more than 2 years old, has cracked at one end - from top to bottom and bled it's contents down the frame! For most of its life the battery has done nothing due to bike inactivity over Covid. I shall certainly not be buying another!

Sure that wasn’t frost damage then?
Leaving it sat around without use and discharge cycles will fuck it very quickly so could be split from a slightly iffy trickle charger also