boiled battery, why ??

[(RIP) drillam]

The obvious first thought was over charging, but a good quality voltmeter showed nothing untoward. Is this just down to a tired battery?
It's since been replaced with another Odyssey and no problems, which leads me to the tired battery conclusion, but would appreciate any thoughts in case I'm missing something and it happens again.
The bike is a 94 1100.
thanks for any advice in advance.
Millard

 

[Womble]

How about a dodgy starter - if it's drawing too many amps that may have done it.

Either way, I'd invest in a battery monitor as soon as possible in case you have an intermittent problem.

 

[Vern]

Terminal wasn't touching the tank underneath was it? 94 it could still be a plastic tank,but if it's metal worth a look

 

[Greg Masters]

When you say 'boiled', do you mean that the battery is boiling hot or do you mean that the battery is now dry?

If the latter, have you tried adding distilled/de-ionised water?

 

[Womble]

I guess you haven't got images turned on - it's an Odyssey gel battery with a socking great hole melted in the bottom

 

[(RIP) drillam]

How about a dodgy starter - if it's drawing too many amps that may have done it.

Either way, I'd invest in a battery monitor as soon as possible in case you have an intermittent problem.

Not sure how I'd test that theory out Womble ?
All I know about the starter is that it wizzes the motor over nice and smartish.

Terminal wasn't touching the tank underneath was it? 94 it could still be a plastic tank,but if it's metal worth a look

It's the plastic one Vern.
BTW, your panniers did me a treat for the last year, even though I bought them 2nd hand, they still look good after dropping them all over Morocco last year

I guess you haven't got images turned on - it's an Odyssey gel battery with a socking great hole melted in the bottom

very eloquently described Womble

 

[Greg Masters]

I guess you haven't got images turned on - it's an Odyssey gel battery with a socking great hole melted in the bottom

Can't get images at work ........

 

[(RIP) drillam]

Can't get images at work ........

Not sure why Greg? seems the others are picking them up

 

[Womble]

Not sure how I'd test that theory out Womble ?
All I know about the starter is that it wizzes the motor over nice and smartish.

That should be fine then, it's when the starter doesn't turn that you would expect problems.

 

[Greg Masters]

Not sure why Greg? seems the others are picking them up

because my work IT people filter them out.

 

[Black Rooster]

because my work IT people filter them out.

you need to see it very impesive

 

[Fanum]

That doesn't look like a boiled battery to me.......it looks like a thoroughly BURNT battery.

Possibly an internal short

Did it go suddenly or has it been weakening over time?

I have no idea what temperature would need to be reached to do that sort of damage to the casing of that battery, but it has to be high enough that there's a serious risk involved.......not to mention that your testicles are about a foot away from what could have been an explosively pressurised box full of extremely hot and rather nasty acid gel

drillam......If that was my battery, I'd send those photos to the company who make Odyssey batteries pronto, seriously!

EDIT...just looked again and fekk me, the battery is only just over 18 months old !!!

 

[Greg Masters]

you need to see it very impesive

I can see it now.

 

[Blackal]

Rough handling, internal faults can cause oxide debris to settle in the base- causing a short across two or more cells.

Looks to be the case here

Al

 

[Black Rooster]

possible a blocked gas vent under the warenty label .. i would send them photos

to your supplier and odessey

they have a 3 year warrenty for automotive applications and a 2 year for powersports

so your gona be covered

 

[(RIP) drillam]

Thanks for your replies fellas, much appreciated.
Trouble is I can't remember where and when I got it. Might even have been 2nd off a site member.
I didn't notice the date label till I was taking another look at the pics yesterday.

My main concern was preventing a repeat performance with it's replacement, although I strongly suspect it's not a charging fault, more of an internal one in the battery.

 

[(RIP) drillam]

That doesn't look like a boiled battery to me.......it looks like a thoroughly BURNT battery.

Possibly an internal short

Did it go suddenly or has it been weakening over time?

I have no idea what temperature would need to be reached to do that sort of damage to the casing of that battery, but it has to be high enough that there's a serious risk involved.......not to mention that your testicles are about a foot away from what could have been an explosively pressurised box full of extremely hot and rather nasty acid gel

drillam......If that was my battery, I'd send those photos to the company who make Odyssey batteries pronto, seriously!

EDIT...just looked again and fekk me, the battery is only just over 18 months old !!!

Seemed to go relatively quickly as I recall. I just noticed that it was reluctant to turn the engine over one day. Put it down to not using the bike much over the previous few months, although I think Odyssey's should hold a charge longer than that. I put it on charge a coupla times overnight., a very good quality smart charger, but it got to the stage where I took a look under the tank and near shit meself when I saw the state of the top of it. Of course when I removed it and saw the underside I was dumbstruck.

 

[street_moto]

Don't know what's caused that , but as others have said I'd send Odyssey pictures of it!

 

[Black Rooster]

i have used odessey batteries in my old SV650S and R1100GS no real problems last battery in Beemer was dated 2006 so not too bad just replaced it this year