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Battery chafing on Small Tank Stelvio.

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Doc. View Drop Down
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    Posted: 12 Aug 2020 at 15:39

Fitted a new Battery today.
Motobatt MBTX16U.

Last one (same type), has been in since Jan 2016, and was getting a bit 'tired'.
Was regularly struggling to turn the Engine over reliably from cold.
If I just hit the Button and let it do it's 'Auto-Start' thing, it would usually just do half-a-spin, then stop, with the 'Blank Dash' scenario.
Holding the Start Button down bypasses the sequence, and it would always start, albeit with a slight pause as it struggled past compression.

Starts nicely now.

Found some damage on the old one, where the Welds on the Bracket had been rubbing.
Not far off breaking through maybe.


Might be worth checking if you have the early Small Tank model.


I removed the original Foam Rubber Pad it sits on, and used some slightly thinner Adhesive-backed Foam, adding a section where those Welds are.

Also levered down on the Retainer while tightening the Screws, to make sure it was as secure as possible. 



Edited by Doc. - 12 Aug 2020 at 15:50
Doc out!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2020 at 17:13
Does the Motobatt differ physically from the original Yuasa?
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Doc. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2020 at 18:49
Dimensions are identical to the Yuasa equivalent, YTX20CH-BS.
151mm Long
87mm Wide
161mm High

I think it had been free to move slightly in it's recess.
The Clamp that secures it bears on the top end, so the lower end can probably bounce around a little on rough roads/off-road.
In the Stelvio (Small Tank version), it lays down at an angle of around 65° from upright.
There's no packing as standard on top of it, just the Clamp Plate at the top end.

Doc out!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gianni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2020 at 19:31
Originally posted by Doc. Doc. wrote:

Holding the Start Button down bypasses the sequence, and it would always start, albeit with a slight pause as it struggled past compression.

This is incredibly useful to know - thanks.

I have had two MotoBatt batteries (same as yours) in my early small tanked Stelvio.

Both failed within two years - one is unrecoverable and is used as a portable electric pump battery around the garage. The other is happily turning over my LM1 and the black Quota I am debugging in another thread but it totally refused to start my Stelvio - I shall try your method.
Le Mans 1, Spada, Cali 1, T3 Mongrel, Le Mans V, Quota x 2, Stelvio TT
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote theone&onlymin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 15:02
Mine sits in this and has a wee drain in bottom left corner so it does.
No wear on my previous or this battery.


Cheers
Min
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gianni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 15:49
Stuck the old MotoBatt battery in the beast and pressed the starter - nought.

Pressed and held it and she fired up, albeit reluctantly.

Thanks again for the tip.
Le Mans 1, Spada, Cali 1, T3 Mongrel, Le Mans V, Quota x 2, Stelvio TT
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Doc. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 16:50
Originally posted by theone&onlymin theone&onlymin wrote:

Mine sits in this and has a wee drain in bottom left corner so it does.
No wear on my previous or this battery.
Min

The 2008 is a bit different to both the later types, as far as Battery fitment goes.


Gianni.
It's worth getting some sort of Battery Tender/Monitor/Optimiser, such as one of the Optimate Series.
http://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-chargers/optimate/optimate-2/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ej5BRBhEiwAfHyh1ILROyTifXKdfMcJl7t1K8q5o0k3HblqWEcVMwD2qGF2b_pHRQX_SRoC5yQQAvD_BwE Cheers

Keeping your Battery connected to one 24/7 (when it's at home) will make it last as long as possible.
Most modern vehicles have some 'parasitic' drain on their Battery (Alarm, Imobiliser, etc), so keeping it topped up is important.

Don't use a 'Trickle Charger', it needs to be a unit that keeps an eye on the Voltage permanently, and just tops it up as and when needed.
Doc out!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gianni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 18:11
I have an Odyssey PC545 which I left in a (non-parasitic) bike for 9 years - it was able to spin up a Guzzi with no problem and without needing charging. I have other Odysseys  which still work after 15 years and have been charged with a standard Halfords charger. Shame none of the Odysseys seem to fit the Stelvio

I now remove the MotoBatt battery from the Stelvio when it is not in use and regard it as a poorly designed short-life component. May go back to Yuasa this time - £94 from Halfords, only £2 more than a battery for my MG car Wacko and about the same price as another MotoBatt from Gutsibits when delivered.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Doc. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 19:44
Some early Motobatts had quality issues I believe, but I'm happy with getting 4 yrs and 7 months from mine.

Yuasas tend to last a bit longer, but then they cost a fair chunk more, and don't have the 4-Terminal layout, which I find very handy.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 22:04
It's the parasytic drain on the Stelvio and all the other newer models which kills the battery. Coupled with the small capacity of these AGM style batteries.

Actually, for my money, I prefer a decent smart charger connected every two or three weeks to charge up the battery fully rather than a battery tender. They have the advantage of being able to properly charge the battery if it becomes discharged. AGM batteries need a charge rate of at least 2 Amps if discharged, most battery tenders won't provide that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gianni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2020 at 08:35
In the case of my (mostly) functioning battery - it seems that it can take and retain a charge which is sufficient to start an 850 with a Bosch starter or a 1000 with a Valeo starter. But it droops and loses the screen when asked to start a Stelvio 1200. This suggests it is the starting current delivery that is compromised with age as well as charge retention.

I checked the two MototBatt batteries and realised that it is the newer one (3+ years) is fit only for low current applications around the workshop. The older one (8+ years) still just about works - not too bad. Perhaps my expectations are too high? Certainly charging discipline is essential with AGM batteries. But to be fair it was probably the parasitic drain along with age that killed my conventional car battery while it has been stationary for the last few months.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2020 at 09:39
Both go hand in hand, the lower the capacity, the lower the available current.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TooJuicy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2020 at 17:02
Originally posted by Brian UK Brian UK wrote:

Actually, for my money, I prefer a decent smart charger connected every two or three weeks to charge up the battery fully rather than a battery tender. They have the advantage of being able to properly charge the battery if it becomes discharged. AGM batteries need a charge rate of at least 2 Amps if discharged, most battery tenders won't provide that.

I do too - I leave the battery to drain for a week or two then plug in a (C-Tek) Smart Charger to boost the charge then leave on float charge for a couple of weeks before taking battery off-charge to drain again.  No clever science involved, but I feel giving the battery a regular wallop with 14.x volts is better than sitting long term on 13.x volts.  I'm likely deluding myself.

I also replace my battery every 5 summers with another Yuasa as a matter of course, because I cannot be bothered to suffer from bad battery electrical problems so it's part of my maintenace schedule.  If a battery is £100 then it's costing me £20 a year. For me £20 is dirt cheap considering the other costs of running a motorcycle, and to avoid battery issues it's a bargain. I suspect if £20/year is too expensive to contemplate I've seriously chosen the wrong hobby! 

Tony

P. S.  Over winter when bike is not in regular use I tend to pull the main fuse(s) as the handbook recommends, and battery holds its charge for months. 


Edited by TooJuicy - 18 Aug 2020 at 17:08
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