Battery Vent Tube

[mcycle-nut]

The other day I stopped at the gas station, filled up, hit the starter, and BOOM! No power. Checked fuses. Ok. Hmmm. Since I only lived 1km (.62mi), I pushed it. Wasn't too bad as it was flat with some slight downhill. Still, a fuelled up '83 GS1100ESD is over 550lb. After further delving into the situation, I found the problem, a blowed up battery! It appears the battery vent tube was kinked, so the gases built up in the battery. So, take heed, make sure that the vent tube is not kinked, crimped or blocked. Better yet, ditch the stock one and put on the one that comes with the battery. They have small slits in them to act as release in case this happens.

Now the question I have is, who has the right of way on a sidewalk, an insured non-running motorcycle, or a spine-grinder riding his skateboard?

[Burque73]

The other day I stopped at the gas station, filled up, hit the starter, and BOOM! No power. Checked fuses. Ok. Hmmm. Since I only lived 1km (.62mi), I pushed it. Wasn't too bad as it was flat with some slight downhill. Still, a fuelled up '83 GS1100ESD is over 550lb. After further delving into the situation, I found the problem, a blowed up battery! It appears the battery vent tube was kinked, so the gases built up in the battery. So, take heed, make sure that the vent tube is not kinked, crimped or blocked. Better yet, ditch the stock one and put on the one that comes with the battery. They have small slits in them to act as release in case this happens.

Now the question I have is, who has the right of way on a sidewalk, an insured non-running motorcycle, or a spine-grinder riding his skateboard?

Glad it didnt blow acid on your legs or something. Thats crazy! Never thought one would blow like that rather than pop the hose off.
The frame under my battery has a funky rusted spot from the when the PO had it. Won't happen again though now have a sealed battery.

[Steve]

Even better: ... get an AGM battery, use pieces from the old vent tube to hold the nut up so it's easier to install the bolt.

.

[gs11ezrydr]

the other day i stopped at the gas station, filled up, hit the starter, and boom! No power. Checked fuses. Ok. Hmmm. Since i only lived 1km (.62mi), i pushed it. Wasn't too bad as it was flat with some slight downhill. Still, a fuelled up '83 gs1100esd is over 550lb. After further delving into the situation, i found the problem, a blowed up battery! It appears the battery vent tube was kinked, so the gases built up in the battery. So, take heed, make sure that the vent tube is not kinked, crimped or blocked. Better yet, ditch the stock one and put on the one that comes with the battery. They have small slits in them to act as release in case this happens. Those are the hoses needed,all bikes come with a routing diagram on how to run the vent hose.kinda important besides,blowing up! But seeping down on a $2000 swing arm also gets costly. Dealers are the worse,fill it instead of saturating it,stick it in custoners in a hurry,customers loss there been working at dealers for 35 years there tactics and mine don't always agree.

Now the question i have is, who has the right of way on a sidewalk, an insured non-running motorcycle, or a spine-grinder riding his skateboard?

right hand i think.

[Brendan W]

I would feel a bit uncomfortable with the blocked vent explanation until I had eliminated overcharging and/or low electrolyte level.
The answer to the right of way question is the one with less insurance cover has right of way.

[one_civic]

Get an AGM battery, you'll never have to worry about it again

[mcycle-nut]

Looked like it got kinked to me. Then again, it didn't look like it sprayed electrolyte all over the place, and it started no problem when I started out. It sounded like the battery had a lot of juice, didn't go rowh, rowh, click, click, after a couple of fast cranks.


kinked vent tube.JPG

[Burque73]

Careful mcycle-nut, you'll get banned for posting kinky pics! Hehehe

[Nessism]

As mentioned, better check your charging system since it may be overcharging if your R/R has failed. The ground for the R/R is very poor on some GS bikes and when corrosion sets in the system overcharges and boils out the electrolyte.

I also agree that it seems strange that pressure build up inside the battery would blow out the side before spitting off the breather hose. $hit happens as they say though.

[Guest]

I've seen shorted batteries pop the case, never a pressure one.

[Guest]

I've never heard of that before. And I would agree with Ed and check your charging system before ridding the bike again. Glad it didn't make a mess.