Maintenance Free Battery ?

[SkiDad]

I apologize if this was covered but I couldn't find anything in the stickys or search.

I talked with CDI about a new Stator today - i have an '85 Force 125 and I'm pretty sure the stator is fried based on open loop ohm readings.

Anything the tech guy at CDI said that they don't recommend an maintenance free battery and that they are hard on Stators - I'm pretty sure my batter is Maintenance Free - the owner I bought the boat from just put it in a few years ago.

So is that an issue and should I change ? Don't want to toast another stator.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

The reason they do not recommend Maint-Free batteries is because the original charging system is unregulated. however, if your charging system has been modified or a regulator has been installed, a maint-free battery should be OK.

 

[stubtail]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

I fail to see how a maintenance free battery would destroy stators. That being said, the down-side of a sealed battery is that they can overcharge with unregulated charging, boiling off water. Since it is sealed, you cannot top up the cells, so the plates will no longer be fully submerged, and the battery will lose elctrical storage capacity, resulting in a trip to Battery World for an uplanned purchase!

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

i think everything is original - all i see is this rectifier and don't know if it works or not.

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

You can tell if it works or not by taking voltage reading between the red wire and the ground black wire with engine running. If you see voltage higher than your battery voltage (with engine off) then it is working. I'm not really sure what to tell you if you should get a new battery (non-Maint-Free) or not. but for sure you can just include a regulator with that rectifier which is cheaper than the stator or the battery.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

anyone know where I can get a non-Maintenance Free battery - and I'm still not understanding why this is the case - is it a voltage issue ?

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

Costco and walmart and just about all auto shops got them. Some non-maint free battery looks like maint-free because they have long two sets of caps that cover three hole plates. How about posting a pic of your battery so we can tell if it is maint free?

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

here is a pic i took the other day (but it was in the boat)

1st pic is of my main battery (same model but newer)


- the 2nd pic is for the trolling battery - don't use a troller though - sold it - just left it in for spare.

 

[stubtail]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

The first battery is identified as "maintenance free", although it appears to have removable caps over the cells, so you could likely add distilled water if required. The second battery however is identified as "sealed" and as such cannot be topped up. If your battery has enough capacity to start your motor, and holds charge, why replace it?

 

[Jiggz]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

Subtail is correct. The 1st pic is a non-maint free battery and the second is a maint free battery. I'll say you are good to go. Go ahead and install the stator and conduct testing.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Maintenance Free Battery ?

thank you guys - you have been very helpful !