Craptastic Wal Mart battery

[stoinkythepig]

I went 5 years with the original battery, and it still worked but I replaced it just in case. Now, it's been less than 2 years and the repalcement Wal Mart AGM battery nearly stranded me at Haffner's gas station in Hudson, NH this morning.

What's the repalcement battery of choice these days?

[Kurlon]

Yuasa is a good batt.

[The Snowman]

Yuasa is a good batt.

+1

Or DieHard. (if you want to pay ridiculous prices)

[richw]

Yuasa props

I git ok life from walmart though

[Sheppo]

In everybike I own YUASA. I don't like getting stranded. You pay premium for them BUT you get great life out of them.

[ssg]

Interesting on the WM cell...did you winterize it and give it love etc. in the off season? the AGM's nowadays (including the Yuasa I bought less than 25 months ago) don't like hanging out discharing for any length of time it seems.

My WM cells have been ok - they are made by JCI who OEM's for all sorts of other companies. Can't remember if they make the AGM or not (don't think they make all of them, but it is a reputable maker for the others).

[Kurlon]

Yeah, if you can, keep it on a tender when not in use, and in the winter pull it while keeping it on something like an Optimate 4 that can de-sulfate the battery if needed.

[stoinkythepig]

I am very good about battery maintenance. It got the same treatment I have given every other battery for the last dozen years, including by-the-book initial charging and routine charging during non-riding periods. It is a sealed unti, so I never added distilled water or anything. It's the only battery out of perhaps 7 that I've bought for the 4 bikes I've owned recently that failed so quickly, and the only non-Yuasa (and Wal Mart) bike battery I have ever used.

[Lxpony]

There are 2 flavors at Walmart- the basic one and a maxxstart (sp) version in the yellow case. Which are you referring to?

[zxme]

I only use interstate for my ZX12.....also always use a battery tender in winter months

[R7]

I buy named brand soda, water, and candy from wallfart. The rest of the stuff they sell is shit, including batteries.
Spend the money on the OEM battery, problem solved

[Rambunctous]

I put Wal-Mart batteries in my pacemaker this morning and they work jus......

[richw]

Is it still true if you trickle charge a battery to full before you put in a vehicle you greatly extend its life

[csmutty]

Another vote for Yuasa.

[stoinkythepig]

The battery is a Maxxwhatever.

I opened the "sealed" caps and it was very low on electrolyte. I had some battery acid, so I added it until it was full again. I shut the fuel off and it cranked quite strongly and for a decent amount of time without crapping out like it did this morning. I charged it up and we'll see how it goes.

[ssg]

Lack of battery acid will do that...but why wasn't it full the first time? and more importantly...why did you have spare?

[stoinkythepig]

Lack of battery acid will do that...but why wasn't it full the first time? and more importantly...why did you have spare?

I filled it when I bought it, using all the acid provided. The acid "bottle" was a rather clever arrangement having 6 small containers ganged together. Each had a foil cap and the battery has protrusions that pierce the foil caps when the container is inverted and pressed into the battery. No spillage and equal amounts in each cell this way.

The leftover acid was included with a battery I bought for a used Coleman 5000 watt generator that I recently converted to electric start. It came with far more acid than I needed, all in one jug. I simply can't throw something as useful as Sulpheric acid away. Glad I saved it.

[DaveZX6r]

I put a yuassa in my fzr mid way thru the season last year when i went to dissconect the bat for winter storage, one of the terminals litterally tore open from the bolt hole right thru to the side of the lug! I talked to the shop where I got it and they said it was past warranty. That was the last yuasa I decided to buy. My wally world battery has been fine for me so far and was like 60 bucks rather than the 130 for the yuasa.

[Pestilence]

The ONLY thing I buy from Wallyworld is Shell Rotella T when it's on sale for 11.99 a jug and even then I have a hard time giving them my money. I can't believe someone would buy a battery for their bike there and expect it to last