ATV Battery question

[Tazhunter]

Anyone familiar with Battery Fluid levels in ATV batteries?

My question is really this:

Can/Should I use distilled water in the battery to bring the fluid level back up? Or do I have to use battery acid?

I know that old car batteries would take distilled water, but it's been so long and technology changes. Not sure if it would still work.

[scooter]

Distilled water will work fine but you'll need to put a charge to it before you use it once you put the distilled water in.

ss

[Tazhunter]

Thanks for the info.

That was part of my problem. Kept trying to charge it and it wouldn't hold a charge. Thought I had a short in my electrical system. Pulled the battery and noticed the level was low.

Thanks.

[Mikey]

distilled water turns to Battery acid once the electro plates do their thing to it ie: put a charge through it .... if yer battery isnt holding charge I would first look at level .....like you did .... then I would suspect broken lead plates inside the battery . on a quad thats beat around all day I hate wet cell batterys for that reason .... I would look into a gel cell or even a drycell battery ... I have seen the Mini 6 pack cell designs of the famous Optima batterys that most 4x4 ers that have a clue use

[cdn-redneck]

A battery tender will also help maintain battery life. if you are only riding ocassionaly a battery tender will keep your system charged up.

http://www.motoworldracing.com/media/Battery%20Tender/Battery%20Tender-Plus.jpg

The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25 amp battery charger designed to fully charge a battery and maintain it at proper storage voltage without the damaging effects caused by trickle chargers. Included is a quick connect harness for hard to reach areas.

[Tazhunter]

Thanks for your assistance in this matter.

Turns out that I may or may not have needed a new battery, but I bought one anyway.

In the end though, it appears that the starter solenoid is bad. Another day and time may have me changing it out and doing the troubleshooting, but it is currently in the shop getting a once-over and a new solenoid if that is the case.

I'll keep you posted.

[Dokis1]

My little brother had a Polaris 800 ( big battery) and bought one of those solar panel chargers and it worked great...he just put it on the shed roof and hooked it up to his quad when he wasn't riding it. Worked even under snow.