Can a battery dry out in 7 months?

WATCHOUT! · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Karma :

Well, earlier in the year I fried the reg/rec and battery and had to get a new one of each. Was nearly ripped off in the process by a certain Vauxhall mechanic.

No problems since then, bike started ok, until I left it for about a week, got back to it this morning and it wouldn't start. Tried jumpstarting but to no avail. I called the recovery service, a bloke came round and started it up, but as he was about to leave it died again. He had a look at the battery and pried off the cap of the cells (you know, the one that has 'DO NOT OPEN' in bold letters on it!!), and the battery was bone dry. He was concerned that it would not start again, and said get thee to a service station and fill thyne batterie with distilled water forthwith! Yes, he was quite biblical sounding.

Now my question is -- can a battery dry out in just a few months? Aren't these things supposed to be sealed (hence the 'do not open') and maintenance-free? Was I once more ripped off by the infamous Vauxhall mechanics, or is it just the way it's supposed to be?

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Bike batteries die in a lot less time than that in my experience...

Not so sure about car batteries though.
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sanchezz_182 · Crazy Courier Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Karma :

DO NOT FILL,, cant realy be any more clear than that,, these batteries do not dry out, the cells absorbe (sp) the fluid that comes in with them when they are new, you cant pry open the cover of the cells and fill, it wil do no good at all. wel it mite bust open again an cover the bike in acid destroying everythin it touches..

you need a new battry,,
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irving · Traffic Copper Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

They don't dry out they boil dry due to excess charging usually.

Sealed batteries have vents on them only to let out any pressure that builds up, any water that evaporates condenses on the top of the battery and drips back into the cell. So they don't need toping up. Sounds like you were given a faulty one. Confused

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WATCHOUT! · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Karma :

well, that's good news then. I was quite looking forward to spending some more on the bike! Merry christmas one and all! I'll go to my trusty mechanic in Hackney (not the cheating one in Vauxhall) and get his opinion, but it looks like there's some sort of problem.

Cheers all for the diagnostic help, I did think that 'maintenance-free' meant just that......