How long does a 12v battery take to charge

[AcID ZeR0]

On average?
I've just brought a cheap Draper 12v charger to do it with. The bike was standing for 6 months and the battery has been drained to the point where it couldn't even make the petrol needle go up.

I toped the battery up with distiled water and I've left it on since about 2:00 PM and now I've managed to get everything back lights, petrol needle, indicatiors etc..

All that doesn't work is the starter motor, it is making a very faint whirling sound but is no where near engaging.
I was wondering how long should it take?

[Scotsman37]

Have you tried a change of spark plugs as they maybe now faulty due to not being fired for 6 months and try some WD40 on your HT lead's connections to make sure they haven't rusted.

[AcID ZeR0]

Hi mate, the bike was started yesterday. I jump started it off my Dads car.
Unfortunatly it's a 4t and doesn't have a kick start so I need the battery recharged.

[Scotsman37]

[AcID ZeR0]

Cheers mate, I'll leave it overnight if still no joy I'll change the spark.

[extreme3d]

If the battery electrolyte levels have been allowed to drop before putting the bike away for storage then it is possible it has becomed damaged by a process called sulphation. Deposits settle at the bottom of the battery and short it out. If this is the case then it will never again hold its full charge and will need to be replaced.

But before i've filled you with thoughts of having to buy a new £100 battery, keep on bump starting it and taking it for long rides as you never know, it may just be completely flat and just be reluctant to accept a charge. Its worth a try before buying and if the bike bump starts and then keeps running (battery is at least completing the circuit) will not do the bike any harm.

[Patto]

Its a bit of a mis noma but a 12v battery showing 12v on a meter is actually almost discharged, a fully charged battery will be showing nearer 13v although once in use it will settle at around
12.6- 12.85v just depends how you use the bike how long it cranks before starting an temperature.

A bike battery should be charged slow at around 1-2 Amps or less
if it is sulphated and refusing to accept a charge. Some of the more expensive chargers can sometimes recover these seemingly
dead batterys.

As a rule of thumb don't let it get hot as this can distort the plates in the battery causing a cell to drop out.

Some older battery's just will not store a decent reserve so will flatten if the bike doesn't start straight away.

Time to get a new one.

I suffered a crappy battery on a GS750 for a couple of years (tight git), most of the time getting all sweaty kicking the bastard over , what a relief when I got a brand new one and that baby started right off the button.

Hope this helps

Patto

[alains]

the lead batteries do not like fast charge . the best way to charge them is 10% amps of their capacity during 10 hours
for exemple i've got a NSR125 which i put sometimes on charge . i do it at 0.5 Amp because it's a 5AH capacity
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