Safety precautions
Never charge a battery without first reviewing the instructions for the charger being used. In addition to the manufacturer’s instructions, follow these general safety precautions:
- Always wear proper eye, face and hand protection.
- Always charge batteries in a well-ventilated area.
- Turn the charger OFF before connecting the leads to the battery to avoid dangerous sparks.
- Never try to charge a visibly damaged or frozen battery.
- Connect the charger leads to the battery; red positive (+) lead to the positive (+) battery terminal and black negative (-) lead to the negative (-) battery terminal. If the battery is still in the vehicle, connect the negative lead to the chassis ground. Be sure the ignition and all electrical accessories are turned off.
- Make sure the charger leads to the battery are not broken, frayed, or loose.
- If the battery becomes hot, or if violent gassing or spewing of electrolyte occurs, reduce the charging rate or turn off the charger temporarily.
- Always turn charger "OFF" before removing charger leads from the battery to avoid dangerous sparks.
Charging battery
Charge the battery if any of the following conditions exist:
- The vehicle lights appear dim.
- The electric starter sounds weak.
- The battery has not been used for an extended period of time.
Warning! Always charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Explosive hydrogen gas escapes from the battery during charging. Keep open flames, electrical sparks and smoking materials away from the battery at all times. Failure to do so could result in death or serious injury.
Caution! If the battery releases an excessive amount of gas during charging, decrease the charging rate. If the battery gets hotter than 110°F (43°C) during charging, disconnect the charger and allow the battery to cool. Overheating may result in plate distortion, internal shorting, drying out or other damage.
1. See Battery testing in this section. Perform a voltmeter test to determine the state of charge. If the battery needs to be charged, proceed to step 2.
Caution! Always remove the battery from the motorcycle before charging. Accidental electrolyte leakage will damage motorcycle parts.
2. See Battery disconnection and removal in this section. Remove the battery from the motorcycle.
3. Place the battery on a level surface.
Warning! Always unplug or turn OFF the battery charger before connecting the charger clamps to the battery. Connecting clamps with the charger ON could cause a spark resulting in a battery explosion. A battery explosion may rupture the battery case causing a discharge or spray of sulfuric acid which could result in death or serious injury.
Caution! Do NOT reverse the charger connections described in the following steps or the charging system of the motorcycle could be damaged.
4. Connect the red battery charger lead to the positive (+) terminal of the battery.
5. Connect the black battery charger lead to the negative (-) terminal of the battery.
Note. If the battery is still in the vehicle, connect the negative (-) lead to the chassis ground. Be sure the ignition and all electrical accessories are turned off.
6. For battery charging rates/times, see Table 8-7. Step away from the battery and turn on the charger.
7. After the battery is fully charged, disconnect the black battery charger lead from the negative (-) terminal of the battery.
8. Disconnect the red battery charger lead from the positive (+) terminal of the battery.
9. Mark the charging date on the battery.
Table 8-7. Battery charging rates/times
| Battery Amp-Hour | STATE OF CHARGE | 3 Amp Charger | 6 Amp Charger | 10 Amp Charger | 20 Amp Charger | |
| Voltage Reading | % of Charge | |||||
| 12 | 12.8 V | 100% | - | - | - | - |
| 12.6 V | 75% | 1 hour 20 minutes | 40 minutes | 25 minutes | 12 minutes | |
| 12.3 V | 50% | 2 hours 40 minutes | 80 minutes | 50 minutes | 25 minutes | |
| 12.0 V | 25% | 4 hours | 2 hours | 1 hour 10 minutes | 40 minutes | |
| 11.8 V | 0% | 5 hours 20 minutes | 2 hours 40 minutes | 1 hour 40 minutes | 50 minutes | |
The figures listed above assume the battery is charging at room temperature. If warmer than room temperature, use a slightly shorter charging time. If colder, use a slightly longer charging time.
The use of constant current chargers to charge sealed maintenance-free batteries is not recommended. Any overcharge will cause dry-out and premature battery failure. If a constant current charger is the only type available, do not exceed the charge times listed above and do not continue charging the battery if it gets hot. When charging, never exceed 15 volts for more than 30 minutes.