25 replies to this topic

[Favs]

FYI

I enquired some years ago on this very forum about Lithium batteries & cold weather, but I didn't get a confirming response..........

 

So here it is, I hope someone will benefit....

 

One benefit springs to mind - these batteries are light enough to easily throw at salesmen

 

Bike stood for around 3 weeks in the shed with the correct charger/maintenance gizmo connected to the battery, the right way round too.

 

I disconnected the charger yesterday, and wheeled the bike outside today cos its nice and sunny and only minus 3 C and I wanted to do some work in the shed.

Stabbed the starter button and the engine barely turned with the voltmeter showing 10.1v. while cranking.

Connected the old skool LA charger & immediatly pressed the starter = away we go.

 

So there you have it, Lithium Batteries are shite cold - if I  had been away from home the bike would have been a breakdown case (unless there was a convenient hill for a bump start).  For my money, minus 3 C isn't really that cold & certaily not too cold for motorcycle camping. Sooo disappointed in the Shido shite performance.

 

Back to the dependable, always worked in all termperatures, Yuasa AGM for me. Meanwhile the twice the price Li-ing bstrds will be consigned to shed aux lighting/alarm duties charging via solar panels.

 

Yes I know how to press buttons as well as shirts

 

Happy new year.

 

 

[Catteeclan]

That's a bummer. I guess that's why some of the EVs have heaters and cooling on the batteries.

[Nog]

I've never bought into the idea of using Lithium on vehicles that were designed around lead acid.

 

The charging systems aren't built to balance etc as required by lithium. I'm sure a bit of that is built into the battery, but with the sometimes erratic start/stop way local riding can be that would be impacted.

 

Just my take, but I've never had a problem with good old lead acid, and a TDM isn't exactly a light weight racer so I've no problem having a few kg extra on the bike.

[fixitsan]

I have a passed it's best lead acid in my car, very slow cranking in these temperatures.

But I know from research that cranking the engine for a few seconds causes microheating on the lead plates, So I give it one or two slow cranks, wait 15 seconds, and it cranks much faster after the pause to allow the heating to work on the acid.

 

Last year it was the same, and with a bit of luck next year will be the same too !

[Catteeclan]

I have a passed it's best lead acid in my car, very slow cranking in these temperatures.

But I know from research that cranking the engine for a few seconds causes microheating on the lead plates, So I give it one or two slow cranks, wait 15 seconds, and it cranks much faster after the pause to allow the heating to work on the acid.

 

Last year it was the same, and with a bit of luck next year will be the same too !

 Tight arse.

[MickC]

I have Lithium on two offroaders it will turn over fine during the winter (garaged) I have one I have not used since 2018 when I bought another bike (havent got round to selling it yet) I charge it when I need to start it and it too is ok,and as Fixitsan says they turn over faster when warmed up so the more you try to start the bike tthe more power you get (within reason) unlike a lead batt that just gets slower.So no probs from me exept the price on bigger batts mines only 7ah so not too bad.

[fixitsan]

 Tight arse.

 

You can indeed take the man out of Yorkshire, but....
It's only an issue for about 30 days per year !

[dapleb]

This is shocking news for a mk1 owner... older things...cost less and more reliable... newer things full of gizmos and break easy!

[fixitsan]

This is shocking news for a mk1 owner... older things...cost less and more reliable... newer things full of gizmos and break easy!

Did you know they're making lithium Ion forklift batteries now ?

 

Those big heavy lead acid counterweights are 'old fashioned' !

[curlylegend]

I have a passed it's best lead acid in my car, very slow cranking in these temperatures.

But I know from research that cranking the engine for a few seconds causes microheating on the lead plates, So I give it one or two slow cranks, wait 15 seconds, and it cranks much faster after the pause to allow the heating to work on the acid.

 

Last year it was the same, and with a bit of luck next year will be the same too !

They were trying to sell Moskvitchs in UK in the seventies on the strength that they were super cheap and "Built to cope with Siberian Winters".  Perhaps they were. But I remember reading through an owners manual, remember them ?, and it advised, if starting in sub-zero temperatures to put the headlamps onto full beam for 20 seconds before engaging the starter.

Mind you if that didn't work there was always a starting handle...Remember THEM ?

[fixitsan]

They were trying to sell Moskvitchs in UK in the seventies on the strength that they were super cheap and "Built to cope with Siberian Winters".  Perhaps they were. But I remember reading through an owners manual, remember them ?, and it advised, if starting in sub-zero temperatures to put the headlamps onto full beam for 20 seconds before engaging the starter.

Mind you if that didn't work there was always a starting handle...Remember THEM ?

 

I wish I could, but I'm only nearly 60 !

[chrisr]

 (unless there was a convenient hill for a bump start).

Yeah good luck with that! 

[dapleb]

Did you know they're making lithium Ion forklift batteries now ?
 
Those big heavy lead acid counterweights are 'old fashioned' !

I was lucky enough to witness such forklifts with my own eyes..... they also did not have drivers! They charge themselves my scuffing up to contacts on the plant walls...and then scurrying off when charged/next allocated a job.

I also witnessed them chuck shit loads of car parts all over the floor and crash...was hilarious. Ahhhh progress. Think all the initial glitches are ironed out now...bye bye fork lift drivers and 3 man forklift service team.

Incredible to watch though.

[Favs]

To continue..........

 

Old Skool Dog - New Tricks

 

Today a toasty t-shirt nipple tweaking 1^oC and on the shed a heavy frost on top of yesterday's frost .

 

Charger not reconnected to the 9er yesterday due to me flouncing out of the shed in a fit of pique.

 

Tried the micro-warm approach (Fixitsan & Mick C ), via 20 seconds of LED brakelight .......and instant brumm brumm WTF?

 

More cold weather testing to follow using the above method.

 

I'll be leaving the battery maintenance charger off for a few days, testing starting ability and I'll report back.

 

Every day is a schoolday init.

[dablik]

Antigravity batteries have a restart button for this situation and they recommend to leave the ignition on with headlights i believe for starting, worked fine on mine......but then i removed the battery over winter after a full charge and put it in the house, come April the battery had discharged to below 10v !?! back to Yuasa, luckily mine came with the bike when i bought it but for £160 v £50 Yuasa wins.

[Nog]

The trick with lead acid in this weather is to always have it on trickle (if possible).

 

If left to slightly discharge, the acid concentration drops so you have a higher % of water.  That means the water can end up freezing and causing issues.

[fixitsan]

To continue..........

 

Old Skool Dog - New Tricks

 

Today a toasty t-shirt nipple tweaking 1^oC and on the shed a heavy frost on top of yesterday's frost .

 

Charger not reconnected to the 9er yesterday due to me flouncing out of the shed in a fit of pique.

 

Tried the micro-warm approach (Fixitsan & Mick C ), via 20 seconds of LED brakelight .......and instant brumm brumm WTF?

 

More cold weather testing to follow using the above method.

 

I'll be leaving the battery maintenance charger off for a few days, testing starting ability and I'll report back.

 

Every day is a schoolday init.

 

It's the sort of thing which could cause a divorce.

Wife goes out to start the car one cold and frosty morning, but it barely turns over. She tells the husband the car won't start, so he goes out and tries it, and vroom !

"It must be you, you silly...."

[dapleb]

Not just ewe favs

https://youtu.be/0b-...?feature=shared

[catsbum]

Bump starting a 900....................      

[drewpy]

Not just ewe favs

https://youtu.be/0b-...?feature=shared

that's because peeps didn't pre heat the battery before charging, so when they got to the charger nothing was happening as the car needed to preheat the battery before it would charge. This built up a queue and the rest they say is history.

I pre heat the  cabin in mine before I leave, no ice on the car and toasty warm too.