How many seasons can I expect to get out of my Polaris battery?. This will be the 3rd this winter. It gets removed from sled at end of last season. This is for starting only, no EFI

I've gotten three or four out of one in my old Wildcat, but I would suggest replacing every year or two, whether you think you need a new one or not, especially if it's EFI. Is that in an EFI Polaris (ie, RXL650) or is the battery just for electric start?

indymike,
i have gotten five seasons out of any battery like those if i charge them every once in a while during the off season.

I have a Ski Doo and use battery only for electric start. I have three or fours years on battery then replace it.

I'm with Paul.
With proper maintenance 5 years is about right.

Since I'm not getting a new sled this year, I might splurge for a new battery for my 99'.

FishHog

I can't see the point in replacing it every 1-2 years for a non efi, even if it is efi it would seem like a waste of money in my book. Best thing to do is check to see what the specs are on your battery as for how many months it should last. Other than that I would do as Paul suggested. I guess you'll know for sure when you can't get it started, then you'll have to pull start it ;) I would think if these sled batteries are anyway similar to a lawn and garden battery you wouldn't have any problems getting 4-5 years out of one that has been properly maintaned ;)

Originally posted by FishHog@Sep 4 2003, 12:03 PM
I'm with Paul.
With proper maintenance 5 years is about right.
FishHog
:withstupid: :)

They seem to last much longer if you remove them from the vehicle during storage and handle them properly. Store them in the house someplace like the basement so they don't see drastic temp changes, and keep them on a piece of wood instead of the concrete floor.

Originally posted by Snow-Drift@Sep 4 2003, 12:26 PM
I can't see the point in replacing it every 1-2 years for a non efi, even if it is efi it would seem like a waste of money in my book.
If it's an EFI sled, trust me, it's worth it to replace it every two years. A battery only costs $30. That's worth it to me rather than getting stranded 50 miles out.

Originally posted by MichYamaha@Sep 4 2003, 12:42 PM
keep them on a piece of wood instead of the concrete floor.
no words more true have been spoken.

I am on my 4th season with my battery. I have the MPEM and DPM in my ski-doo. Mentioned eailer with several posts, pull the battery and store in a cool place. You should have a trickle charger with a auto shut off when battery reaches full charge. Also a great investment is a load tester. A battery can have a full 12V charge but does not have enough to maintain a load. A load is when you turn the key to start, what does the battery have for current to turn over the engine. We have these testers for boat batteries. Its a must because engines do recharge but the battery just doesn't have enough to maintain a load to start.

Sorry for this in it's wordyness.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to get stuck either 50 miles out, but 1-2 years is extreme.
With proper maintenace, you'll get 5 years. Is cat the only batteryless efi?

Originally posted by 98 EXT@Sep 4 2003, 01:36 PM
Yeah, I wouldn't want to get stuck either 50 miles out, but 1-2 years is extreme.
With proper maintenace, you'll get 5 years. Is cat the only batteryless efi?
I only said 1-2 years because on average, batteries had only lasted 2 years for me and that was with using a trickle charger in the summer. Only one time did I get more than 2 years out of a battery. One time, instead of buying a cheap battery from Meijer for $30, (local grocery store) I bought an Arctic Cat battery for $70, thinking I would get more life out of it. Well, that battery only lasted me one season!
Right now, Arctic Cat is the only manufacturer of EFI, let alone batteryless EFI. Polaris used to have EFI and as far as I know, theirs were all battery powered. Didn't Ski Doo experiment with EFI some time ago? I'm sure theirs also used a battery.

I know the ski-doo will run like crap if it has MPEM and the battery is very low on charge where it has to be pull started. Ran into this last year on a friends sled.

i think i am going to get one of those solar battery chargers to hook to my small batteries during the off season. then not have to worry about having a charger plugged in all the time.

Never trickle charge a battery in storage, even with an automatic charger. I think these instructions have been passed around by people who sell batteries, so that they can sell more. This just takes years out of their life.
When in storage, either leave it alone or get a charger that can cyle the battery. Or you can cycle the battery yourself by discharging it (using it), then re-charging it with a 10 -20 amp charger.
I have alot of toys, and I completely quit storing batteries "properly" years ago, when I got pissed off having to replace so many all of the time. Since going to my no maintenance plan, I estimate that my batteries now last TWICE as long.

:withstupid: I definitely have to agree with Konkinj

I had electric start on my 94 Yamaha Vmax.
I replaced the battery after 7 years in the sled just because I thought I should.
The new Canadian Tire battery was never as good as that 7 year old battery.
I never pulled that for summer storage. I just left it in the sled. then in the fall I would either pull start the sled or when I got lazy, hook up my boost charger. I know that's supposed to be a big NO NO but I never had any problems.

Jacqui has yet to remove her battery during storage. This will be her fifth winter. We'll have to see how it's hanging in there when she pulls the sled out of storage to install her AD Boivin ETS kit.

As far as I know, Skidoo only produced their EFI sled for 2 years. It was a 500 and was known for it's incredible fuel mileage. It would only take 50- 60% of the fuel the rest of us needed at the pumps.

Jeff

Originally posted by konkinj@Sep 5 2003, 01:41 AM
Never trickle charge a battery in storage, even with an automatic charger. I think these instructions have been passed around by people who sell batteries, so that they can sell more. This just takes years out of their life.
When in storage, either leave it alone or get a charger that can cyle the battery. Or you can cycle the battery yourself by discharging it (using it), then re-charging it with a 10 -20 amp charger.
Lead Acid batteries should NOT be cycled. Each cycle causes a slight loss of effiecency, especially if it is fully discharged. A lead acid battery will lose 5% of it's charge per month. A fully discharged starting battery will lose 20+% of it total charging capacity. Deep cycle will not suffer as much.

Just charge the battery 2-3 times in the off season (with a trickle charger) and it will last for 4-5 years. Don't leave the charger on all summer. Higher amp chargers will boil off more hydrogen, lowering the acid level slightly. Keep the acid topped off with water. Only add water to a fully charged battery, otherwise you dilute the acid. It's all about keeping the lead plates in proper condition to allow them to react with the acid.

Most batteries life will depend on the maintanance and the type of enviroment the battery lives in which for a sled battery is high in vibration when its in use and long term idle storage over half its life when not used.
So charge the battery fully at no higher than a 2amp charge rate overnight then check the specific gravity in each cell when cooled down to around 70 deg F they should read around 1.265-1.285 a 40 point variation in s.g. among the cells will indicate a faulty cell or potential problemo in the battery. This test will tell you the overall condition of the battery. (not just a guess)
Start a battery log book for all your car,sled,boat,lawnmower,waverunner,genset batteries and you will save lots of money in the long run.
and it only cost around $50. on tools? :D
Now can someone explain to me how a battery discharges when sitting on a concrete floor?

97 skidoo, original battery, still works! I just made sure it wasn't dead when I summerized it. Never charged it during storage.

Originally posted by fuelie600+Sep 5 2003, 08:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fuelie600 @ Sep 5 2003, 08:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-konkinj@Sep 5 2003, 01:41 AM
Never trickle charge a battery in storage, even with an automatic charger. I think these instructions have been passed around by people who sell batteries, so that they can sell more. This just takes years out of their life.
* When in storage, either leave it alone or get a charger that can cyle the battery. Or you can cycle the battery yourself by discharging it (using it), then re-charging it with a 10 -20 amp charger.
Lead Acid batteries should NOT be cycled. Each cycle causes a slight loss of effiecency, especially if it is fully discharged. A lead acid battery will lose 5% of it&#39;s charge per month. A fully discharged starting battery will lose 20+% of it total charging capacity. Deep cycle will not suffer as much.

Just charge the battery 2-3 times in the off season (with a trickle charger) and it will last for 4-5 years. Don&#39;t leave the charger on all summer. Higher amp chargers will boil off more hydrogen, lowering the acid level slightly. Keep the acid topped off with water. Only add water to a fully charged battery, otherwise you dilute the acid. It&#39;s all about keeping the lead plates in proper condition to allow them to react with the acid. [/b][/quote]
1) Lead acid batteries must be cycled to last. Cycling doesn&#39;t mean completely discharging (this is why I said "use it"). Why do battery maintainers cycle them???
2) Following your exact advise of trickle charging 2-3times per off season cut AT LEAST HALF of the service life out all of my stored batteries. I now expect to get 4-5 years life, but only by doing the exact opposite of what you (and most battery sellers) say.

Do you sell batteries? :)

My buddy has a 96 Phazer , and it still has the factory Battery in it ,and he has never done anything to it , charge it or anything . It&#39;s still going strong . Plus he has never winterized the sled ..... ever &#33;!!!! never had any trouble with it , I can&#39;t believe it , if I don&#39;t drain the gas in my Phazer carbs they are all gummed up by the time the snow flys . :D