Damaged a new battery. Can it be salvaged?
 

I have a deep cycle battery for my trolling motor that is only a couple
of months old. I brought the boat home from a trip out this morning and
carried the battery into the shop and hooked up the charger. When I
went to check on it a couple of hours later, the battery was sitting in
a puddle of electrolyte. I found where the battery must have bounced
onto a sharp something in the bottom of the boat. Electrolyte drips
out, but no crack is visible, it must be a small pierced hole. I did
the damage, and my name isn't jajwuth, so the fact that it's in
warranty menas little to me. What I want to know is, can I epoxy the
hole and refill it with fresh electrolyte? Or do I just need to fork
over the cash for a new battery? Thanks guys!

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a deep cycle battery for my trolling motor that is only a couple
of months old. I brought the boat home from a trip out this morning and
carried the battery into the shop and hooked up the charger. When I
went to check on it a couple of hours later, the battery was sitting in
a puddle of electrolyte. I found where the battery must have bounced
onto a sharp something in the bottom of the boat. Electrolyte drips
out, but no crack is visible, it must be a small pierced hole. I did
the damage, and my name isn't jajwuth, so the fact that it's in
warranty menas little to me. What I want to know is, can I epoxy the
hole and refill it with fresh electrolyte? Or do I just need to fork
over the cash for a new battery? Thanks guys!

You know, my name isn't Al or jajwuth either, but in this case, it's quite
possible that the battery is indeed defective and needs to be returned.

If there isn't any visible signs of damage, and you're not aware of
accidently dropping it or otherwise damaging it, it's quite simple, the
battery WAS defective and needs to be returned.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Steve, I guess it is possible that the battery is defective, but I
can't look it over good yet, at least not until it's empty. I didn't
have the battery in a battery box, I just set it in the bottom of the
aluminum boat, along with dirt and maybe a piece of gravel or two. I
drove a mile down a very bumpy dirt road to access the lake, then of
course I had to drive back out. I'm afraid that I caused the battery to
bounce up and come down on a sharp piece of gravel.
On the upside, the boat bottom in the transom area is really shiny!

did you just charge the battery before going to the lake?

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a deep cycle battery for my trolling motor that is only a couple
of months old. I brought the boat home from a trip out this morning and
carried the battery into the shop and hooked up the charger. When I
went to check on it a couple of hours later, the battery was sitting in
a puddle of electrolyte. I found where the battery must have bounced
onto a sharp something in the bottom of the boat. Electrolyte drips
out, but no crack is visible, it must be a small pierced hole. I did
the damage, and my name isn't jajwuth, so the fact that it's in
warranty menas little to me. What I want to know is, can I epoxy the
hole and refill it with fresh electrolyte? Or do I just need to fork
over the cash for a new battery? Thanks guys!

doS asked: "did you just charge the battery before going to the lake?"

No, the battery was charged about two weeks earlier, right after my
last trip out. I usually re-charge right away, then I only check it if
it's been a couple of months without use.

Had one to leak after I charged it overnight once, it had a hairline crack
in it.I would at least let the dealer examine it.

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
doS asked: "did you just charge the battery before going to the lake?"

No, the battery was charged about two weeks earlier, right after my
last trip out. I usually re-charge right away, then I only check it if
it's been a couple of months without use.

Hell, mine has been to the bottom of the lake dropped, set on gravel and god
knows what else and it still works just fine, go figure


"doS" wrote in message
...
Had one to leak after I charged it overnight once, it had a hairline crack
in it.I would at least let the dealer examine it.

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
doS asked: "did you just charge the battery before going to the lake?"

No, the battery was charged about two weeks earlier, right after my
last trip out. I usually re-charge right away, then I only check it if
it's been a couple of months without use.

Take it back, and tell them that, you used it, charged it and it leaked, and
that your not sure if you did it or if the battery is defective... See what
they say, most times they will exchange it for you and your being honest
about it, just leaving someone else with a choice and your out nothing, just
back where you started. As I said though, I would be they will exchange it
for you.

Doug


"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a deep cycle battery for my trolling motor that is only a couple
of months old. I brought the boat home from a trip out this morning and
carried the battery into the shop and hooked up the charger. When I
went to check on it a couple of hours later, the battery was sitting in
a puddle of electrolyte. I found where the battery must have bounced
onto a sharp something in the bottom of the boat. Electrolyte drips
out, but no crack is visible, it must be a small pierced hole. I did
the damage, and my name isn't jajwuth, so the fact that it's in
warranty menas little to me. What I want to know is, can I epoxy the
hole and refill it with fresh electrolyte? Or do I just need to fork
over the cash for a new battery? Thanks guys!

You know, my name isn't Al or jajwuth either, but in this case, it's quite
possible that the battery is indeed defective and needs to be returned.

If there isn't any visible signs of damage, and you're not aware of
accidently dropping it or otherwise damaging it, it's quite simple, the
battery WAS defective and needs to be returned.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Steve, I guess it is possible that the battery is defective, but I
can't look it over good yet, at least not until it's empty. I didn't
have the battery in a battery box, I just set it in the bottom of the
aluminum boat, along with dirt and maybe a piece of gravel or two. I
drove a mile down a very bumpy dirt road to access the lake, then of
course I had to drive back out. I'm afraid that I caused the battery to
bounce up and come down on a sharp piece of gravel.
On the upside, the boat bottom in the transom area is really shiny!


Rinse out your boat thoroughly.

I used to run a hardware store for my dad many years ago. We sold hundreds
of batteries. I do recall filling a new battery for a customer, and having
a small leak start up before I was done charging it. It is possible that
the battery was damaged during shipping, handling, or even defective from
the MFG.

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
Hell, mine has been to the bottom of the lake dropped, set on gravel and
god
knows what else and it still works just fine, go figure

I just use mine and then store it in my shed. Seems easier. :)

Well, after it finished dripping on the weeds, I put it in a plastic
bag and box and took it back. The clerk didn't even want to look at it,
he just traded it out. :)
And gave me a new receipt so my warranty starts over. :)
Now I guess I get to figure out the best way to secure it for those
corduroy roads.

Thanks guys!

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, after it finished dripping on the weeds, I put it in a plastic
bag and box and took it back. The clerk didn't even want to look at it,
he just traded it out. :)
And gave me a new receipt so my warranty starts over. :)
Now I guess I get to figure out the best way to secure it for those
corduroy roads.

The first thing I would do is make sure that the battery is placed in one of
those plastic battery boxes. This will help protect the battery from case
damage.

I'm not sure how your boat is set up, but when I was running a small boat,
the strap for the battery box was secured to the boat. This in turn kept
the battery from jumping around in the boat when trailering.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, after it finished dripping on the weeds, I put it in a
plastic
bag and box and took it back. The clerk didn't even want to look at
it,
he just traded it out. :)
And gave me a new receipt so my warranty starts over. :)
Now I guess I get to figure out the best way to secure it for those
corduroy roads.

The first thing I would do is make sure that the battery is placed in
one of
those plastic battery boxes. This will help protect the battery from
case
damage.

I'm not sure how your boat is set up, but when I was running a small
boat,
the strap for the battery box was secured to the boat. This in turn
kept
the battery from jumping around in the boat when trailering.


I already have a battery box, but this old V-bottom has no place to tie
it off. I'm gonna have to fasten it to a cross brace with rivets, I
guess.

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, after it finished dripping on the weeds, I put it in a
plastic
bag and box and took it back. The clerk didn't even want to look at
it,
he just traded it out. :)
And gave me a new receipt so my warranty starts over. :)
Now I guess I get to figure out the best way to secure it for those
corduroy roads.

The first thing I would do is make sure that the battery is placed in
one of
those plastic battery boxes. This will help protect the battery from
case
damage.

I'm not sure how your boat is set up, but when I was running a small
boat,
the strap for the battery box was secured to the boat. This in turn
kept
the battery from jumping around in the boat when trailering.


I already have a battery box, but this old V-bottom has no place to tie
it off. I'm gonna have to fasten it to a cross brace with rivets, I
guess.


Tie it off to the seat vertical surface. You always want it in a battery
box, so you do not make as many holes in the wearing apparel that upsets
SWMBO.