battery charging connections & bumpstart/bike chain query

[Spiff]

Hi all,

I have two questions.

1. On my battery charger/tender, it says positive to positive, negative to earth (if the batt is in the vehicle), otherwise positive to positive, negative to negative. The reason they given is the presence of hydrogen gas when a battery charges and the possibility of sparking if it's negative to negative. Yet in other instructions I've read, it's just positive to positive, negative to negative. Apart from the hydrogen-spark reasoning, is there any difference? Is one better than the other?

2. After having to bump-start the bike on numerous occasions, I find that the chain sounds 'loose' or just doesn't seem as tight. From those who have experienced this - pushing and trying to bump-start numerous times before the bike actually goes - is that normal?

thanks.

[Crobbo]

1 I'd just connect straight to the battery as long as you get a good connection and there is some ventilation.

2 All my bikes have been kick starts never had to push start.

[Spiff]

hmm..ok.
thanks.

[Anson]

1. You wil find thats for car battery's. Most motorbike batteries are gell batteries which are all inclosed and don't
put out any "hydrogen gas".
Just put Positive - Positive, Negative - Negative. And make sure you connect charger to battery, than plug
the charger into the power socket if your paranoid about spark...

2. When bump starting the bike your putting added stress on the chain which has probably stretched it.
Just check your chain slack (Which you should really be doing every ride or so...) not sure what the correct measurement
for your bike would be. But normally around 25-35mm will do. You will most likely have to move the rear axle back a bit.

[Para045]

1. You will find thats for car battery's. Most motorbike batteries are gel batteries which are all enclosed and don't
put out any "hydrogen gas".

Not sure on that one unless your paying top dollar for your batteries? All the batteries I've bought for my Bird have been lead acid, although they are semi sealed so H gas isn't really a problem anyway so works out the same I can get a gel battery but they are ~40% more $$, I'd rather put a slightly bigger CCA LA one in than a gel for the $$

[Veefore]

1. You wil find thats for car battery's. Most motorbike batteries are gell batteries which are all inclosed and don't
put out any "hydrogen gas".
Just put Positive - Positive, Negative - Negative. And make sure you connect charger to battery, than plug
the charger into the power socket if your paranoid about spark...

2. When bump starting the bike your putting added stress on the chain which has probably stretched it.
Just check your chain slack (Which you should really be doing every ride or so...) not sure what the correct measurement
for your bike would be. But normally around 25-35cm will do. You will most likely have to move the rear axle back a bit.

1. Most motorbike batteries are lead acid and usually have a vent tube that runs down under the bike. So I wouldn't worry about sparks.

2. Lol... 25-35cm. I'm guessing you mean mm?
Spiff, check your owners manual for correct chain tension for your bike. Anson's suggestion is a decent starting point but some bikes do have the swingarm pivot more offset from the chain centerline and require a little more slack at rest.

[speed3]

http://www.energymatters.com.au/images/ctek/XS800.pdf

comes with a harness you leave permanently attached to the bike and a quick connect. Love mine.

[Anson]

2. Lol... 25-35cm. I'm guessing you mean mm?

haha, cheers. Corrected

[Spiff]

thanks for all the responses.
speed3, yes. i think i will get that put on the battery soon, seeing as how often i may have to charge it.
i need to read up more about adjusting chain tension this weekend.

[Kodez]

Its relatively easy mate, you'll see at the ends of your swingarm theirs a nut/bolt setup, thats what you use to tighten/loosen. Just loosen the axle and away you go, just make sure you read your manual for the slack thats recomended for your bike Alternatively if your like me and paranoid about breaking shit because its the first time you've done it, their's a heap of informative videos on youtube that help, video media is often much easier to comprehend