Charging Battery

[pup55]

Guys I have a dead battery and need to charge it. My question is do I have to remove everything to expose the battery or can I use the 2 leads that come out of the right side to charge the battery that way? 07 Apex GT

 

[snerkman]

Use can use the two leads - that's what they're there for.

 

[pup55]

Thank You

 

[dexter]

if you are looking to trickle or maintain the battery, I use the optimate and love it... slick.

 

[jkenosh]

when i bought my 06 apex my dealer included a optimata 3 charger and the lead to plug it in i thought all dealers did this?

 

[Blue Dave]

when i bought my 06 apex my dealer included a optimata 3 charger and the lead to plug it in i thought all dealers did this?

Your dealer must just be a nice guy! This is certainly not standard but I would certainly recommend the Optimate. There is now an Optimate 4 available! The Optimate 3 or 4 is a good investment in your battery.

Once you install the supplied "pigtail", you can plug in your Optimate whenever you are not using your sled. It can be left connected indefinately and it will never overcharge or damage your battery.

 

[BIG BLACK WARRIOR]

My question is, Why are all these batteries going dead? Why keep them charging all the time? I have had these 4-stroke Yamahas since 2004, and never a dead battery and have never charge one yet. I have also rode in Canada for a week when the temperature got down to -40F. every night and never had a problem. I also have an electric start on an 1995 Polaris Trail that my wife refises to update, and had never had a problem with that battery either. What are you doing to run down your batteries?

 

[sgilbert]

would like to say that if a battery is low, baring something drawing it, take the lucky oportunity to replace it, it's donesville

 

[Blue Dave]

An Optimate can bring batteries back to life that other chargers can not. I hook mine up between rides and during the summer storage just too keep it "conditioned".

I agree that if it is dead after sitting for short periods that either you have a drain in the electrical system or the battery is shot.

 

[chiefsledhead]

Be careful which charger you use. The Optimate is a good one, but using just any charger can overcharge the battery and cause excess vapors under the hood. The wiring for your starter relay is right there and can get corroded if you over charge. Then your starter doesn't work anymore...

 

[jkenosh]

i use the optimate and had never had a battery issue, and id like to keep it that way so i am going to cotinue using it

 

[Wisconsin]

another vote for the optimate. Got one for my dad for christmas and we now use it on everything. It takes a long time to do larger batteries, but brings back crappy batteries and works without the need to monitor it and won't overcharge. It was about $40 online.

 

[sgilbert]

would like to say that I wouldn't "bring a battery back" in my watch, much less an exlusive electric start snowmobile. be real

 

[Blue Dave]

By saying "bringing back to life" I am specifically referring to a sulphated battery which the Optimate is very good at restoring to normal function.

My experience was with my personal watercraft battery which would not take a charge from a standard charger because it was sulphated. The Optimate brought it back to the point that I got one more trouble free summer out of it.

However a sled is subjected to much colder starts and has the real potential to leave you stranded farther from help than a watercraft. Therefore I might error on the side of caution and simply replace the sled battery if there is any doubt about the capacity & reliability.