56
Owner’s Guide
MAINTENANCE
Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
Using A Hydrometer
1.
Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer and release it several
times to permit the thermometer to adjust to the electrolyte
temperature and note the reading. Examine the color of the
electrolyte. A brown or gray coloration indicates a problem
with the battery and is a sign that the battery is nearing the
end of its life.
2.
Draw the minimum quantity of electrolyte into the hydrome-
ter to permit the float to float freely without contacting the top
or bottom of the cylinder.
3.
Hold the hydrometer in a vertical position at eye level and
note the reading where the electrolyte meets the scale on
the float.
4.
Add or subtract four points (.004) to the reading for every 10°
F (6° C) the electrolyte temperature is above or below 80° F
(27° C). Adjust the reading to conform with the electrolyte
temperature, e.g., if the reading indicates a specific gravity
of 1.250 and the electrolyte temperature is 90° F (2° C), add
four points (.004) to the 1.250 which gives a corrected read-
ing of 1.254. Similarly if the temperature was 70° F (21° C),
subtract four points (.004) from the 1.250 to give a corrected
reading of 1.246.
5.
Test each cell and note the readings (corrected to 80° F or
27° C). A variation of fifty points between any two cell read-
ings (example 1.250 - 1.200) indicates a problem with the
low reading cell(s).
As a battery ages the specific gravity of the electrolyte will
decrease at full charge. This is not a reason to replace the battery
providing all cells are within fifty points of each other.
Since the hydrometer test is in response to a vehicle exhibiting a
performance problem, the vehicle should be recharged and the
test repeated. If the results indicate a weak cell, the battery or
batteries should be removed and replaced with a good battery of
the same brand, type and approximate age.
Battery Charger Maintenance
Connect the charger plug into the vehicle receptacle and wait for the relay to activate.
Move the plug back and forth in the receptacle. If the charger turns off, check the plug for a broken red wire in the DC
cord.
°F °C
160 71
150 65
140 60
130 54
120 49
110 43
100 37
90 32
80 26
70 21
60 15
50 10
40 4
30 -1
20 -6
10 -12
+.032
+.028
+.024
+.020
+.016
+.012
+.008
+.004
0
-.004
-.008
-.012
-.016
-.020
-.024
-.028
+.030
+.026
+.022
+.018
+.014
+.010
+.006
+.002
-.002
-.006
-.010
-.014
-.018
-.022
-.026
EXAMPLE #1
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 90 °F (32 °C)
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
1.250 + .004 = 1.254
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
READING
EXAMPLE #2
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 70 °F (21 °C)
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
1.250 - .004 = 1.246
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
READING
ELECTROLYTE
TEMPERATURE
