117
MAINTENANCE
Battery
Battery Storage
Whenever the vehicle is not used for a period of three months
or more, remove the battery from the vehicle, ensure that it's
fully charged, and store it out of the sun in a cool, dry place.
Check battery voltage each month during storage and recharge
as needed to maintain a full charge. POLARIS recommends
maintaining battery charge by using a POLARIS Battery Ten-
der charger or by charging about once a month to make up for
normal self-discharge. Battery Tender can be left connected
during the storage period, and will automatically charge the
battery if the voltage drops below a pre-determined point. See
page 128
for the part numbers of POLARIS products.
Battery Charging
The following battery charging instructions apply only to the
installation of a sealed battery. Read all instructions before
proceeding with the installation of this battery. The sealed bat-
tery is already filled with electrolyte and has been sealed and
fully charged at the factory. Never pry the sealing strip off or
add any other fluid to this battery.
Always keep a sealed battery fully charged. Since the battery
is sealed and the sealing strip cannot be removed, you must use
a voltmeter or multimeter to measure DC voltage.
WARNING! An overheated battery may explode, causing severe
injury or death. Always watch charging times carefully. Stop charging
if the battery becomes very warm to the touch. Allow it to cool before
resuming charging.
For a refresh charge, follow all instructions carefully.
1. Check the battery voltage with a voltmeter or multimeter.
A fully charged battery will register 12.8 V or higher.
2. If the voltage is less than 12.8 volts, recharge the battery at
1.2 amps or less until battery voltage is 12.8 or greater.
3. When using an automatic charger, refer to the charger
manufacturer's instructions for recharging. When using a
constant current charger, use the guidelines below for
recharging.
Always verify battery condition before and 1-2 hours after the
end of charging.
State of
Charge
Voltage
Action
Charge Time
(Using constant current
charger @ standard amps
specified on top of battery)
100%
12.8-13.0
volts
None, check at 3
mos. from date of
manufacture
None required
75%-
100%
12.5-12.8
volts
May need slight
charge, if no charge
given, check in 3
months
3-6 hours
50%-
75%
12.0-12.5
volts
Needs charge
5-11 hours
25%-
50%
11.5-12.0
volts
Needs charge
At least 13 hours,
verify state of charge
0%-25%
11.5 volts
or less
Needs charge with
desulfating charger
At least 20 hours