how to turn over a high compression 400ex

[Pappy]

Originally posted by witech
I think Yuasa has gone the way of the cheap crap batteries . Ive had 3 in the last couple of years couldnt pass a load test right out of the box. Every battery I buy always gets load tested and i agree about the 50/50 shot at having a good one but I have to lump yuasa in with the china ones

Who activated them, and if it was you, how did you go about? And who did the load testing and by which method. I havent found many techs that can properly test a battery

[witech]

I used to activate them myself until a year ago we started to see so many failures now I have my local shop do it and it has made no difference. I mostly use a Best load tester and also one of the newer electronic battery testers ( I forget the brand). If your wondering about my qualifications I am an 20 year ASE master tech who has had training from Delco ,Interstate and from Tech schools.
Ive seen these issues in the automotive battery world as well. Delco Freedom high cycles which 20 years ago stood out as a install and forget about battery which would last far beyond thier rated life have also dropped in lifespan so you are lucky to make 2 or 3 years on many of them.
As far as quads I think we have tried most major brands including the precharged gel batteries which by far were the worst ive ever seen. Recently we picked up a ready to go battery at Walmart for one of our Cannondales and it wouldnt even turn the engine over more than once. Took it back got another one and that one is still working.
I have tried the high capacity ones that are the same size as stock and are capable of putting out nearly 200 amps but after a few months their capacity is no better than stockers. Ive totally lost faith in small batteries and make sure my small fleet get put on battery tenders when not in use .
The brands I mostly use now are Yuasa ,Bikemaster and Parts Unlimited (which are made by Yuasa) . I have no favorite brand anymore and just go with whatever has a stable and steady voltage during a load test. I also have convinced my dealer to get a tester and load test all batteries for customers as well before selling them .
I also push friends and customers not to abuse their batteries by charging with the incorrect chargers and charge rates . Go by what the battery manufacturer recommends and no more . Even one day on a car charger can boil the water out of these little batteries and ruin them. You should also check voltage on battery tenders with a volt meter after they have been on for a while to be sure they dont overvolt . Ive seen one bad Battery tender brand and several of the cheap float charger charging way over 13.5 volts which will slowly boil out the water.

[dns1764]

as of right now my second battery just died. i had it for about 8 or 9 months and it wont turn the quad over. it has always been on a tender. will the store i bought it from take it back?? i have no clue on what most return policies are for the things.

[Pappy]

Most of the load testers (even the small toaster testers) will overload the small batteries. Usually they have a minumim load of 110 which is double what most of the ATV batteries are rated (1/2 the CCA for those that dont know)

The Conductance testers do a good job and thats what we recommended to everyone because they are idiot proof yet they as well will only test to a low of 100 cca but the info the test provides can usually tell a knowledgable tech what he needs to know.

I fought with Yuasa for years trying to get them to change the activation methods included in teh service bullitens and in the instructions included with the batteries. They state to wait 30 minutes after activation...I wait 24 hours BEFORE charging. I had almost a ZERO comeback rate on that line for over 5 years doing it this way.

[400nate]

I have had the same battery in my 400ex since new. bought it in 2003. only had it die on me once. after a good deep cycle charge hooked to a jumprer pack and using its charger which took about 2 days to fully charge. its back to top notch again. 7 yrs same stock battery has out lasted the motor 3 times already. also have an 06 LTR450 still has stock battery. no water or anything ever added to either one and kept in an unheated garage.

[Phantasm400ex]

check out batteries plus.com they have replacements that fit with no mods and have a significant increase in cca

[400exmxrider15]

Can i use a higher CCA in a stock bore and stroke 400? I dont know if it would overload the starter or not? or is this only for high compression and cammed engines?

[400nate]

using a battery with a higher CCA will not harm the ATV at all. it will help crank a little harder. only harm that could ever be done is if you sat there holding the starter button for long periods of time with a no start situation. when ever i replace a battery in anything, be it a car, ATV, RC car, I always get the largest capacity battery that will fit.

[400exmxrider15]

Originally posted by 400nate
using a battery with a higher CCA will not harm the ATV at all. it will help crank a little harder. only harm that could ever be done is if you sat there holding the starter button for long periods of time with a no start situation. when ever i replace a battery in anything, be it a car, ATV, RC car, I always get the largest capacity battery that will fit.

I just put new starter brushes in, and i never hold it for longer than 10seconds anyways, my stock battery is still cranking nice, but i will remember for when i need a battery to get a higher CCA!