Battery Charger - I recommend

[bdalameda]

Just an FYI - Since I do a lot of restoration work and have about 17 bikes in my stable I frequently am dealing with batteries. Many old batteries and maintain many batteries. I have used alsmost every battery charger out there and have come to recommend one type over all others. I have used the new hi-tech chargers like the Optimates and Odyssey chargers and found thay do not work well on old really dead batteries or batteries that have some sulfate buildup. Sometimes the newer charger like these will not even begin charging a really dead battery as the battery requires some voltage to be present for the battery charger to operate. About a year ago I bought a Schumacher SC300 Speedcharger (3amp). This charge uses a pulse like profile for charging batteries that works remarkably well. I have charged old dead sulfated batteries that have been sitting around for years and actually have brought them back to useable condition using this charger. The Optimate and Odyssey chargers would not work on these old dead batteries. Just wanted to share my experience with this charger for those who might be in the market for a new charger.

Dan

 

[azlife4me]

Thanks for the write-up.

 

[ChucksKLRST]

Just an FYI - Since I do a lot of restoration work and have about 17 bikes in my stable I frequently am dealing with batteries. Many old batteries and maintain many batteries. I have used alsmost every battery charger out there and have come to recommend one type over all others. I have used the new hi-tech chargers like the Optimates and Odyssey chargers and found thay do not work well on old really dead batteries or batteries that have some sulfate buildup. Sometimes the newer charger like these will not even begin charging a really dead battery as the battery requires some voltage to be present for the battery charger to operate. About a year ago I bought a Schumacher SC300 fast charger (3amp). This charge uses a pulse like profile for charging batteries that works remarkably well. I have charged old dead sulfated batteries that have been sitting around for years and actually have brought them back to useable condition using this charger. The Optimate and Odyssey chargers would not work on these old dead batteries. Just wanted to share my experience with this charger for those who might be in the market for a new charger.

Dan

Dan, Not to high jack the thread, But where do you get your chrome work done? I am looking for a good place to get a 79 cb650 used exhaust system (4 into 2) re-chromed. can you give me an idea of the cost of such an undertaking?

 

[bdalameda]

I am also looking for a new chroming operation as the local company I dealt with closed up. Many chrome shops will no longer take exhaust systems as they dont want to deal with cleaning out the carbon inside the pipes prior to re-chroming. In California chrome plating operations are few and far between as the environmental regulations make it almost impossible to run a plating business anymore. Also the carbon, oil etc inside exhaust pipes really foul-up the chemical baths etc. in the process and they don't like it. I have been lucky in locating good used replacements in most cases and this is cheaper than re-plating. It is also difficult to match factory chrome as most re-plating is much smoother and actually better quality than the factory but it is not authentic looking. If I locate someone that is doing good work I will let you know.

 

[jmgatlin]

Thank you!