Battery voltage & sp. gravity ok but low capacity

[scottyb]

If desulfating chemicals worked well we would all be using them.

Desulfating is better preventative than repair technology.

Never add anything other than water to your battery.

[Jimbo2012]

Scott why not flush the old stuff out and add new?

[scottyb]

Because you can not undo the crystallizing of the sulfur to the lead plates. Basically this shields the lead plate so that area is no longer available.... Rinse all you want, you need fresh plates.

[Jimbo2012]

thanks for saving me the time on that idea.

[scottyb]

It's all been tried and done .... here by BGW members.

The best results have been some slight improvement and possibly some extended useful life.....we really don't know how much because nobody ever comes back and says remember me? I poured salt in my batteries last year and they are running great!
I don't mean to sound cynical on this one but ...I am.
Hmmm, I wonder why

[JohnnieB]

From what I've been able to determine, the "Snake Oil" remedies that have any effect at all, cause a small amount of the softer crystalline Lead Sulfate to slough off the plates, exposing slightly more lead and lead dioxide. Problem is that the conductive sludge collects at the bottom of the battery and if agitated, it will eventually get into the plates and short out the cell.

Personally, I was able to improve my battery pack (Used cart - unknown maintenance record on batteries) by charging, slightly discharging and recharging. Basically the new battery break-in process.

I probably just lucked out, but it is worth a try.

[Jimbo2012]

Ok topped up with distilled water, cleaned all the terminals, charger started at 16A dropped to about 13 in 10 minutes.

20 min its down to 10A

So the bank is taking a charge.

[pggroves]

Originally Posted by Jimbo2012

Just bought a cart last week, 6 8V Trojans, they take a charge and the cart runs.

But there are no date stickers on them, should I just keep running with them until they die or what should can I do to see how much life may be left?

this cart was used daily on a farm before I bought it so it hasn't been sitting doing nothing.

A friend suggested emptying them and put new acid in?

Or take some fluid out with a baster and ad Epsom salt and distilled water.

Check for a date code stamped on the negative terminal.

[Jimbo2012]

Ok check the codes 1 is 2000, a few 07's and most are '09's

So a nice mix

[bartmann]

.we really don't know how much because nobody ever comes back and says remember me? I poured salt in my batteries last year and they are running great!

Mine are working great .....
p.s. my $10 voltage gauge is also still working perfect .. weird huh ..