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Damaged a new battery. Can it be salvaged?

I have a deep cycle battery for my trolling motor that is only a couple of months old. I brought the boat home from a trip out this morning and carried the battery into the shop and hooked up the charger. When I went to check on it a couple of hours later, the battery was sitting in a puddle of electrolyte. I found where the battery must have bounced onto a sharp something in the bottom of the boat. Electrolyte drips out, but no crack is visible, it must be a small pierced hole. I did the damage, and my name isn't jajwuth, so the fact that it's in warranty menas little to me. What I want to know is, can I epoxy the hole and refill it with fresh electrolyte? Or do I just need to fork over the cash for a new battery? Thanks guys!
Henry
May 7
2005
You know, my name isn't Al or jajwuth either, but in this case, it's quite possible that the battery is indeed defective and needs to be returned.

If there isn't any visible signs of damage, and you're not aware of accidently dropping it or otherwise damaging it, it's quite simple, the battery WAS defective and needs to be returned.

Steve
May 7
Steve, I guess it is possible that the battery is defective, but I can't look it over good yet, at least not until it's empty. I didn't have the battery in a battery box, I just set it in the bottom of the aluminum boat, along with dirt and maybe a piece of gravel or two. I drove a mile down a very bumpy dirt road to access the lake, then of course I had to drive back out. I'm afraid that I caused the battery to bounce up and come down on a sharp piece of gravel. On the upside, the boat bottom in the transom area is really shiny! Henry
May 7
did you just charge the battery before going to the lake? doS
May 7
doS asked: "did you just charge the battery before going to the lake?"

No, the battery was charged about two weeks earlier, right after my last trip out. I usually re-charge right away, then I only check it if it's been a couple of months without use.

Henry
May 7
Had one to leak after I charged it overnight once, it had a hairline crack in it.I would at least let the dealer examine it. doS
May 7
Hell, mine has been to the bottom of the lake dropped, set on gravel and god knows what else and it still works just fine, go figure alwaysfishking
May 7
Take it back, and tell them that, you used it, charged it and it leaked, and that your not sure if you did it or if the battery is defective... See what they say, most times they will exchange it for you and your being honest about it, just leaving someone else with a choice and your out nothing, just back where you started. As I said though, I would be they will exchange it for you.

Doug

Doug
May 8
Rinse out your boat thoroughly.

I used to run a hardware store for my dad many years ago. We sold hundreds of batteries. I do recall filling a new battery for a customer, and having a small leak start up before I was done charging it. It is possible that the battery was damaged during shipping, handling, or even defective from the MFG.

Bob La Londe www.YumaBassMan.com

Bob
May 8
I just use mine and then store it in my shed. Seems easier. :) Todd
May 8
Well, after it finished dripping on the weeds, I put it in a plastic bag and box and took it back. The clerk didn't even want to look at it, he just traded it out. :) And gave me a new receipt so my warranty starts over. :) Now I guess I get to figure out the best way to secure it for those corduroy roads.

Thanks guys!

Henry
May 9
The first thing I would do is make sure that the battery is placed in one of those plastic battery boxes. This will help protect the battery from case damage.

I'm not sure how your boat is set up, but when I was running a small boat, the strap for the battery box was secured to the boat. This in turn kept the battery from jumping around in the boat when trailering.

Steve
May 9
I already have a battery box, but this old V-bottom has no place to tie it off. I'm gonna have to fasten it to a cross brace with rivets, I guess. Henry
May 9
Tie it off to the seat vertical surface. You always want it in a battery box, so you do not make as many holes in the wearing apparel that upsets SWMBO. Bill
May 10
   

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