12v Battery Replacement

[Powerkiter]

My girlfriend ordered a new 12v battery from Amazon for her Mum's Vespa scooter. When the battery arrived and I went to fit it, there was no acid in the battery. After looking back at the Amazon order, it does state that the battery will be shipped with no acid for safety reasons.

I called in at Halfords yesterday and asked them and they do not stock acid and do not know where to get any acid from.

I know nothing about motorbike batteries, how easy is it to get acid? Do I just pour into the cells and put the battery on charge?

[RazerSauber]

Common for motorcycle batteries to not come with acid already in but most do come with the acid in sealed containers in the box that you add yourself. Halfords do decent quality Yuasa units for a decent cost so might be worth a look there.

[Powerkiter]

RazerSauber said:

Common for motorcycle batteries to not come with acid already in but most do come with the acid in sealed containers in the box that you add yourself. Halfords do decent quality Yuasa units for a decent cost so might be worth a look there.

That's what she has purchased, a Yuasa battery but there's just no acid.

[TimmyMallett]

Every battery I've bought from Yuasa has has a separate plastic pipette thing with acid in. Was the battery box it came in new and sealed? I've had plenty o of mail order batteries and the acid is in the box. Unless they just took it out of the box and shipped the battery?

[Dog Star]

They should come with acid.

Are you sure it's not an AGM battery, OP? In that case no need. Install and off you go.

[Chris32345]

I'm surprised they can still do that in this day and age also don't know why all motorbike battery's are totally sealed like car battery's so the acid can't leak?

[Biker 1]

Maybe next time don't buy from Amazon.
These guys are pretty good: https://www.tayna.co.uk/

[DirtyHarley]

Shipping without acid is getting very common with batteries sold on Amazon and Ebay - really need to read the advert. Most reputable sellers (including those on amazon and ebay) will sell them pre-filled, but again, you need to read the advert and not buy the cheapest you can find.

You may be able to find a bike barage that will charge you to fill it up, but I very much doubt you'll find anywhere just selling the acid on its own anymore as the legislation changed in July 2018 to make it illegal for a member of the public to purchase a motorcycle battery that is supplied with a separate acid pack without them holding an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) licence. This was largely in reaction to the huge amount of acid attacks around that time.

Sorry, other than a garage filling it for you, you're probably out of luck.

[Prof Prolapse]

1) Return the battery to Amazon as it's not worth the hassle.

2) Buy another and read small print.

[Deranged Granny]

3) Make your own sulphuric acid ?

[Krikkit]

DirtyHarley said:

You may be able to find a bike barage that will charge you to fill it up, but I very much doubt you'll find anywhere just selling the acid on its own anymore as the legislation changed in July 2018 to make it illegal for a member of the public to purchase a motorcycle battery that is supplied with a separate acid pack without them holding an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) licence. This was largely in reaction to the huge amount of acid attacks around that time.

This the key - with this legislation change after some horrible acid attacks it seems to be crucial to ensure the supplier will actually ship it with acid.

I bought a Yuasa in 2019 which had it with, but that was from Tayna.

[Powerkiter]

Thanks for all your comments, we've ordered a new battery from Tayna.