Battery Question

[tblake]

Hey guys, Didnt know where to post this, so i thought maybe one of you intelligent people might be able to help me out. My Dad owns a collector car. 1948 Chrysler Windsor convertible. It is almost completly restored. Every summertime we try to get it going and taken out at least once for a drive. When the car is not being driven, the battery comes out and goes into our basement. When i tried to get it going a few days ago, I checked the level of electrolyte of the battery and put it on the charger. While charging, I changed the radiator hoses, coolant, oil and oil filter. Took pretty much a whole day. When it came time to install the battery, i unhooked it off of the charger (6 volt battery) and i tested the specific gravity of the electrolyte with my hydrometer. All 3 cells showed a full charge and My multimeter read 6 volts something. So i installed the battery. Jumped in and attempted to start it. All I could get was about half a crank revolution and then the clicking of a starter soloniod from a dead battery. I then hooked it up to the charger again, and tried it a few hours later. Same thing. I didnt leave the charger plugged in over night because I didnt want to overcharge the battery. So today when I woke up, I hooked the battery up to the charger again, and cleaned all the connections of the ground and power cable. An hour later I installed the battery again, and got the same half crank revolution and solonoid clicking in and out. I then took the battery up town and they load tested it with a little hand held and told me to replace the battery. I didnt want to hear that because the battery is new about 2 years ago. I sort of questiond this tool because its no VAT40 like im used to and im skeptical that this little thing can load test a battery to any degree of accuracy. My question. Do you guys think that my battery is just discharged and needs a night on the charger? (I dont want to blow the house up) or do you think the battery is shot and needs replacement? If i get a new one, do you have any ideas how I should maintain this 6 volt battery all year round while its in my basement to keep from haveing to buy a new one every year? Its the pits because I cant Jump start the car to get it running. Wish I could!!! Thanks for the valuable insight everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

[richtazz]

A fully charged 6 volt battery should read 6.6-7.2 volts (each cell produces 2.1-2.2 volts). Charge time depends on charge rate and battery cranking amps/reserve capacity. For long term storage, a trickle charger hooked up to one of those lamp timers works nice, or by a 6-volt battery tender. They constantly monitor battery voltage, and only charge the battery when it drops below a specific level. You could try jump starting it (this would finger the battery or starter as teh no-start culprit), but that would require another older car with a 6-volt system to do so.

[tblake]

thanks rich!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know of anyone who sells these 6volt battery tenders? We might just buy one of these and a new battery.

[richtazz]

You may have to special order it, but if A-Z, Advance, CSK, etc... or Harbor Freight tools doesn't have them, try a small engine/motorcycle parts/repair shop. They'd have them for sure, but they might be pricer than the box auto parts stores or Harbor Freight.

BTW Tblake, where the pics of your GTP, and do you still have your white Lumi?

[tblake]

Nope, sorry to see the lumi go, but it had a good run. One day shortly after I got the GTP I put a good coat of wax on it. I had to work that night so I didnt have time to snap any pictures. One of the days after A coworker backed into my front bunper and took some paint off. I was so disappointed. I couldnt believe it, I was about 50 feet from the nearest parked vehicle and perfectly between the lines. When she left, she called me almost crying. I talked to the body shop that did work on the lumi for me and they quoted me just ove 600 bucks. A friend of mine who makes his living doing body work out of his garage said 300- 400. So im on the waiting list. He's really booked up, but any day now He'll be calling to get it repianted, and then post a few pictures. I love this car. Its "redfire metallic" kind of maroon metallic with grey on the bumpers.