Specifications

MAINTENANCE
Read all of this manual to become thoroughly familiar with this vehicle. Pay particular attention to all Notices, Cautions, Warnings, and Dangers.
5 - 20
5
Do not perform a hydrometer test on a battery that has just been watered. The battery must go through at least one charge
and discharge cycle in order to permit the water to adequately mix with the electrolyte.
The temperature of the electrolyte is important since the hydrometer reading must be corrected to 80° F (27° C). High
quality hydrometers are equipped with an internal thermometer that will measure the temperature of the electrolyte and
will include a conversion scale to correct the float reading. It is important to recognize that the electrolyte temperature is
significantly different from the ambient temperature if the vehicle has been operated.
Using A Hydrometer
1. Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to permit
the thermometer to adjust to the electrolyte temperature and
note the reading. Examine the color of the electrolyte. A
brown or gray coloration indicates a problem with the bat-
tery and is a sign that the battery is nearing the end of its
life.
2. Draw the minimum quantity of electrolyte into the hydrome-
ter to permit the float to float freely without contacting the
top or bottom of the cylinder.
3. Hold the hydrometer in a vertical position at eye level and
note the reading where the electrolyte meets the scale on
the float.
4. Add or subtract four points (.004) to the reading for every
10° F (6° C) the electrolyte temperature is above or below
80° F (27° C). Adjust the reading to conform with the elec-
trolyte temperature, e.g., if the reading indicates a specific
gravity of 1.250 and the electrolyte temperature is 90° F
(32° C), add four points (.004) to the 1.250 which gives a
corrected reading of 1.254. Similarly if the temperature was
70° F (21° C), subtract four points (.004) from the 1.250 to
give a corrected reading of 1.246.
5. Test each cell and note the readings (corrected to 80° F or
27° C). A variation of fifty points between any two cell read-
ings (example 1.250 - 1.200) indicates a problem with the
low reading cell(s).
As a battery ages the specific gravity of the electrolyte will
decrease at full charge. This is not a reason to replace the bat-
tery providing all cells are within fifty points of each other.
Since the hydrometer test is in response to a vehicle exhibiting
a performance problem, the vehicle should be recharged and
the test repeated. If the results indicate a weak cell, the battery
or batteries should be removed and replaced with a good bat-
tery of the same brand, type and approximate age.
NOTICE
Hydrometer Temperature Correction
°F °C
160 71
150 65
140 60
130 54
120 49
110 43
100 37
90 32
80 26
70 21
60 15
50 10
40 4
30 -1
20 -6
10 -12
+.032
+.028
+.024
+.020
+.016
+.012
+.008
+.004
0
-.004
-.008
-.012
-.016
-.020
-.024
-.028
+.030
+.026
+.022
+.018
+.014
+.010
+.006
+.002
-.002
-.006
-.010
-.014
-.018
-.022
-.026
EXAMPLE #1
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 90 °F (32 °C)
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
1.250 + .004 = 1.254
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
READING
EXAMPLE #2
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
Above 70 °F (21 °C)
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
1.250 - .004 = 1.246
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
READING
ELECTROLYTE
TEMPERATURE