...in my ATV while I am sitting on it, in town, in my driveway.
Wow, still a little shakey
Sounded like a 12 ga shotgun.
Neighbors 2 doors down came over to see if I was OK. They were 'sure' it was a shotgun blast. My first thought was, 'who booby trapped my Honda with a cherry boomb?
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Snow is coming tonight.... Yesterday I put the plow on the ATV and it started a little slow and like many times before, I put a trickle charger on it all night and most of the day. I rarely use it in the summer, it's typical for the battery's charge to get low. It is/was a 4 year old motorcycle sized battery.
This afternoon, I go out and disconnect the charger, re-install the seat (which is right on top of the battery), turn the Key to start it, the engine turns over once, then BOOM, honestly as loud as a shotgun.
This Battery is/was a gel type maintenance-free, instructions clearly say, "do not add water". It must have pressurized while charging and the starter engaging took it over the top. I've never had a battery explode before. CRAZY, I tell ya, just crazy.
The good news it's just a battery, I am OK, the ATV is OK, the little gel like acid that was in the battery was easy to flush out and off the ATV with fresh water.
Time for bed...Good Night.
Jon
PS, one neighbor/friend told me I should have opened it and checked the water and added some if low. He said there is no such thing as a maintenance-free battery. But the top was sealed and some labeling would have to have been cut to access the filler holes. what say you all ?