Is it not worth just buying a new battery? playing around with a knackered one might end up giving you more headaches than if you just replaced it.

right....
Bolted it back in (need a battery box lid and strap for a 1989 NC23 if anyone has one??) - and went out for a ride up and down the road to see if any different.... (dark, headlights on...)

BBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

(Oh Lordie me....) :D

Went like a good 'un.... got back to find the battery a tad leaky from the vents in the top??

Losing acid at a steady drip.... this would explain why the thing was empty?? Would appear to be getting undercharged at tickover and overcharged at high revs.... We have a reciept for a battery dated 1999 - this would put the current one at 9 years old, will be looking to replace both the battery and Reg/rectifier methinks...

if the reg/rec goes, it often fries the battery. you do need to replace both at the same time. or knacker the new battery

Will do... got a box on its way from Dave Silver containing a few nice bits and pieces! Should sort it.... :D

SORTED!
fa
kin
soo
pah! :D
New battery off eBay (Varta, £30.95 including acid pack) + new pattern Reg/rectifier off Mr.Silver (£55) - had to cut the old female plug off the loom into bits to get the spade terminals out, two had melted all the surrounding plastic - looked ok from the outside?? Just total armageddon inside... The old reg/rectifier showed signs of overheating

Replaced all the yellow spades with new ones(marked them before removing them, like real clever having 3 yellow wires the same?? Dunno if it mattered if they got jumbled but wasnt about to find out...

Bike started and ran - no obvoius problems so down the road and back, no bubbly battery - so off out for an hour in the sunshine....

Jeez.... what a motor! Am quite liking the lazy grunt of my NC24 (will get a RVF soon, have decided.... :D ) but hey - what a glorious noise, even with the standard can??