Pit Bike/Minibike engine releases hydrogen while riding?

[CatmanDobbins]

Hey there. It's been a while since I've been on this forum.

I just bought a 125cc lifan pit bike engine for an upcoming project and it has electric start, which means it has a battery of course. Anyway, I read on the internet and on the battery's manual that the battery releases hydrogen gas while it charges.

Now I wouldn't really worry about this usually because you can just leave it it to charge in a well ventilated area, but what if my lifan 125cc has a charging system integrated into it that charges the battery while it is being ridden? Does the battery still release hydrogen gas and should I consider this as an issue if I am to have sparks or a little flame anywhere around the engine when it is running?

It seems like it would release hydrogen while in use but I also don't know how to check one of these engines for a charging system. What do you think?

Here is a link to the battery I bought: https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable...FMwebp_QL65&keywords=motorcycle+battery&psc=1

And here is a link to the exact engine I bought: https://m.ebay.com/itm/125cc-3-1-Se...-DUNE-BUGGY-/253159958919?txnId=2298792798015


If you guys need any more info to help me out here I'd be happy to let you know.

 

[Tpdingo]

THROW THAT BATTERY AWAY. If it releases enough hydrogen gas that it becomes dangerous to the rider, it needs to be disposed of. This means the battery was undercharged too many times. Now get a new one.

 

[anickode]

THROW THAT BATTERY AWAY. If it releases enough hydrogen gas that it becomes dangerous to the rider, it needs to be disposed of. This means the battery was undercharged too many times. Now get a new one.

Um, all flooded cell batteries realease hydrogen while charging. All of them. Every time. That's why battery electrolyte levels slowly drop over time.

Minisucle amounts. Particularly on a small battery at a low charge rate. Virtually undetectable when the vehicle is in motion.

The only time it is an issue is when charging (especially at a fast rate) in an enclosed space near an open ignition source.

So don't hook your battery up to a giant charger and set it to the 60 amp setting and leave it unattended next to your toaster.

Sealed lead acid batteries like the one you bought are designed to contain small amounts of pressure from the electrolysis process during charging. If the pressure exceeds that, it vents the gas, as it is supposed to do.

Do not throw your battery away. That is ludicrous to even say that.

 

[Tpdingo]

Well crap. I must be confusing it with something else. Whoops.

 

[anickode]

Well crap. I must be confusing it with something else. Whoops.

Perhaps lithium ion batteries?

 

[bob58o]

After consuming dairy, I also release hydrogen while riding.
59% Nitrogen
21% Hydrogen
9% CO2
7% Methane
4% Oxygen
And some Sulfur.

 

[CatmanDobbins]

That's a relief. Thank you for the detailed response anickode!

 

[itsid]

Also undercharged batteries can (sometimes) be revived using a what's called
desulfating process, which literally FORCES the battery into bubbling with high amperages.
(reasonably short bursts over a long period of time [usually days] to keep the temperature down and safe.. still lots of gas is produced during that process)
refilled (just levelled out really) and you might end up with a reusable battery.

but just as anickode said.. a bit of gas is normal,
usually you don't notice that at all in gel or AGM cells, if you do especially while riding, there might be something wrong with your wiring (touch the battery and see if it heats up considerably) you might have a short somewhere.

Otherwise there's nothing to worry!
It's hard to fill your garage with a combustible amount of hydrogen from just a single bike-size battery even with the doors closed

'sid