Do the new style Kubota batteries require maintenance?

[sixdogs]

Kubota batteries used to be sealed with no caps to remove and no adding of water or maintenance required. I loved it. Last year I bought two 1000 amp Kubota batteries and while each was said, by parts dept, to be sealed and no maintenance, the battery caps can be removed.

I looked in and the electrolyte level looked just like the old days with some cells higher or lower than the others. Since they all started out the same, that has to be from the evaporation of water and that means adding water should be required. But that doesn't sound right.

Here are some pics. The caps do not appear to be vented, and I could remove them. I'm not sure what that means or what, if anything to do.

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I can easily remove the two caps. Does anyone know what to do?

 

[RjCorazza]

Cell levels will vary with use and charge percentage. Make sure the plates are at least covered, then fully charge the batteries. Add distilled water to the bottom of the well tube (for lack of a better term). There's usually a slot in the vertical well tube, and water slightly into the well tube is not going to hurt anything.

I have heard of batteries with similar caps called "no maintenance" or "low maintenance", but there is nothing "maintenance free" about them.

 

[sixdogs]

Cell levels will vary with use and charge percentage. Make sure the plates are at least covered, then fully charge the batteries. Add distilled water to the bottom of the well tube (for lack of a better term). There's usually a slot in the vertical well tube, and water slightly into the well tube is not going to hurt anything.

I have heard of batteries with similar caps called "no maintenance" or "low maintenance", but there is nothing "maintenance free" about them.

There are no vents on these caps.Do you find that odd?

 

[RjCorazza]

There are no vents on these caps.Do you find that odd?

I've seen similar batteries that vent on the top edge of the case inline with the caps. I'm sure they vent somewhere, perhaps valve regulated?
I do know that I have had exceptional service from Kubota batteries, usually in the 10+ year range.

 

[drssg]

The picture in the OP looks like a normal maintenance free battery to me. I think it's fairly common for a maintenance free battery to ship from the factory without the acid added to the battery.

Someone else adds the acid before use. With my last motorcycle battery, I had to add it myself.