new battery question

[YMJ]

just bought a new battery for the motorcycle and managed to save 20 quid by being a bit more selective......I could get a different one to fit by swopping the new caps (with tiny breather holes) with the ones off the old battery but which haven't got these tiny breather holes.
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Problem is, the old battery had one communal breather pipe serving all cells and now the new (modified) one hasn't any way of breathing at all.

Can I get away with no breathing at all or should I drill tiny holes in the caps to let it do so?

I presume that as a battery is being charged (either on the bench or on the bike), it gives off gas that has to go somewhere

[dhenry]

I think that it is just the expansion of gas due to the heat during charging that requires a breather. I wouldn't charge it without a breather. Could be dangerous. Those chemicals are harsh.

[mk1]

Are you SURE there is no breather at all on the new battery?

If there aren't then it might be some sealed lead / acid type that has gel in ir as opposed to liquid. I sell these at work & they don't need a breather when being charged. A lead ? acid liquid filled battery will ALWAYS need a breather.

[YMJ]

The new battery had little holes in the caps but I had to swop these over with some lower ones (without holes) so I could fit the battery into its slot. I'm beginning to think I'll have to swop it for a proper one better than getting acid all down my leg....or worse

[mk1]

better than getting acid all down my leg....or worse

Acid burns to the old man don't sound too appealing to me