Battery needs to be jumped - even though wiring and electrical system was replaced

three4rd · #1 10-02-2011, 06:22 PM

Hi,

For years I have had to always put the charger on my 129's battery for a few minutes (or longer depending on outside temperature) to get it started. I assumed that once the electrical components were replaced, which was just done recently - including the wire harness, points, coil, regulator, plug, battery, that I should no longer have to do that. Something still seems to be drawing it down if not used for a week or so. The only part of the electrical system that wasn't replaced was the ignition switch. Could that be accounting for a slow drain? My dealer, who replaced the wire harness, felt fairly confident that with everything that was done I would no longer have a problem. Any thoughts as to why I still need to use a charger? When I turn the key on, the needle moves towards the discharge side if the tractor sits for a week or so without being used.

Thanks,
Keith

jbrewer · #2 10-02-2011, 06:40 PM

Do you have a multimeter (even a Harbor Freight 2.99 special) ? If so I can walk you thru the process of determining if there's a drain on the battery. It only takes 2 min to test it.

John

three4rd · #3 10-02-2011, 07:10 PM

John.....sorry...no meter! Once charged and the tractor used, then I can turn the key and the needle stays right in the middle. It's just a pain to have to get the battery charger out every time. I figured I wouldn't need to do that anymore.

Matt G. · #4 10-02-2011, 07:21 PM

You need to get a multimeter...as John said, they're cheap, and make troubleshooting electrical problems much easier.

jbrewer · #5 10-02-2011, 07:43 PM

It's going to be hard to diagnose without a meter....

The ammeter will probably deflect to the left a little bit whether the battery is fully charged or not... it's indicating not the state of the battery, but the flow of current. With the key on, there's likely some drain that is normal without the engine running....charged battery or not. The only difference with a low battery, is that there may be less current available to flow (and deflect the meter) with the key in the same condition.

You might make sure the ground (-) terminal of the battery cable is secured to the frame at a CLEAN point... remove the bolt and sand or otherwise make sure that the connection to the frame is an electrically good one.

...and borrow a meter! :-)

John

jbrewer · #6 10-02-2011, 08:02 PM

...are you sure the switch is all the way to the left (off) before you remove the key? The manual indicates leaving the key in the on or run position will drain the battery.