Battery issues...

Mountain Heritage · #1 10-19-2010, 08:12 AM

So in the last week or so I have been having issues with my battery. Is it possible for a "tired" battery to just start to give you issues all of a sudden? In the past couple weeks its started to get cooler here in the Great White North and I have had to charge the battery on the 982 before using it to get it to start. It is full of fluid and it shows that its charging according to the gauge when I am running it. Lights work fine when running and are sort of bright when tractor is off before putting the charger on it. It has never been an issue starting up until now....I don't use it in the winter time, I remove the battery and put it in the basement on the wood shelf under the stairs. I have no issues with it while running or when I want to restart it after using it that same day. If it sits for more than 2 days it needs to be charged. I am guessing it is just tired and needs replacing....it just doesn't have enough ooooomph to roll over the engine. I am losing it or is it really just the battery that needs to be put to rest?

Another question....can you charge the battery in the tractor with the cables from the tractor still hooked to the battery without doing any damage? I was always taught that you needed to remove the battery and charge it while sitting on the bench not hooked to anything? Is this true? What does it or will it damage if this is so? I guess I just never really questioned it when growing up?

R Bedell · #2 10-19-2010, 08:59 AM

This may offer an explanation..... Batteries

As always, Clean and Tight Battery Cable connections are a must.

ol'George · #3 10-19-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountain Heritage

So in the last week or so I have been having issues with my battery. Is it possible for a "tired" battery to just start to give you issues all of a sudden? In the past couple weeks its started to get cooler here in the Great White North and I have had to charge the battery on the 982 before using it to get it to start. It is full of fluid and it shows that its charging according to the gauge when I am running it. Lights work fine when running and are sort of bright when tractor is off before putting the charger on it. It has never been an issue starting up until now....I don't use it in the winter time, I remove the battery and put it in the basement on the wood shelf under the stairs. I have no issues with it while running or when I want to restart it after using it that same day. If it sits for more than 2 days it needs to be charged. I am guessing it is just tired and needs replacing....it just doesn't have enough ooooomph to roll over the engine. I am losing it or is it really just the battery that needs to be put to rest?

Another question....can you charge the battery in the tractor with the cables from the tractor still hooked to the battery without doing any damage? I was always taught that you needed to remove the battery and charge it while sitting on the bench not hooked to anything? Is this true? What does it or will it damage if this is so? I guess I just never really questioned it when growing up?

Batteries can be charged while hooked up, just be sure to observe polarity when hooking up the charger.
it is best to use a small charger of say 1 amp when charging lawn type batteries.
You can take the battery to tractor supply, auto parts, sears etc. or any place that sells batteries and they will load test it for you free to see if it is putting out it's rated cranking amps.
The myth of placing a battery on a board has been debunked many times and it goes back to the 1930's when batteries were 6V and had tar tops between the cells.

bsyphrit · #4 10-19-2010, 04:18 PM

like ol george said you can leave the battery in the tractor to charge and nothing will be harmed by leaving it charge with every thing connected providing that the charger is hooked up correctly.

also as the link to the battery page shows the cold cranking amps drops with the temp , if you have access to park the tractor inside in cold weather it is always better then storing outside directly in the elements. along with the charger my dad would also place a lamp bulb next to the battery to keep it warm and this will help during starting.

lastly a battery has a finite life, that is why you never or rarely see one with a guaranteed life of a year or more unlike car batteries that have 5-10 years. in my 125 i measured the battery box to see how much room i had to work with and got the largest car battery that would fit and on the sides of the battery i had to shave off the side hold down brackets and it slid down in nicely. got some bolt unions and kept the stock hold down to keep it in place. the hood was missing the cross brace so it did not hit the battery when closing the lid

Diz Jr. · #5 10-19-2010, 10:55 PM

It seems like nowdays batteries don't give much sign of getting weaker. One time they will start the engine, next time they wont. I have had several battery's in the last few years just up and quit like that. Lawn & garden and automotive as well. Take them in and have them tested and sure enough they have a dead cell.

Oak · #6 10-19-2010, 11:33 PM

I've had good luck with battery tender type chargers. I think the last one I purchased was at Sears for $25. I always keep it plugged up and move it around to my different toys.
On the other hand, I have a Kubota that is 10 years old with the original battery and it has never been on the charger and parked in an unheated barn. How can that be?

Mountain Heritage · #7 10-20-2010, 08:20 AM

I kinda agree with what Diz has to say....had the same problem with my other lawn tractor 3 or 4 years ago...no warning just up and crapped out on me! As far as storing it.... my 982 is ALWAYS parked inside. It isn't a heated shop but it says fairly warm with the black roof and a nice big window to trap the sun's rays every day. It is insulated too but just not "heated". I am thinking this battery has just ran its life course and I am SOL. Will continue to charge it for the rest of the year I think and just buy a new one come spring. I only have about a month of running the 'ol girl anyway and she will be tucked away for winter with her dust sheet over her. :biggrin2.gif: Have to treat her right otherwise she might revolt, then I'd have two irate women on my hands!

Yikes!

I threw it on the charger this morning, figured if the weather holds for the next day or two I could actually get the garden cleaned out and ready to be plowed?