Mahindra 3510 Battery Box

[kneedeep]

The beast is due for a 500 HR Tune Up. My son was home for the weekend and went down to the lake house where yhe beast lives to get his fishing tackle. While down there he was cranking everything and the battery was dead on the Mahindra. (original battery new in 2003!!). I now will be installing a new battery and have seen threads about a kit to drop the battery down to allow the radiator to breathe better.
Any one ever installed one?
Can a bracket be fabricated to lower the battery?

Any pics of a OEM or fabricated box would really help!

 

[skipmarcy]

My 4110 is pretty much identical to your 3510, I was able to take my original battery tray out and re-bend it to where it would slip down between the frame rails to where it just about sits on top of the front differential assembly - I left it just ever so slightly above it so it doesn't quite touch it. I drilled & tapped the frame rails to accept bolts screwed from the inside out to hold it in place. This method has the top of my battery just at the bottom of the radiator. I had been skeptical of reading that it would help the overheating problem when cutting in dry conditions but I was really amazed at how much it helped. I can now cut all day long in any conditions without having to stop & blow the radiator out. Of course I still do have to blow it out when I'm thru, the chaff still gets in there, but the gauge stays alot cooler now longer. To re-bend my tray I just used a hammer and my 6" vise. Good luck with it !!!

 

[kneedeep]

Sounds like a simple thing to do. Where the battery cables long enough for the drop down modification?
What about the tie downs, do they still work?

Thanks

 

[skipmarcy]

Yes and yes. It was a pretty straightforward job but drilling & tapping the frame was a little tedious, you could just drill larger holes and slip the bolts thru and use nuts & washers but I opted to tap because I was in the mood to do it. If I'm not mistaken I think the battery can now be removed from the tractor without having to remove the air cleaner assembly too but I could be wrong, I haven't had to take it out since the job but it looks like it will come out of there.

 

[yanmars]

I have a 4510 and lowered the battery. I needed to add some extra length for the cables. I also removed the windshield washer reservoir so there was more airflow but it still runs warm. An electric pusher fan is now being added. You can see my comments in Mahindra quality on this site.
IMHO I feel the radiator/cooling design is deficient.

 

[AchingBack]

This brings up the subject of why is a tractor designed the way it is. Perhaps the engineers were thinking the main use would not be one which creates a lot of chaff, as in bush hogging.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

While down there he was cranking everything and the battery was dead on the Mahindra. (original battery new in 2003!!). I now will be installing a new battery and have seen threads about a kit to drop the battery down to allow the radiator to breathe better.

Speaking of batteries for the 3510/4110 machines, my own battery went just about dead on me the other day. I'm still nursing it along, but it will have to be replaced pretty soon before I get stranded out back. I don't have the early model blocked radiator problem on mine, so I am just looking to buy a suitable replacement battery without creating a radiator blockage problem for myself. Problem is, I can't find the same Korean battery or a similarly-sized battery for it.

Reading the archives, I notice that some folks are going with a size 31 battery, but wouldn't that be too tall? I do see some batteries for European cars that are pretty close. Someone else mentioned they put one in but didn't mention exactly which one. Anyone know?

Would also like some hints on the best way to get that old battery out. Looks pretty tight to me. What is the trick?

Rusty

 

[skipmarcy]

Speaking of batteries for the 3510/4110 machines, my own battery went just about dead on me the other day. I'm still nursing it along, but it will have to be replaced pretty soon before I get stranded out back. I don't have the early model blocked radiator problem on mine, so I am just looking to buy a suitable replacement battery without creating a radiator blockage problem for myself. Problem is, I can't find the same Korean battery or a similarly-sized battery for it.

Reading the archives, I notice that some folks are going with a size 31 battery, but wouldn't that be too tall? I do see some batteries for European cars that are pretty close. Someone else mentioned they put one in but didn't mention exactly which one. Anyone know?

Would also like some hints on the best way to get that old battery out. Looks pretty tight to me. What is the trick?

Rusty

I replaced my original battery with an Interstate 31P-MHD. The current one in my tractor is a touch over 7 years old and still strong. It is the same size as the original that came with the tractor but as mentioned already I did the battery box drop and it doesn't cover the radiator anymore. Might still have to remove the air cleaner assy to make for easier removal but that's not a difficult job. This Interstate battery is an actual equipment battery and I believe they are built a little stronger in the case & insulators to withstand more vibration etc. over an automotive battery. You might check into that before getting an automotive battery.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I replaced my original battery with an Interstate 31P-MHD. The current one in my tractor is a touch over 7 years old and still strong. It is the same size as the original that came with the tractor but as mentioned already I did the battery box drop and it doesn't cover the radiator anymore. Might still have to remove the air cleaner assy to make for easier removal but that's not a difficult job. This Interstate battery is an actual equipment battery and I believe they are built a little stronger in the case & insulators to withstand more vibration etc. over an automotive battery. You might check into that before getting an automotive battery.

Thanks for the reply. Interstate says that size 31 battery is 9.38" tall. Not sure if their height number includes the posts or not. My current (original) Korean battery is 8" high or maybe a fraction under, not including the posts. The top of this original battery case is exactly even with the bottom of my radiator. Hence, my desire to not exceed that height for fear of creating a partial radiator blockage issue.

On the other hand, I would like the power of a size 31 battery if it would work.

How do these numbers and situation compare to yours? Is that size 31 battery blocking any part of your radiator or not?

Rusty

 

[Ken Yarber]

Regarding Mahindra 3510 HST radiator/battery space problem. Had I known about this problem before I bought the tractor new, I probably would not have bought this tractor. Placement of the battery, size of the radiator vs work performance, overheting in dry mowing conditions, removing chaff every 5 minutes, etc. who needs this??? I have yet to find out how to drain the radiator. The insane Owner's Manual is useless obviously written by a defo who had no idea about the operation and maintenance of tractors nor the English language. I dread the day when the OEM battery has to be replaced? As an old man, maybe I'll die first. Ken

 

[ohio03trdtaco]

I have a gear drive 2008 3510 with about 250hrs on the clock. I have never even had it come close to over heating. My battery is sitting down in the frame rails with the radiator open except the air cleaner. I live in Ohio so hottest it runs in would be about 90 degrees. I have mowed brush for several hours strait then switched and gone to finish mow with no trouble at all. I clean the screens and blow out and wash the radiator from behind a few times a year.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Still wondering what other "post-fix" 3510/4110 owners think of using a size 31 replacement battery, as suggested by skipmarcy. The good news is that my original (2005?) Korean battery is still hanging in there for the time being. The bad news is that it may leave me stranded any day now. I'll need a replacement by next season for sure.

The size 31 battery looks great on paper for power and durability but it is definitely a bit taller than my OEM Korean battery. Will blocking an inch and a half (give or take) of my radiator make any difference? So far, I have not had any overheating problems. I do clean out my radiator fairly routinely.

Rusty

 

[AchingBack]

One of the best investments I've made was a float charger from Harbor Freight. It was under 10 bucks, and has definitely kept my battery going strong.

 

[kneedeep]

As the OP of this thread, I forgot to mention that the original Korean battery was treated with a battery additive and a Float Charger was installed when I purchased the tractor new in July 2003. Part of my yearly service is to clean the battery post and add distilled water to each cell as needed. The battery lasted until July of 2012! 9 years and 500 Hrs.!!

 

[Secret Squirrel]

The battery lasted until July of 2012! 9 years and 500 Hrs.!!

I'd buy another one of those Korean batteries in a heartbeat, but I can't find them anywhere. :confused3:

I finally got to measure the specific size 31 battery that I'm most likely to put in as a replacement. Looks like the case is only 1/2" to 3/4" taller than the OEM battery case (a little shorter than the BCI standard dimensions suggested). Not so bad after all I guess.

Rusty

 

[kneedeep]

I am going to drop my battery down so the height does not matter. I also found a battery with the same dimensions as the Interstate-
EXIDE® ROAD FORCE® AGM 200