Battery Info

[jrsavoie]

I put the meter on the battery posts. I'm going to pull my cables and inspect them today.

I've load tested at the business ends of the cables to test them.

Sometimes there's corrosion you can't see and almost all factory battery cables are marginal in size.

 

[jrsavoie]

Thank you Scotty for the detailed information. My battery charger is very old. Probably 30 years old or older. I don't trust it, but I haven't tested it to know for sure.

My plan is to remove my cables, inspect them, clean the ends better then what I did when I changed the battery, and try it again. Since I couldn't get it to start with the jumper cables hooked up to my backhoe with the engine running, there might be an issue with the cables.

My volt meter is probably two years old. It's nothing fancy, just something with a ton of reviews on Amazon. As far as I know, it's accurate.

If it's the battery, shouldn't the battery on the backhoe, with the engine running, be enough to start the Massey?

If you have good 2/0 or bigger battery cables you should be able to jump it unless the battery is shorted out.

I get the iimpression you're using a multimeter. If so. I think you'd be better off with a battery load tester.

They're pretty reasonable in price. The Harbor Freight load testers have a good reputation, look identical to the old more expensive load testers I have here.

I find them much handier than the load tester on my battery charger.

I'd swap the battery cables out for something 2/0 or bigger.

Never use those cheesy temporary 2 bolt clamp battery cable ends.

The ends are positive and negative. One is slightly bigger than the other.

 

[jrsavoie]

I haven't noticed any big difference in how long they last. Given that most of us keep our vehicles longer now than in years past maybe we're just more aware of replacement.
It's very much YMMV as far as brands go...someone here highly recommended O'Reilly batteries which I've had terrible experience with, someone else bashed Walmart ones which have given me very good service.

Seems everything I bought lately only lasts 2 years. That's considerably less than acceptable

 

[ultrarunner]

I wonder if recycled lead is as good as virgin when it comes to batteries?

 

[jrsavoie]

Thank you Scotty for the detailed information. My battery charger is very old. Probably 30 years old or older. I don't trust it, but I haven't tested it to know for sure.

My plan is to remove my cables, inspect them, clean the ends better then what I did when I changed the battery, and try it again. Since I couldn't get it to start with the jumper cables hooked up to my backhoe with the engine running, there might be an issue with the cables.

My volt meter is probably two years old. It's nothing fancy, just something with a ton of reviews on Amazon. As far as I know, it's accurate.

If it's the battery, shouldn't the battery on the backhoe, with the engine running, be enough to start the Massey?

Around 45 years ago, I took a battery charger like that to the local starter alternator guy for repair while I was working out of town.

A friend said it sold real good on his estate auction. He knew it was mine because it had the service tag on.it.

He said he would have bought it back for me, but it sold for new price and he didn't know if I wanted to pay that much for it or just buy a new one.

 

[jrsavoie]

I wonder if recycled lead is as good as virgin when it comes to batteries?

That's all we have here now.

I've been thinking about AGM batteries, but they're expensive and I've heard issues with them too

 

[big bubba]

extensive info in this thread, far more than i know. one recommendation i would make re: a tractor battery is to get a maintenance free (sealed cells) rather than removable covers for the cells

realized this the hard way when i had to scrap a new replacement battery (cell serviceable type) that kept weeping acid from vibration in field use. glad i caught it in time good luck

 

[jrsavoie]

extensive info in this thread, far more than i know. one recommendation i would make for a tractor battery is to get a maintenance free (sealed cells) rather than removable covers for the cells

realized this the hard way when i had to scrap a new replacement battery (cell serviceable type) that kept weeping acid from vibration in field use. glad i caught it in time good luck

I've seriously been considering AGM batteries but the expense and lack of great reviews has put me off so far.

I always Sprinkle baking soda quite generously before installing a battery.

The acid really does a number on things

 

[big bubba]

yes indeed it does. i tried lowering the cell fluid level, but it still leaked out. something that's easy to overlook until the corrosive damage has been done. regards

 

[LouNY]

I've seriously been considering AGM batteries but the expense and lack of great reviews has put me off so far.

I always Sprinkle baking soda quite generously before installing a battery.

The acid really does a number on things

The corrosion or rather the lack of it is why I am switching over to AGM as I replace batteries.

 

[IH3444]

TYM Starting problem

TYM 293 hard to start even after replacing battery and starter. It turns over too slow to start but runs good after starting. Need jump start every time.

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[EddieWalker]

When I tried to start my tractor this morning, nothing happened. There was a guy here installing fiber optic for our internet, so I switched the battery charger to fast charge/start and left it. An hour or so later, he was done, and I went out to remove the cables and see it that was the issue. But first, I tried to start it, and it fired right up!!!!

So the cables are still in place, and I spent 5 hours mowing my place before the big storm hit. It's storming now!!!!

The big test will be in a few days when I remove the batwing and park it until mowing season starts again.

 

[airbiscuit]

I'm surprised a new battery needed that kind of jolt. Is your fast charge/start setting 75 amps?

 

[EddieWalker]

It only goes up to 50 amps.

 

[jrsavoie]

The corrosion or rather the lack of it is why I am switching over to AGM as I replace batteries.

How has it been working out?

What do you buy? And where?

 

[Oaktree]

Seems everything I bought lately only lasts 2 years. That's considerably less than acceptable

Don't know what to say, I've gotten 5+ years on most batteries I've gotten. As I noted upthread the O'Reilly batteries I've used didn't stand up well, but (knock knock) good life from Walmart ones. Haven't seen any decline over the years. One thing I have noticed that I didn't in the old days was that when a battery goes it's just plain dead. Won't even take a charge. Don't seem to go weak like they used to.
The WM battery in my tractor is over 10 years old, started it just fine the other day in single-digit temperatures, parked in an unheated shelter.

Never use those cheesy temporary 2 bolt clamp battery cable ends.

+1 on that. Temporary solution at best.

 

[Oaktree]

The corrosion or rather the lack of it is why I am switching over to AGM as I replace batteries.

Newer GM vehicles come with AGM batteries from the factory. Ones in my two were 6 years old when I replaced them, still started fine in warm weather, didn't want to chance it in winter.

Come to think of it, I haven't noticed a lot of corrosion on ANY batteries in years, even flooded cell. Certainly not like they used to. Not sure what changed.

 

[LouNY]

How has it been working out?

What do you buy? And where?

Seems to be, anything I've put them on have not had terminal or cable issues. And no visible corrosion on any of them. Even though I always used battery terminal washers and greases or other corrosion inhibitors.

Also a couple of mine are head high or a bit higher, nice to not worry when installing them of having an acid bath.

 

[rScotty]

When I tried to start my tractor this morning, nothing happened. There was a guy here installing fiber optic for our internet, so I switched the battery charger to fast charge/start and left it. An hour or so later, he was done, and I went out to remove the cables and see it that was the issue. But first, I tried to start it, and it fired right up!!!!

So the cables are still in place, and I spent 5 hours mowing my place before the big storm hit. It's storming now!!!!

The big test will be in a few days when I remove the batwing and park it until mowing season starts again.

Good. Glad that is fixed. Now you can measure voltage across the battery terminals since it is fully charged...and then measure again in a few days. That will let you know if it is a good battery or not. Even a bad battery will often take a charge for a day. It just won't hold it.

BTW, I didn't mention that I bought a set of fairly nice set of copper wire jumper cables for my wife's car and found out they would not carry enough current to jump start her car from our big pickup!
Just not large enough conductors and good enough clamps I guess. I switched to our regular jumper cables - made from old copper welding cable with real ends - and it started right up.

 

[EddieWalker]

I didn't think about the cables. They were expensive, and they are pretty thick, but I don't know the details of them off the top of my head. I'll look at them too!!!