Ford 550 Backhoe

[tokarzl]

I recently purchased a late 70's ford 550 2wd backhoe, I am having some issues with battery staying charged, checked battery, Alt. and connections always needs a jump even after running for over an hour if you turn the engine off it will not have enough battery to restart. Any known issues anyone has experienced with loose connections or wires shorting?
Thanks

 

[LD1]

You have to first figure out weather it is simply not charging, or if something is draining the electrical system.

You should have something north of 13v when running. and 12.4-12.6v when not running.

Do you have an electrical meter? If so, do the checks above and post back. If not...get one.

If you do not have one or dont want to get one, I cannot help other than to say start throwing parts at it (battery, alternator, etc) until the problem goes away.

 

[TBN Support]

Welcome to the forum.

:welcome:

I'm going to move this thread over to the vintage Ford section to see if anyone over there has had similar problems.

 

[boggen]

you can take battery and alternator to some local shop and have them tested.

some of the bigger "battery chargers" out there might have an option to "test" battery, and possibly alternator.

Document Moved = english / north america = online parts manual for ford / newholland tractors. it might help you identify things. most likely your ford 550 will be listed under "industrial" vs "agricultural"

a service / shop manual is costly but goes over everything from testing stuff, to diagrams and descriptions of how to tear stuff apart, and put it back together checking/testing as you go along.

 

[Soundguy]

deffinately check system before starting and when running.

ideally you will see 14 ishv running and 12.6 not running.

if yes, but drops off after shutoff, battery simply may be toast.

post back

 

[tmajor]

I'd go one step further, if charging looks OK, I'd remove the negative connection on the battery, after determining system is charging and battery appears at full voltage and tractor has been shut down. Disconnecting negative terminal, after sitting for a while, will tell you, if the battery has an internal short or the tractor has a short.

 

[Soundguy]

you can also put a test lamp between that cable and post and if it lights up that tells you there is a drain in the electrical system downstream of the battery..