Leaking Battery Acid & Paint Damage

[gumshu]

I have a CT235 and I use it on a hillside. I'm suprised Bobcat did not ship this unit with a no maintenance battery. Battery acid all over the lower grill and battery support plate. It ate through the paint on the lower grill and thebattery support plate. It's easy enough to remove the battery and paint the battery support plate, but removing the grill mesh from the lower plastic frame is not so easy.

The metal grill slides over little plastic posts on the grill frame and is held in place with metal locking clamps that only slide in one way. Removing the clamps from the plastic posts is going to be a trick. Has anyone had experiance with this? Thanks

 

[krazsk]

I've seen this mentioned a few times here on TBN. The conclusion was that it was the Bobcat batteries that were seeping acid. If you don't replace the battery, I suspect it will come back. I replaced mine with a battery from walmart. The corrosion was a mess.

 

[wallace]

Piece of crap Excide batteries!
This is the same battery Mahindra has with the same result!
Get rid of that battery and put a Interstate in it.

 

[gumshu]

Thanks guys. Just to be safe, I'm shopping for sealed battery. I don't wan't any more leaks. What a mess.

 

[Sabretooth]

I put a acidmat (works good) in and painted the area I am not replacing battery untill it is dead

 

[Sand_man]

I had to clean up my battery and box also. So it is cause from a cheap battery leaking and should be replaced with a sealed one?

 

[gumshu]

I had to clean up my battery and box also. So it is cause from a cheap battery leaking and should be replaced with a sealed one?

Yeap, just bought a sealed P1 Diehard at Sears. They list for $214 on the internet, but the salesman at the store gave it to me for $175 out the door. It has a 4 year replacement and 8 yr warrantee. I didn't really want to spend money on a battery, but I'm not going through this again. A little piece of mind.

 

[duckhunter27]

Did you guys try going back to your dealer? Seems to me should be under warrenty if leaking?

 

[gumshu]

Did you guys try going back to your dealer? Seems to me should be under warrenty if leaking?

The dealer said it wasn't. Even if it was, they'd probably just replace it with the same. I do work on my hillside with my CT235 and don't want to chance this acid damage again.

 

[tonydn6]

I have the CT235 and use it on hillsides also, only 25 hours on it so far. I guess I should replace with the sealed battery also, don't want to deal with the leaking acid mess!

 

[VictorW]

One other possibility is to use a plastic box like is used for boats but I never looked close enough to see how the box would fit. I guess either way, any leaking acid is no good for the tractor or the battery.

 

[gumshu]

I have the CT235 and use it on hillsides also, only 25 hours on it so far. I guess I should replace with the sealed battery also, don't want to deal with the leaking acid mess!

I picked up a sealed Diehard at Sears, but I'm still replacing acid damaged parts & bolts and repainting the gril. Not what I have time for in the middle of projects. Peace of mind with a sealed battery!

 

[powergod1]

the leaking battery sucks, especially considering the price of the tractors. would it have killed bobcat to put in a sealed one?

 

[VictorW]

I'm not sure what Bobcat's battery policy is but the Kioti's are shipped in a crate with the wheels and I think seeing the rops and steering wheel off and without a battery. That's how mine arrived at the dealer six years ago. It's the Kioti dealer's responsibility to mount the tires, etc. and put in a battery. They also do the mounting of the fel brackets and hydraulics because it's considered an add on and not everyone gets a fel. I'm sure battery price comes into play for dealers. Maybe when buying a tractor, either brand, a battery type would be a negotiating point.

 

[powergod1]

I'm not sure what Bobcat's battery policy is but the Kioti's are shipped in a crate with the wheels and I think seeing the rops and steering wheel off and without a battery. That's how mine arrived at the dealer six years ago. It's the Kioti dealer's responsibility to mount the tires, etc. and put in a battery. They also do the mounting of the fel brackets and hydraulics because it's considered an add on and not everyone gets a fel. I'm sure battery price comes into play for dealers. Maybe when buying a tractor, either brand, a battery type would be a negotiating point.

i would agree they should provide you with the battery you want

 

[gumshu]

i would agree they should provide you with the battery you want

I agree, but the dealer wouldn't go for it. I didn't want to argue, so I just went & bought a new one.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Actually, it's not the corrosion that's the big issue.

Leaking batteries are a significant health hazard. It exposes you to toxic fumes, and acid burns.

No dealer worth a **** would sell a tractor with a battery where normal use would cause the battery to spill. And operating a tractor on a slope is normal use. (Unless you're doing barrel rolls with it, which is really not normal.)